Stirring Up a Batch of Recession-Induced Lemonade
Friday July 10, 2009
Thriving Single Parents of the Week: Gina and Carrie
Gina Davis and Carrie Abston are two single moms who were recently interviewed for an article that appeared in Indiana's Journal & Courier, titled "Single and Surviving: Parents Make Do During the Recession."
What really stood out to me was not just that these moms are doing what they have to to get by--including working from home to make some extra money--but that they both expressed some positives that have emerged in the midst of their struggle.
For example, Carrie pointed out that not having disposable income to spend on her children has resulted in their spending more time together. Likewise, Gina said that she and her children are bonding more, now that they're spending time together doing things that don't cost money.
Naturally, it takes a glass-half-full approach to life to be able to find the positive right about now, but the lessons your kids will take away from watching you struggle and endure are far more valuable than anything you could purchase in a store.
How about you? Has the recession, ironically, had a positive impact on your relationships with your kids? Take a moment to share your thoughts by leaving a comment below. And if you have any advice for single moms and dads who are struggling to get by in this tough economy, share it below or in one of the following "Readers Respond" features:
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Thrifty Thursday: How Does 50% Off Your Hotel Stay Sound to You?
Thursday July 9, 2009
Two hotels in Washington, D.C., Carlyle Suites and Savoy Suites, are offering a special deal this summer: For every five hours of documented community service you perform with your kids, you'll get 50% off a night's stay in their hotel. One of the neat things about the program, too, is that you can perform the community service at an organization of your choosing--right in your own neighborhood.
In fact, if this deal is something you plan to take advantage of, I'd recommend scheduling your trip around the tax-free shopping dates in D.C. or Virginia, so you can save on back-to-school shopping at the same time!
In addition, share your own money-saving vacation tips by participating in the "Readers Respond" feature, What Are Your Best Budget Vacation Ideas? or by leaving a comment below.
Read More Thrifty Thursday Blog Posts on the About.com Parenting Channel:
Paris Jackson's Final Words to Her Father--and Yours
Wednesday July 8, 2009
By now we've all heard the words of Michael Jackson's oldest child, Paris, spoken at the conclusion of his funeral yesterday:
"Ever since I was born, daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine. And I just want to say that I love him so much."
If you saw the video clip or watched the event live, did it make you wonder what your own kids would say? For me, there was some of that. But even more, it makes me think of all that I would want to have said to them--my last words, as a mother.
There's actually a file on my computer labeled "Will_Letter" that is a letter I wrote to my children three years ago, for them to read, in the event that anything were ever to happen to me. It was something I had wanted to write for a long time--consider it an insurance policy, of sorts. (Nothing will happen to me if I'm actually prepared, right?)
The letter includes the lyrics to the song I always sang to them as babies ("To Make You Feel My Love" by Garth Brooks, with some of the lyrics adjusted slightly), some verses, and some of the memories that have been most important to me.
Read more...Calling All Bloggers: The Theme for Our August Blog Carnival is "Cheap Fun"
Tuesday July 7, 2009
You may have noticed that this site--Single Parents--is part of a larger Parenting and Family Channel here at About.com. We have Guides who write about all different topics related to raising kids, from the womb all the way up to the young adult years.
One of the things that we do regularly as a channel is host the "All About Parenting Blog Carnival." This gives bloggers within the channel and around the blogosphere an opportunity to write about one central theme.
In August, I'll be hosting the blog carnival here on the Single Parents' site, and the theme is "Cheap Fun." So if you're a blogger, write a blog post between now and July 31 about your best ideas for having cheap fun as a family, and submit it to the blog carnival by July 31.
And if you're not a blogger, stay tuned. On Monday, August 3, I'll blog about the best blog carnival submissions--giving you plenty of ideas for finishing out the summer with some good old-fashioned, cheap fun!
Blog Carnival Guidelines:
- Write a blog post about "Cheap Fun" ideas for families, between now and July 31, 2009.
- Include a link to this post somewhere in your entry.
- By July 31, 2009, submit your entry through www.blogcarnival.com.
- Alternatively, you can email the title of your post, the permalink, and your name and email address directly to singleparents.guide@about.com with "Blog Carnival" in the subject line.
- Off-topic entries and those that do not follow the above guidelines will not be considered.
For more information, please refer to the All about Parenting Blog Carnival Guidelines.
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