Single parent

Newborn Baby Jack by hrtmnstrfr flickr

I said this a few blogs ago, hehe, that being a single parent is a tough job. As a single parent you're solely responsible for this little person. The truth of it is that it's really scary. That's my feeling anyway.

You give birth to a little bundle that you love with all of your heart, all of you. There's no love like it. When you're in a relationship with someone you don't think that someday it could all end and you could be on your own. So that's the scary part for me. All the decisions are yours to make unless of course you have joint custody or whatever your particular situation.

The constant worries involve whether you can pay the bills and come out ahead. Some of us single parents are really having a tough time of it. I took a look at the statistics for Canada and it was disheartening to say the least.

There were 1.4 million lone-parent families in 2006 and Eighty percent were headed by women. To sum it all up, women suffer a great deal more as lone parents, essentially because of lower income earnings and a lack of access to child care. In reality they live in poverty.

It's tough but God is my guide. I also happen to have a wonderful extended family and they do so much for me and my kids. That's the only way that I've been able to cope.

Are you having a similar experience? Tell me how you are coping. I'd love to hear what you're doing and how you're doing.

Reading

Reading is an important skill for everyone. When you are a reader the whole world is open to you. You can read and enjoy whatever you choose.

Personally, I love to read. I read to my children when they were still in the womb and when they were born well, let's say the adventures continued.

My daughter is an avid reader. I guess she takes after her mom, grandmother, aunt etc. My son would rather read comics such as Calvin and Hobbs. At least he's reading. There's a love for books in my family.

I like self help, romance, spirituality, health and well being and many other.

I thought that I'd list my daughter's top 5 that she loves to read and she reads them over and over too. Some of them can be for younger readers but she's ten years old. Look in my sidebar for the list too.

My daughters list: (all series)
Dear Dumb Diary

Twilight

Baby Mouse

Geronimo Stilton

Bone

My sons:
Calvin & Hobbs

Family Day

me and my little one

It's Family Day, a public holiday, here in Ontario, Canada. Several other provinces and places around the world celebrate it too.

This day was created in 2008, in Ontario. As a public holiday, most businesses are closed today except for essential services such as fire, police, hospital etc. Generally, Family day is one in which families can get together and spend quality time.

Families today are so busy with work, school and other activities that it seems together times are rare. This day is to encourage families to spend time together in whatever way they choose such as skating, visiting a museum or going to the movies.

Where I live, the movies at the local cinema have been discounted and the YMCA has a family price for entrants to encourage them to go swimming, play basketball, do arts and crafts and many other activities. This is just a few of the places that offer special rates for the day.

Last year, I took my daughter swimming and she met many of her friends. We had a good time. We spend quality anyway without the holiday. However, it's a good boost and reminder that family is important and should come first.
Happy Family Day!!

Eating Well

Growing our own ce

In my perfect world, everything I eat is good for my body. In this world, I have to pay extra to get food that is supposedly better for me. What I'm talking about is organic food.

The way that our food is grown and processed now it's obvious that it's making us sick. There are so many more man made diseases than at any time that our food has to play a big role in that. Our food has been tampered with, especially with the use of modified ingredients. It's scary really because we have no idea what's really in our food.

I know that I want the best food for me and my family. I'm sure that we all want that. Organic food gives me an option. Is it a good one? Maybe! I don't know for sure. I buy organically when I can.

It just that the big companies have a monopoly on everything. They can offer food at a price that we just can't ignore when we need to take care of our families. How do you choose?

If you live in a climate where growing your own food is an option then it's possible to help yourself. Research your area and find out about food that is grown there if any, and how it's grown. Then shop locally.

Read the labels on the food packages. That's how you become more aware. Check out some of the organic growers and read, read, read, all you can in your own private library, the internet. Also by taking the right vitamins, eating healthfully and exercising regularly we can heal ourselves.