Little Mix - Shout Out to My Ex (Official Video)

I heard this while running today... I Love who i've become...

Date My Mom!?!?

Date MY mom... But Keep this in Mind... 

(a Friend was kind enough to share this with me about a year ago)

The Huffington Post released this article back in June of 2015

7 Damn Good Reasons To Date a Single Mom

1. She can roll with the punches
2. She's well rounded
3. She's Independent
4. She loves like no other
5. Single moms are sexy
6. She knows what she wants
7. She plays for keeps

10 Things you MUST know About Dating a Single Mom... YourTango.com released this back in April 2015

1. Her free time is precious, and you're probably not getting all of it.

If the single lady you are interested in is also a single mom, chances are her free time is limited. Oh, we know, you are busy, too. These are busy times. But solo parents are in a different realm of busy. Between single-handedly managing parenting, a career, and running a household, there's often not much room for leisure. So when she finds herself without children for a few hours or even a few days, don't blame her if she has a list of things to do and they don’t all include you — even if that list consists of binge-watching TV and sleeping in.

Yes, you need time together and yes, you should make her list of priorities, but don’t expect to be the list, and don’t whine if she wants to see friends or recharge alone. Upside: You’ll have plenty of time to maintain your own friendships and hobbies, instead of becoming one of those obnoxious enmeshed couples who have forgotten they are not, in fact, surgically attached.

2. Her kids are the priority.

Want to know the fastest way to end your relationship with a single mom? Try to outrank her kids. Not only were they in her life first, but she’s the reason they exist at all. She sort of made them. They’re not an inconvenience and they are definitely not your competition. They are her children. Her flesh. Don’t just understand that they come first, embrace it. Would you really want a woman who let some new person — even one as rad as you — take precedence over her kids? No. No, you would not.

3. Her ex may very well be around.

Situations differ but generally speaking, if your once-partnered lady has kids, those kids likely have another parent that's still in the picture in some capacity. This can be challenging in the best, most-amicable of situations, thanks to our very human natures and pesky evolutionary flaws like jealousy. It’s okay, though. You can do this. Your lover had a life before you and at some point, that included a partner with whom she had a kid or five.

She loved, she created a family, and at some point, she let go. It’s something to be admired, even if it didn’t end up the way anyone had planned.  Move past awkward and move into acceptance. It's part of the path that brought her here. To you. Sometimes that can be hard to do, but you can do it — even if her ex is a special brand of asshat — which brings us to our next point …

4. Her ex is her problem, not yours.

In the event you have found yourself really digging someone whose ex really makes you want to go WWE on his or her ass, we have a bit of advice for you: Don't. It's admirable that you feel protective of your partner and it's natural to have ill feelings toward someone who is hurting your partner in some way, but the best possible thing you can do in this situation is to let her handle it and support her as she does. Do not get personally involved.

No passive-aggressive Facebook posts, no antagonizing texts, no standoffs at the PTA fundraiser. Just. Don't. And don't complain to your partner about her ex. A million dollars says she already knows, she already feels sh*tty about it, and she doesn't need to hear it from you. Stroke her hair when she cries. Take her kickboxing when she's infuriated. Find a way to make her laugh. But don’t make her ex your problem.

5. She doesn't need you to rescue her.

You like this woman because she is capable and determined and basically an all-around life-conquering badass, right? Of course. So do her a favor and let her be that. If she is running up against challenges, offer her love and support and encouragement in whatever form speaks to her. That’s sweet. That's helpful. You know what’s not? Taking over and trying to fix everything for her.

She’s a grown woman who has managed to do a good job of kicking ass without you swooping in on your medieval white horse thus far, so let her keep doing that. Swooping in is condescending. It tells her you think she can't rescue herself. That’s bullshit. If she asks for help, give it. Otherwise, let her do her thing while you sit back and marvel.

6. Meeting her kids is a very big deal.

When you are involved with a single mom, meeting the kids is a very big deal. Or maybe it isn't. The thing is, every single mama has her own approach to this and her own ideas about what it means. For some, including the kids is no big deal. Some mamas want to see how everyone gets along or how you treat her kids before anyone gets too invested.

