Single Mom Raising Kids

Find out how to stay cool and calm as you navigate the intricacies of custody, support, and more. The mere thought of family court literally makes my shoulders tense and the back of my throat clench. I can feel the emotions welling up and if you asked me to, I could describe in great detail every drawn out second of the entire experience. It can be hard enough to be around an ex, but stepping right into the boiling pot and stirring the conflict can become a challenging brew. However, there are a few ways to make the situation manageable. 1. Breathe First and foremost, to get through even the hardest situations, just breathe. There are moments when I will just coach myself on each inhale and exhale. It helps to avoid saying something regrettable, to stop from lashing out in anger, and to calm myself after hearing bad news. 2. Sandwich the experience with a trustworthy friend I'm in a network of Single Moms that supports one another. Before hearings, we often post what'

I don't post very often about what it's like to be a single mom on my Facebook wall for a few reasons. The first is because I have an amazing support group that I reach out to for understanding and camaraderie. The second is because being a single mom is the greatest gift of my life. Sure, it was hell to get here, but even the worst days now are better than the best days I ever had as a "we." Every single one of them. I say that because I didn't know "me" back then. I knew some thing s I enjoyed and I knew how to put on a happy face, but I didn't know how to be alone with me. I couldn't walk into a room alone without questioning if I belonged. I couldn't comfort myself. I couldn't do anything without seeking validation. The thing was, even when I was married I rarely got that validation. Everything was fleeting or tied to a prerequisite. Mother's Day was usually the hardest because it was always a gigantic let down. That all

Being single doesn't have to be ugly on social media. Thanks to a big misstep by bow wow, twitter is trolling with hilarious memes about the truth behind all those aspirational photos we see every day. Thought you couldn't keep up with the Joneses on the internet just because your man left? Try again with these handy visual tips. Let's hope Patrice's Bae doesn't have two left feet! With my man 😘 #bowwowchallenge pic.twitter.com/NyaUQXJaot — Patrice Pannell (@patricepannell5) May 10, 2017 When no one is around to catch a sweet somber on Instagram Bae caught me sleeping #bowwowchallenge pic.twitter.com/Y8eKr2ZPUj — Viz of Bell County (@mrvizcarrondo) May 10, 2017 One of your exes is the perfect Dad Spending time with my little one today 👶🏾 #bowwowchallenge pic.twitter.com/gViDxCKOCk — D (@Dolo_Deee) May 10, 2017 Getting ready for a wild night We getting lit tonight 🔥 #bowwowchallenge pic.twitter.com/DgrVGoKKX6 — ㅤ (@malachiwal

At the first stage of motherhood I lived a very public digital existence. I chronicled every contraction, diaper, coo, and giggle. Outwardly, I projected a very happy existence. Inwardly, life became complex and I didn't know how to walk through the dark stages in my self imposed spotlight, so I shut down. I still needed to write, though. In desperation, I turned to paper and ink.  So desperate was I to begin the healing journey through writing expression that I turned to a friend mid-conversation and asked if she had a journal for me. I took the watermarked angelic cherub within the pages as a sign that the book was meant for me to share my motherhood journey no matter where it led. Because it can be so hard to start a positive habit, I'll kick off this list with the entry that I consider the most important one a single mom can make- the first one. 1. Number One If the average person can find an excuse not to journal daily, then it must be even easier to avoid for a wom