Search Results for: blog no reason to feel guilty

Sorry Junior, the Economy is Hurting

According to a recent report by Bankrate, 49 percent of parents say that they will be spending less on Christmas gifts than they did last year. With fewer bottom basement bargains available this Black Friday (which was really creeping into Black Thursday) and parents who will be spending less this holiday, does this mean that kids will be disappointed on Christmas morning? It is easy to feel guilty or sad if you can’t get your kids certain items on their list. After all, we get the message everywhere that we go. Our kids must have the latest and greatest, or … Continue reading →

THEY said “No” this time

Tentative results of the match meeting are in… the adoption recruiter emailed me to say that we presented really well at the match meeting, and that they all liked our family. She also said that, while nothing is decided as of yet, the team really wants to place this child in a family where she is the only girl. They want her to get all the attention she needs, and feel that she will do better in that sort of environment. Understandable. But, disappointing. I was really optimistic about this match. And they haven’t contacted us about any others. So … Continue reading →

Keeping the Holiday Spirit When You Feel Like Scrooge

When you have to watch your budget over the holidays, you may start to feel like Scrooge himself. Always being the watch dog over finances can do that to a person. You can begin to feel like the bad guy. Just remember that Bob Cratchit was on a budget, too, and he represented the very spirit of Christmas…a loving family who honored the Savior’s birth. Take the Focus Off of “No” It is easy to get into the habit of focusing on the “nos” all of the time. “No, you can’t have an iPod even though your friends all have … Continue reading →

Guilt is the Worst Reason

Guilt is the worst reason for taking on any form of ministry in your church or community. Guilt is the also the worst reason for doing something you no longer have the passion and drive and commitment to do. Yet that’s what happens time and time again in churches. Christians seem to be past masters at laying guilt trips on others for what they should be doing. A friend who is a writer and has had a number of novels published, and yes they include Christian content, was criticized by her pastor husband’s congregation because she wasn’t doing the things … Continue reading →

Just Say “No” – You Can Do It!

“No”. It is one of the shortest words in the English language, but it is also one of the most important words as well. “No” can help you avoid overfilling your plate, prevent you from taking on clients that are more trouble than they are worth, and assist you in establishing boundaries with others, among other things. All too often, we are told that “no” is a negative word and this may lead us to avoid using it, even when it would be good for us to do so. Do you ever find that your life is hectic and you … Continue reading →

No Reason to Feel Guilty

Summer is finally starting to wind down. School is just around the corner and I have to admit, I am looking forward to it. I recently posted something on my Facebook page about how I was starting to count down the days until school starts. A couple of comments revealed something to me, moms are sometimes afraid to admit that they want their children to go back to school. It has been a great summer. I appreciate the fact that I was able to spend some extra time with my children and that my family was able to enjoy a … Continue reading →

The Guilty Mother Syndrome

Last week my 11-year-old son really surprised me with a statement that he made under his breath. I can’t even recall the setting of that conversation or what we had been talking about. All I know is that I heard him mutter something that really took me off guard. When I thought I heard what I heard, I asked him to repeat it but he wouldn’t. It took a couple of minutes to coax it out of him. Finally he sighed heavily and said, “I wish you had a different job.” The reason that statement really surprised me is because … Continue reading →

Things Married Friends Do That Annoy Single Parents

Over the years many of my friends have been guilty of at least one of the annoying habits listed below. Although they’re famous for trying to make me feel better, help out, and be supportive, at times they can do the exact opposite. As a single parent, have you run across any of these situations? Friends Who Ask About Your Ex Whether you’ve been divorced for six months or six years, for some reason I always run into friends who want to know how my ex is doing. Since we didn’t part on the best of terms, I honestly don’t … Continue reading →

Feeling Guilty About Thanksgiving? Seven Tips to Help Curb Holiday Overeating!

If you celebrated Thanksgiving yesterday, I hope you had a lovely day full of good food and great family and friends. I also hope you have no regrets about your eating behaviors. Thanksgiving and other holidays tend to encourage bad habits. The meals are full of “special” foods we don’t get on a regular basis, so there can be a feeling that you NEED to overindulge because you’re not going to see it again for another year. Plus, there’s just SO MANY good foods to sample — you don’t want to insult the chefs by not filling your plate, right? … Continue reading →

How to Say No

As I mentioned earlier, I’m feeling bad about having said no to a few commitments this week. I love my friends, and enjoy helping them, and don’t like to feel like I’m letting them down. But sometimes, you just have to say no. Sometimes you’re over-committed, sometimes it’s just something you don’t want to do, sometimes you just can’t fit it into your schedule. Still, all those reasons don’t necessarily make it any easier to say no — especially when it’s a friend doing the asking. Here are some tips to help make it a little easier to say no. … Continue reading →