Will God forgive me for my divorce? What about my abortion? My affair? What questions about your past keep you up at night wondering if God will forgive you? For years, I’d wake up from a deep sleep at 3 am questioning if God’s forgiveness covered me. I grew up in a Christian home, and I was familiar with the Bible stories, yet I didn’t think they applied to me. Stories like: God forgave David for his affair and for plotting to kill his best friend. (2 Samuel 11-12) Jesus washed away the sins of the woman at the well (John 4) forgave the sins of the adulteress woman who was about to be stoned ..read more

Church and single moms: through the stigma and the church hurt, single moms belong at church and are loved by God. Although many single moms feel left out at church, there is a way back. Single moms often feel forgotten, out of place, and sometimes straight-up not welcomed at church  Whether this is because… There’s a sermon series “about sex for all the married people,” and the pastor says it’s good for the single people to listen to this as well…which, side note, I’m still waiting for the sermon series about single parents that the married couples “should listen to as well.” You were e ..read more

Finding a morning routine for a single mom comes with its unique challenges. If you’re a single working mom, who has to get a child (or more) out the door to school and your butt to work each morning, this one’s for you. Would you rather listen to this post? Click below for the podcast. For more episodes or to subscribe to Grace for Single Parents click here.  My youngest walked out the front door crying. “Get on the bus, I’m late for work,” I yelled after him. And I shut the door. I held back my tears until I got into the car to drive to work. Only then did I let go. When I parked at wo ..read more

Start having conversations with your kids about their faith in God today using these 20 faith questions for youth. Encourage your youth to think for themselves about their faith so their love for God will come from within. When Your Kids Begin Questioning Their Faith At some point in their lives, our children will begin to question the beliefs we worked so hard to instill in them through church, prayer, and bible time. Our kids will ask themselves or their friends big questions about their faith.  Is there really a God?  Do all religions lead to the same destination?  Why is the ..read more

This is a guest post. The life of a single parent is full of twists and turns. Getting every responsibility done can be challenging, especially when juggling it with full-time work and other errands. Stressful and lonely moments can feel overwhelming, but there’s one way to create a life you thrive in — a solid support system. Here are ways you can build your own support system. Acknowledge That You’ll Need Support The first step in building your support system requires embracing the fact that you need assistance. You may sometimes feel you need to do things alone if you’ve relied on yourself ..read more

This is a guest post. Many single parents find that moving is the right option for them. Maybe you need to find a lower-cost living situation to support your family on a single salary, or perhaps you want to move closer to your extended family. Whatever your reason, the move is happening, so you’ll need to make the best of the situation. Moving is stressful, even if it’s just you; adding kids into the mix makes the whole endeavor more challenging, especially as a single parent. However, there are things you can do to help make the move go more smoothly for yourself and your children. With good ..read more

This is a guest post. Making sure your house feels like a home is important for any family, but it almost becomes more critical if you’re a single parent. Creating living spaces that are truly inviting for your kids, friends, and family is no small feat, but there are certain staples that people agree to make a house feel more “homey.”  In fact, a study by Furniture Village of 2,000 homeowners revealed 40 things that make a house a home, with features like a cozy bed (65%), a spacious sofa (48%), and personal touches (20%), like kids’ artwork topping the list.  If you’re a ..read more

An independent adult starts as a child who learns how to solve their problems and make good decisions. How do you help them develop their self-sufficiency muscle?  Here are ten things you can do to raise independent children.  Let Them Do Things for Themselves. As much as you want to help your child get dressed or tie their shoelaces every time, it only teaches them to depend on you, even for simple tasks. Resist the urge to do things for your child because it’s more convenient, faster, or efficient. They will only develop specific skills if they try it for themselves. If you take so ..read more

Prioritizing self-care during the holidays is paramount for many people. The same sentiment is more than applicable to single parents. They tend to give their all to have a grand household and get everyone gifts this season. Hit pause and collect yourself first, though. Execute a few self-care activities to freshen up and take a deep breath. The Importance of Self-Care as a Single Parent About 23% of U.S. children under 18 live in single-parent households with different stories to tell. However, every story has two sides, and a single parent’s tale is often forgotten. After all, they ..read more

Has your child been asking for a pet, but you’re unsure whether it’s a good idea? Owning any pet is undoubtedly a big commitment, but it can also be a wonderful experience for children.  While growing up with pets can bring immense joy, love, and companionship and curate many beautiful memories, it can also be a surprising source of some essential life lessons for children. “But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you, or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you.” (Job 12:7-10).  While ..read more