Smart Solutions for Busy Single Moms

Smart Solutions for Busy Single Moms

by | Aug 26, 2012

Many parents are busy these days juggling everything from work, car pools, soccer practice, and cooking dinner. But a hectic schedule doesn’t have to mean poor food choices. Here are a few time-saving tricks to make mealtime easier and nutritious for the whole family.

Create a family calendar

Whether you prefer the old fashioned calendar posted on the refrigerator or smartphone apps that sync your schedules, a key to reducing stress is to find an organizational system that works for you. By tracking everyone’s daily activities in a central place, you are less likely to forget any important work or family events and minimize the chance of double bookings.

Shop for groceries on a schedule

Schedule a regular time each week for grocery shopping. Create a list so you stay focused when you shop, helping to save time and money. Post the list in the kitchen where the whole family can see it and everyone can easily add in a variety of their favorite items as soon as you run out.

Make a meal in a minute

Ready-to-go meals are a smart choice for working parents. For example, family-owned pasta company Barilla offers microwaveable meals made from 100 percent natural ingredients. These palate-pleasing favorites like Mezze Penne with Tomato and Basil Sauce or Whole Grain Fusilli with Vegetable Marinara Sauce don’t require refrigeration, so they can be easily stored in the kitchen pantry or a desk drawer for lunch at work. Better yet, they are ready in just 60 seconds in the microwave so you can have a wholesome lunch or dinner – no cooking required.

Engage the whole family in menu planning

Ask everyone in the family – especially the kids – to plan a balanced dinner menu for one night of the week. Encourage them to think of creative themes like Italian night. Menu planning eliminates the last-minute scramble for something to eat, saves money on takeout and ensures healthier meals.

It doesn’t have to be a daunting task to maintain a wholesome lifestyle for the family. If everyone chips in, it can be easy and fun. (ARA)

[Video] How to Ignore Your Baby Daddy

by | Jun 30, 2012

 

A few months ago I wrote an article about how to ignore your baby’s daddy and forget about child support. It’s a hot topic in terms of ignoring the father on one hand, but who can ignore child support.

The video below goes into more detail about why it’s good for your mental and emotional health to let the baby daddy drama go and move on with your life. Check it out and let me know what you think.

Be a Rich Single Momma: Get a Six-Figure Career without a 4-Year Degree

Be a Rich Single Momma: Get a Six-Figure Career without a 4-Year Degree

by | Jun 12, 2012

If you want to become a Rich Single Momma you may consider several pathways.

  • You might have a rich uncle that will leave all his wealth to you. But how many of us have rich uncles?
  • Next on the list is finding a surrogate uncle, we call them sugar daddies. That might be hard to stomach though.
  • Write a bestselling book like Harry Potter as J.K. Rowlings, a single mom, did.

An alternative is a six-figure career. The only problem is you probably don’t have time to go back to school for another four to eight years to become an attorney or doctor. But the good news is you can make six-figures without a 4-year degree. The trade off is a short certification or two-year program, time on the job, the ability to sell yourself and skills, and planning.

I encourage you to evaluate your current job/career, industry, and skills. They could be transferable if you are not in the right industry. Take a look at your job satisfaction and ambition because landing a six-figure job does not happen by magic. Also check where are you in terms of your determination and motivation?

Single moms already have enough to do so it’s no point in adding more long-term stress. But I digress. I am supposed to be sharing six-figure careers that don’t require a degree. Okay, here is the list:

  1. Real Estate Broker
 7.  Network/IT Manager
  1. Air Traffic Controller
 8. Hotel Executive Chef
  1. Small Business Owner
 9. Radiation Therapist
  1. Fire Chief
 10. Court Reporter
  1. Construction Manager
 11. Financial Planner
  1. Plumber
 12. Mobile App Developer

 

Start Your New Career Now

Now before you throw your hands up in despair take a look at the list again. Is there a career you would like to get into? What would happen if you decided today to become a court reporter? The median annual wage for court reporters was $47,700 in May 2010. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $25,710, and the top 10 percent earned more than $91,280 according to the occupational outlook handbook.

Since you are going to combine determination, timing, and location you will be in the top 10 percent. Training can be as short at six months and as long as two years. By using a phased educational approach you can learn while you are working. It will take commitment but you will see your career progress from making the median $47k a year to over $90k a year.

Give Yourself Time to Make 6-Figures

Any occupation you choose from the list is going to require time for training if you are not already in the field. There are certificate programs for most of the occupations available through your local college or an online program. Many related associations offer certificate programs as well. Your path to six-figure income will be a progression. You will start off at a lower pay rate, but as you build education, experience, and skills it will progress. You could be making six figures in less than five years. You must be determined and persistent so put yourself on a career plan similar to the one below.

Court Reporter Career Plan

Activity Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 6+ Years
Education Certificate 2 year degree 4 year degree
Experience Trainee Junior Junior Level Mid Level Senior Level
Income $40,000 $47,000 $52,000 $65,000 $75,000 $90,000

 

Of course this is an aggressive plan but if you are in the right city and have the right timing you could reach this income level in five to six years. Your plan may not be as aggressive and results may vary. In whatever career you choose, be sure you look at salary information from one or two websites so you know how much you should be paid. Location will be a factor in addition to your experience and specialization.

You can be a Rich Single Momma, but it will take determination, persistence, ambition, and a plan. It will take time but the time you spend dreading the thought of learning a new skill, moving to a new city if necessary, learning how to negotiate a salary, and paying your dues for a few years could be spent just doing it.

