My daughter doesn't care how much money I make (or don't make), what kind of car I drive or how good I look in a pencil skirt, all she wants is quality time. She wants to help me cook, play the Wii, even help me file my receipts. She's an excellent "shipper" ... she puts labels on packages I mail out and stamps on notes I write. All of that in her mind is QT: quality time.

It's so hard working, keeping the house in order, the paper monster under control and let's not mention the dust bunnies (dust rhinos?) that need to be eliminated. All of that can wait, I've discovered, in exchange for the joy I see on my daughter's face when I shine my light on her.

So we've been playing games, reading books together and every day for the past couple of weeks I've taken her to the pool. In our community we have a great pool where the residents gather to eat, socialize and play (let's not forget tanning, there's a lot of tanning going on!). Even with 45 minutes between homework or errands or karate, we run up there just to have a smidgin of fun before it's back to whatever is next.

I know for sure I'm all the better for turning off the computer, the phones, and the TV and just asking her what she wants to do with me. Sometimes it is turn on the computer and play a game, rent a movie and pop popcorn or just read another book in the Nancy Drew series. Take some extra time very soon to shine your light on your kids and watch how happy all of you become. That's what I call a successful single mom in action!

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I'm on my way to a jewelry party this afternoon with about 20 other women ... most of them moms. Their children (including mine and two of her friends) will all be there, for a total of about 40 people. It promises to be a wonderful time of laughing, eating, drinkings, shopping and bonding.

We've been doing events like this, both with children and without, for the past few months and they are such great fun. We're even working on starting a book club in the next few weeks.

If its Saturday (or any day) and you're home alone with your kid(s), wondering how to add more fun to your life, this is one way I know for sure works! Gather up your (single and non-single) mom friends and plan events at the park, your house, their house, the library ... wherever! 

As my daughter's best friend Kelsey's mom says: "There's safety in numbers!"

Sometimes its hard to open up to other women, but I can tell you from personal experience, its really worth it!

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Hello ladies, just wanted to share with you this site I found! If your anything like me & love reading up on the latest celeb gossip, fashion, or woman's living, then your going to Love Free & Risk Free without paying a cent! I'm a single mom, money is tight so i HAD to share, enjoy ;)

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Hello! How are you? How are you really? Did you wake up this morning full of excitement, focusing on the possibilities, ready for another wonderful day?

Or have you forgotten what that's like? Are you facing challenges that sometimes seem insurmountable? I resonate with that, more often than I'd like to. Maybe you do, too.

I'm writing this to you so you remember. I want you to remember you're amazing, every minute of every day.

If you're not nodding your head, think about this: your body made a person (or several). That alone makes you amazing. You got up this morning, like every other morning, and regardless of your external circumstances, you chose to take on your day. Perhaps you made breakfast (and lunch) for your kids before you got busy at your job or business so you can keep the lights on and doors open. I bet you probably either did a load of laundry or at least thought about doing it later, along with a few (million) other things that need to get done today and every day. I'm sure you hugged and kissed your children and put a smile on your face. All of these things, and all of the other things you take for granted about yourself, make you amazing.

Look back over your life and do a mental review of your past challenges. You are still here. That also makes you amazing. Realize that in the midst of all of them, you may have thought you couldn't, or didn't want to, go on. You conquered these challenges and will conquer many more.

Here is your daily successful single mom affirmation: 

I am a Successful Single Mom who loves her children, herself and her life. I'm breaking through and attaining new heights of success, wealth, joy and happiness. I'm conquering challenges in daily life and in my job, career or business. I'm successful in the way I define success. I'm happy where I am and am always looking to go to the next level, for myself and my children. I wants more, better, the best! I'm determined to go for it and know in the end I'll get anything and everything I truly want. I know I'm in the right place, at the right time, creating just what I want to create. I am unstoppable.

You are unstoppable. Always remember that.

With love, light & admiration,

Honoree

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I wrote a bit about my vacation and although it was wonderful, it is so great to be home! After a good night's sleep, I woke up ready to get ready to take on the world. :)

I got on the scale this morning and let's just say I brought home more than a few souvenirs! I am also apparently still in possession of bread and butter, Froz Fruit bars, fried conch fritters, peanut M&Ms, and pineapple and key lime sanchwiches.

Here's the truth: the first week of my vacation I ate anything and everything I wanted to eat. I sat by the beach and the pool and didn't work out. The second week, I worked out three days straight (while still eating and definitely not the way I normally eat) ... and then my daughter got the mother of all ear infections. This led to 48 hours of no sleep and certainly no exercise (but I didn't stop eating!). I did a hard workout yesterday before flying home. I did manage to have a white chocolate mocha from Starbucks, a Pizza Hut personal pan pizza and when they offered me chocolate ice cream after dinner on the plane, I said yes and enjoyed every bite. Thus my fun interaction with my scale this morning.

What do you do when you've gotten "off track?" I've had the tendency in the past to get frustrated and beat myself up. As we all know, neither of these is a strategy for getting what I (or you) want. So this morning, as I stared down at what I consider a really high number (considering I am not "with child"), I decided to press my mental reset button and take action that will serve me.

That's my "story" and at every step along the way I chose my actions (or lack of action). Now I'm choosing to do what I know will get me what I want. 

When you find yourself frustrated with your current results, say this: "It is what it is." Then ask yourself, "What do I want it to be?" and finally, "What do I have to commit to doing so it can be the way I want it to be?"

It doesn't really matter what it looks like today, because you can use your mind's eye to visualize what you want your tomorrows to be like and then get moving in that direction. One day at a time.

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