Some mamas can't afford to shell out for a babysitter or don't like always leaving the kids behind so if you want to see her more often, you'll be getting to know her kids, too. Other mamas like to leave their kids out of their romantic lives entirely. Some like to wait until they have some confidence this isn't a flash-in-the-pan fling. The only way you will know is to ask. While you're at it, let her know your feelings on all of it, too, because, you know, communication.

7. She might be a little flaky.

While it's true that flakiness is something that's really only desirable in pastries, you should probably expect a little of it from your new woman — not because she wants to be a flake, but because juggling all the things can be really, really difficult, and sometimes she might drop an orb or two. (Balls joke avoided.) The sitter may bail on her, her kid may come down with the flu, she may just need to lay down for a while because trying to be Wonder Woman when you don't actually have superpowers is really fucking exhausting. Cut her some slack. No guilt, no pressure. And if you really want to win her over, have Thai food delivered.

8. It’s complicated.

Choosing to get involved with a single mom will in many ways not be as simple as dating someone whose life is less encumbered. She probably can't drop everything and hop on a plane to Ibiza with you, and her schedule is probably measurably more complex than that of someone who is flying solo. Her life is full of responsibility and commitments and little people who need her. But that doesn't have to be negative. She is responsible. She has made commitments. She is nurturing. Her schedule may require her to plan ahead, but really, whose doesn’t?

9. It's not her fault.

Society has created a bad ass stigma around women who stick it out, stay committed, andwork like hell to raise their kids alone. Celebrate her gumption. Don't begrudge it. See her not for a broken soldier, but as the powerful (albeit tired and probably overworked) warrior she is.

10. You are lucky to be here.

No, really. You are. This complicated, sometimes-messy, often-unpredictable life of the badass warrior mother you are into? It’s also gorgeous and fulfilling and soul-expanding and generally incredible. If she wants you to be a part of it, it’s an honor. Revel in it.

http://www.scarymommy.com/dating-a-single-mom/   released this post

5 Things Men Should Know about dating a single Mom...

1. Being a single mother can be the loneliest job in the world. Sure, I am never really alone. I have my child with me most of the time, and the joy that comes from that is a true blessing. At the same time, I’m taking on the responsibility, that naturally, two people should share. I put in everything I’ve got- physically and emotionally- so he never has to feel like he’s missing a parent. Sometimes I feel pangs of jealousy when I see conventional families with a mother and a father. It must be nice to share these experiences with the one other person who contributed in making your child. But there is no sharing as a single mother. Even if I have a village of wonderful people to help me, I am the only person that can be the parent.

I invest everything in my child and, at the end of the day, I’ve run out of gas. Vroom! Vroom! That’s where you come in. If I am going to be with you, I want you to fuel me in some way. I want to share stuff with you. It’s not that I can’t be strong on my own, but everyone deserves fulfilling companionship. I want to be with someone who makes me feel alive and makes my time worthwhile. That being said…

2. My time with you is golden. Time with you = Time away from my kid which means you better make sure it is worth it. That doesn’t mean we have to have candlelit dinners or climb a mountain every time we’re together. It means that we have to make our time together a priority. That means planning in advance. I do not have the luxury of dropping what I’m doing and heading out. I have to get a babysitter and schedule how long I can be out and when I need to return. The clock is always ticking for me.

But do you know how happy I am when I get that alone time with you? Very. To me, it’s like a romantic getaway, a mini-vacation. Put in the effort into making it special every time. Effort = Planning in advance, which means I feel like you respect my time. Also remember, however….

3. Our relationship will not flow like other peoples’ relationships. Sharing hobbies and traveling together are important aspects in evolving relationships. They help us grow together, experience things, and even help determine our compatibility.When you’re dating me, those experiences are few and far between. While our coupled friends are planning to run a marathon together, I’m still trying to find a babysitter for our date next week. We don’t even have the freedom to make love, cuddle, and sleep next to each other whenever we so desire. Our benchmarks as a couple are totally different, the obvious being your relationship with my child. Just like shared hobbies and travel experiences can help bond two people, your relationship with my son helps bond me with you. My child is my everything, and that is why….

4. Everything counts as double. Everyone has a guard up to protect oneself. But I have a guard up to protect not one, but two people. If I get hurt, I don’t function well, and that affects my parenting, which in turn affects my child, and all I want to do is protect my child. Whew! I’ve acquired a lot of strength and resilience in life, but it doesn’t mean that my vulnerability to love has waned. If anything, I am more vulnerable because I am more serious about my time and my relationships. When you treat me well, you’re treating my kid well. When I’m upset with you, my kid can feel it in my energy. I understand this is a difficult concept to remember, but it’s the truth. I believe a man that accepts his girlfriend as a mother will learn to adjust himself to that lifestyle. Our dates will sometimes have to include my child.

