The The Soul of a Single Parent is a candid, up-close-and-personal perspective of my journey as a single parent. It is written from a single moms perspective. This is not to discount, disregard or discredit the many single fathers who also single-handedly choose to do the right thing every day. Each chapter is but a glimpse of the journey into the soul of a single parent. Unless you are truly a single parent, dont judge me until you have walked at least a mile in my shoes or spent a whole day - no scratch that - a whole week, in the life of a single parent. If you are a single parent, I hope you enjoy this literary journey with me. Feel free to laugh (with me, not at me) as you read through the pages. Go ahead, sit down and shed a tear of joy (or pain) with me as I share my world with you. More importantly, I pray that you gain further insight and purpose as to your divine role as a single parent. Each chapter starts with my perspective or a short snippet of coming from where Im from, then digs deeper to further share my truth or turning point of my single parent journey. Are you ready to snapback from single parent paralysis? Is it time to get your SWAG on? If so, then lets begin!

Every single parent has a different story to tell, but a common thread of hope and comfort unites them all.

No matter how you became a single mom, you share the same challenges and fears all single moms have. You may feel stretched to the limit. You may suspect your children need more than you're able to give. How are you going to do this on your own? With humor, Scripture, and sage advice, Pam Farrel (child of a single mother) and PeggySue Wells (single parent of 7 children) show you how to - be decisive - create a nurturing home - be proactive - date wisely - pray for your child - embrace your happily-ever-after - and more You are capable of parenting your children with courage, confidence, and clarity. This loving, practical guide shows you how.

Trustworthy Stepfamily Expert Offers Single Parents a Guide to Dating Single parents who are dating or want to begin a dating relationship wonder, How will dating affect my children and my parenting? They probably have figured out that "dating in a crowd" is complicated. Now they're looking for help. Ron Deal, who has counseled single parents and remarried couples for many years, helps single parents--as well as those who date them--navigate the potential pitfalls involved. He gives perspective on when a relationship may be harmful to the children as well as how it can be a blessing to all. Always at the forefront is the goal of strengthening families. Includes questions for individual or group study.

Whether you became a single parent through divorce, death, adoption, or some other situation, you've probably wondered what the future holds for you and your children. Will you be able to provide the emotional, financial, and spiritual support your family needs? The Single Parent will encourage you in your journey and help avert problems before they arise. It is filled with wise counsel, biblical truth, and real-life stories--the author's own as well as those of the many single moms and dads who have come across her path through the years. It will help you bolster your abilities in such areas as · improving your child's behavior · negotiating boundaries · graciously seeking and accepting help from others · trusting God in the process God cares for the single parent and will provide for you and your children. Let this book give you the tools you need as you walk with him in this journey.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Moms Know Best celebrates the special bond between mothers and children. Mothers of all ages will delight in the stories and feel good about the recognition they receive. “Mom will know where it is... what to say... how to fix it.” This book focuses on the pervasive wisdom of mothers everywhere. It includes the 101 best stories from Chicken Soup for the Soul’s library on our perceptive, understanding, and insightful mothers. These stories celebrate our mothers’ unerring wisdom about everything from the mundane to the life-changing, and the hard work that goes into being a mother.