Next time I will share my career path and progression with you. Some of what I did was deliberate but much of it happened because I was in the right place at the right time and was not afraid to move into a different career path.

Innovative Ways to Feel the Love Today and Every Day

by | Feb 14, 2012

Today is the day many singles dread. Am I right or wrong? If you are without a significant other you know the familiar feeling. The sting of being alone or the dread of seeing yet another red box of candy or rose not meant for you.

But today doesn’t have to be all doom and gloom. The green-eyed monster of jealousy does not have to show his face. You can do a couple of things to make it through the day.

  1. Be happy for others
  2. Share your love with other

…or you can simply hide out in your house until the day is over but that is probably not the best idea.

Be Happy for Others
This can be tough, especially if you’ve been alone for a number of years. It hurts to see your friends and family be on the receiving end of cards and flowers and candy.

But does it really make you feel better to hate on other people? It takes more energy to feel jealousy or hatred than it does to feel happy for others.

Imagine if it were you. Imagine it is you next year! It could turn around just that quickly. So this really is a case of do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Share Your Love with Others
This day is not just for lovers. The kids show us by giving Valentine’s Day cards to their classmates every year. Grown-ups can do it too.

Buy a pack of those kiddie cards and hand them out along with candy to your co-workers and friends. Everyone will get a good laugh and feel your love. Giving love makes you an automatic recipient of love. You will feel all that positive love energy coming back to you.

So don’t let the day be wasted with hater-ade and snappy behavior. Make it what you want it to be. When you give love you get love. It is a natural law of the universe.

Honestly.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

P.S. These tips are not just for today. Use them everyday to attract more love into your life. Love truly does not come to the person who is only looking to receive it. It comes to the one willing to give it freely each and every day.

Why Your Resolutions Will Fail If You Don’t Do This One Thing

by | Jan 3, 2012

This is the time of year people make resolutions. Did you do that this year? Do you fully expect to look back on the year 2012 and say, “I kept all my resolutions this year!”? How many people do you know who can actually say that?

Do you know why they fail each and every year? It’s because they do not do this one thing.

They don’t WRITE IT DOWN!

That’s correct. They do not write it down, so it does not happen.

The Power of Writing

I am a firm believer in the power of the pen.  Once it’s on paper it is final. The decision is made. There is no turning back.

To write down your resolution is to give it life.

It is a resolve to reach a goal. It is an announcement that tells the world you have something important to do for the year.

Yet millions of people forget about their resolutions after the first week because, firstly, they didn’t put any real thought into it and, secondly, they did not write it down.

Vision Boards Are The Best!

This year I did something a little different. I created a vision board and hung it on the wall facing my bed so it is the first thing I see with the morning light. I am reminded each day of the goals I plan to reach for the year.

First I wrote down my goals after thoughtful reflection. I began with the end in mind and set out to create a vision for my year.

Next, I cut out pictures and words to inspire me and help me remember my goals.

Finally, I pasted the pictures and words in a collage on a poster board.

It takes a little time to do this exercise but it is worth it. Why? Because you will have direction for the days and weeks that make up your year.

Here is a sample of a how to make a vision board

Why People (Including Single Moms) Fail Miserably

Year after year people live in depression and misery and wonder why they can’t get a break. They complain about the same things, people, and circumstances.

If you are a single mom you live with anger and resentment and worry because you don’t have enough money to put food on the table or buy your child new shoes. Or maybe you are feeling lonely and suffer in silence with a bag of chips.

The number one culprit is lack of or incorrect focus and purpose. Sure the problems are real, but when you focus on the problems, it creates more problems.

The Point of Living is Living On Purpose

What is the point of living if you do not have something to focus on? Why go on day after day doing the same things, in the same ways, yet expecting different results?

It sounds harsh but the reality is, your life will be a mirror image of last year and all it’s failures if you don’t do anything about it.

If you want love, a business, a better job, a changed life, write it down. But it is helpful to take it a step further by being specific about what you want.

This could be tricky because, too often, we don’t know what we want. But your heart knows. Listen to it and trust it to point you in the right direction.

Set S.M.A.R.T goals: Specific – Measurable – Attainable – Relevant – Time-bound, to get the best results.

Action Steps:

  1. Think about your greatest desires (let your heart guide you)
  2. Write them in a journal, on a sheet of paper, or in the computer
  3. Create a vision board (optional)
  4. Go and live your life on purpose!

Discussion Questions:

Do you make New Year’s resolutions?

Which ones did you keep the entire year?

What actions steps will you take this month to create the kind of life you want to live in 2012?

To Get an MBA or Not? That is the Question

by | Dec 7, 2011

The other day I got an acceptance letter in the mail for an MBA program. It was a surprise because I applied in the summer but decided against going because I just don’t want to add to my student loans. I am also not ready to commit to the time required to complete the program.

I love learning and being in school is always a pleasure for me. I know, I’m weird like that but the learning process and discovering new things just does it for me.

So I’m torn now. Should I start the program or not? How much time is it going to take away from my family? Will my kids feel neglected? A thousand questions to consider.

On the flip side, by getting my MBA I will have more business insight, more earning power and probably less hard work as a manager or director of some company.

Fortunately I have done a lot of preliminary thinking about what I would concentrate on. Who knew an MBA program had so many options? Fortunately I don’t have to worry about choosing a major or a college like I did in undergrad. The choices are endless.

The program I’ve been accepted into begins January 2, less than a month from now. What an interesting way to start the holiday season. I suppose I’m blessed to be in this position right?

I’m leaning heavily toward going but I have to look at my schedule and consider how I will juggle parenting, my clients, and class work.

What would you do?