But please don’t run away yet because…

5. I forget to understand your position. This is the one thSo at ties a neat bow around the whole thing. I have to constantly remind myself that you do not share my responsibilities nor my past experiences. When I’m so consumed in my own responsibilities, I get frustrated when you don’t understand my anguish. Sometimes when you say, “I am tired.” I want to scream- “YOU’RE TIRED? YOU’RE TIRED?! I’m still catching up on two years worth of lost sleep!” But that’s not fair, is it? You should be allowed to have bad days, and as a girlfriend, I should hold them to the same regard as my bad days. I have to remind myself not to use double standards.

Overall, it is a thrilling position to date a single mother. Be prepared to have a woman who is upfront, passionate, and nurturing. Whether or not you planned to be a father, there may also be a kid who falls in love with you, too. The reward is in the risk.

So, if you took the time to read it all, good for you.  

Niall Horan : This Town - Love this Song

madeleine peyroux - dance me to the end of love... An Old Favorite of Mine

I am the positive

It's been one of those few days.  I smile, say positive things and love harder and deeper for others. They say they're just words. But, when someone knows more about you than anyone else they know how to hurt you deeper than anyone else.

The last couple weeks have been a roller coaster of emotions.  I've gone back and forth about whether to write about this or not and well... i think i'm ready.  My first and original Chicago friend of 15 years and i have decided to call it quits on our friendship.  This maybe for the best in the end.  Some of the choices she has made the past two years have torn me apart.  

Let me start by saying that she was incredibly supportive and had my back with every decision i have made over the past 3 plus years.  She's never judged me or told me what to do.  So, in return I've tried to do the same.  But, this continues to create tension in our relationship.

About two years ago she decided to start a relationship with a man that told her he was separated.  Then it came out that he was not separated but instead he was very married and moving into a new home with his wife.  The relationship continued and still does to this day.

My question is why?  I asked a good friend and he told me this... "it's safer. less commitment and less need to take care of them.  You get your needs for companionship met without having to partner."  The destruction this type of relationship creates is never ending.  It tears people and families apart.  It leaves scars deeper than one could imagine.  It's selfish.  Who would settle for this... you're worth SO much more.  I just hope she knows this and whatever she wants out of life she finds. 

I've had some nasty words thrown my way recently and i know they're just a part of anger but... they still hurt me.  So, i'll smile, say positive things and love harder and deeper for others.  The tears will fall behind closed doors when i am alone.  Because... i am the positive.

11 Days all to Myself...

The next 11 days i'll be alone, the boys away... they're calling it a vacation for me.  I'm excited for them to go on this adventure and to have fun but, i'm not sure how it will be for me.  I've never been away from my boys for this long let alone them so far away from me.  

I have mixed feelings about it all.  I know that it's important for me to have a little time for me but this just seems strange.  I have a few things on the calendar but for the most part i'm not sure how i'll spend my time.  I'm full of worry and just need to take it one day at a time.

Matthew West - Mended

Empty

I'm finally ready to make the post.  The post about the box that sat on my counter for over 6 months.  I had plans of filling this box but, never did.  We have these ideas and we walk carefully so that we don't make the same mistake twice but in the end i may have walked to carefully.  Now, the box is empty and is headed for the trash.  There will be new boxes but, this one will have forever changed me.  It allowed me to know that i deserve more and that i am going to be enough!  

Charlie Puth - We Don't Talk Anymore

Life Changing Day

Today marks the 3 year anniversary that changed my life forever.  It would never be the same after this day.  I've already fought the tears off a number of time.  As much as i would like to remove this day from the calendar i can't.  Without it i wouldn't be who i am today.  I'm not where i would like to be and have a long ways to go but, i have faith that i will be one day... one day soon.

Simply Me...

Simply Me is dedicated to my journey as a single mom to three incredible little boys and making our dreams a reality.  My faith is strong and i truly believe we'll settle happy.

"Now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you whatever you ask, for all my people in the city know that you are a woman of excellence.  Ruth 3:11