Rejection. Loss. Confusion. Pain. Our past and our future are intertwined. Each distinct memory becomes one life. What once hurt, eventually heals, and the lesson (or lessons) to be learned becomes one with our soul and our spirit. Our experiences provide strength instead of destruction. Our great-grandmothers, grandmothers, mothers -- all women of power who came before us -- were great descendants of the coastal lands of West Africa. They arrived in strange lands with their Gumbo - -their memories, rhythms, ingenuity, creativity, strength, and compassion. Their lived stories and conversation were recipes mixed with unique combinations of ingredients, dropped into the cast iron pot -- stirred, dropped in, seasoned, dropped in, stirred again, and again, and again, until done. This Gumbo is savory like the soul, carefully prepared, recipes rich with what our foremothers brought with them from their homeland. They brought the best of what they had to offer. Gumbo or Gombo is a Bantu word meaning ‘okra’. Okra is a rich vegetable that serves as the base (or gravy) for a delicately prepared stew. (Today’s Gumbo cooks use a ‘roux’ as the base- see the recipe on page 3). Gumbo’s West African origins have been modified over the past two centuries by people of varied ancestry: Native American, German, Spanish, and French (Moss, 2014). It is essential to understand the manner in which Gumbo is prepared: each ingredient must be placed into the stew at its specified time so that it can cook in and savor its own flavor. When completed, Gumbo is usually served over grits or rice. Gumbo has become a cornerstone of life in African-descended communities across the south and southwest spanning from South Carolina to Louisiana and Texas. Gumbo is a treasure… a reminder of the greatness that lived in the village in a time of strength and abundance…a reminder of the resilience and richness of our people over generations. This book -- a collection of memoirs written by Women of Color is shared to inspire and motivate readers. The authors of these precious, soulful stories are from across the globe and represent various backgrounds and professions. What these women have in common, though, is their drive to tell their story. Stories of pain, discovery, strength, and stories of beginnings. Many of the experiences, as difficult as they may have been, made the women who they are today. Telling these stories to a new generation will empower and encourage them in their experiences no matter how troubling or challenging (Harris, 2015). These stories, like our foremothers offering their Gumbo, present the best these women have to offer. These authors want the world to know that deep inside of each of us is a rich, vibrant, purposeful beginning. As our lives develop and we are “stirred and stirred again”, like Gumbo, our experiences begin to shape who we are and who we become. When the stirring is complete, a comforting meal -- one that says no matter what has gone into the dish, it’s going to be amazingly magnificent!! The authors hope these stories will inspire and motivate girls and Women of Color to trust their experiences -- whether good or bad -- to help them become. Our becoming means that after all that life has thrown our way, we are strong, purposeful, and powerful people who are a great treasure to a world that sometimes rejects and ignores our existence. Embedded in this book are stories of abuse and triumph, sadness and victory, disappointment and resilience, discovery and victory. We are very proud to be the keepers of these rich recipes. They represent the first in what we hope will become a collection or series of inspirational memoirs that will be shared to help others live out their destiny and become the women they were born to be.

In search of Identity explores the origins of the Black race clarifying the true identity of our people. The book uncovers the circular journey of a people who are doomed to repeat enslavement or ultimate destruction if they do not awaken to the truths about themselves. The author has always since childhood had a interest in the Whys of racism. Putting life aside to self- reach knowledge to find the truth of Why does racism exist? Its time to remove the blinders. This book has You Tube references so the reader can better understand the topics addressed. This book is highly recommended for teenagers because the educational system does not address Black history and religion in the proper context.

Here is a comprehensive source of vital information on single parent families in contemporary society. This book analyzes literature and empirical research concerning single parent families and explores issues and challenges they face. Contributing authors from many fields and perspectives examine a broad range of subjects relating to families in which one person is primarily responsible for parenting. The only state-of-the-art compendium on the topic of single parent families available today, the book synthesizes empirical, theoretical, and contemporary literature about the diversity, myths, and realities of single parent families in western countries.Each chapter contains a demographic overview, definitions, a literature review, and implications for practice, research, education, and social policy. Theoretical and conceptual perspectives related to parenting and wider families are included. An analysis, synthesis, and commentary on single parent families concludes the volume. Themes highlighted throughout the book include socioeconomic and demographic characteristics of single parent families, cultural and ethnic features, and legal and ethical components. Some chapter topics include: single parenthood following divorce single parenthood following death of a spouse never married teen mothers and fathers female-headed homeless families adoptions by single parents noncustodial mothers and fathers grandparents as primary parents single parents of children with disabilitiesSingle Parent Families contains additional resources useful for family professionals: an annotated bibliography, a video/filmography, and a national community resource list. The book is intended for a multidisciplinary audience, including sociologists, psychologists, health care professionals, social workers, therapists, and other researchers, clinicians, policymakers, and educators. An ideal primary or reference text for undergraduate and graduate level programs, the book can also serve as a tool for staff development and continuing education in service agencies.

Chicken Soup hits the daily inspiration market with bite-sized stories to start every day of the year off right. What woman doesn’t need a dose of inspiration? These one-page entries are not lessons like a typical affirmation book, but complete mini-stories that capture the magic and wonder of Chicken Soup. The book features 365 stories, as well as affirmations, quotes, and inspirational messages, that will stay with you throughout the day and blank lines to fill in your own daily thoughts.