• About

Villa Majella

~ pregnancy housing & support services

Villa Majella

Monthly Archives: June 2015

Ways for Single Mothers to Boost Their Self-esteem

26 Friday Jun 2015

Posted by villamajella in self-esteem, self-help, single mother

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

children, nonprofit, pregnancy, self-esteem, single mothers, Villa Majella

B3H3AA frustrated mother holds infant while older siblings play sword battles in the background, backyard, home USA

Are you pregnant and single? Do you have young children and you’re recently divorced? Do you get lonely and sad thinking about where life’s road lead you? I am here to tell you you’re not alone.

According to singlemothersguide.com, 4 out of 10 children are born to unwed mothers, and two-thirds of children were born to women under the age of 30 in 2013. In 2014, the US Census Bureau found that out of 12 million single families surveyed, single mothers accounted for 80% of those families. That’s 9.6 million mothers, living in the United States, feeling similar feelings you do; alone, having a difficult time doing what is best for yourself and your child or children, wishing for more flexibility in your life and definitely more you time. Maybe sometimes you even blame yourself for your circumstances.

It can be difficult to give yourself fully to your children when emotionally and physically you feel a hole in your heart, or a desire for greatness that you want so badly to obtain, but the vehicle of getting there seems too out of reach. Here are a couple pieces of advice I can offer you, to assist you on your journey back to happiness, where you feel no regrets or need to be destructive towards yourself.

Mother-with-headache-daughter-in-background

You are Not Alone

As I mentioned above, there are 9.6 million women in your exact circumstance, taking care of a child or children without the support of a partner. Allow yourself to cry every now and then, because you are experiencing an obstacle in your life that is real and true. Don’t dismiss your feelings, just let them flow, recognize their presence and then let them go.

Seek Outside Support

Like most single mothers, you are working hard in order to provide for your little ones, which doesn’t always give you lots of time to go to support groups. Luckily, there are tons of virtual support groups that you can join online, specifically through Facebook. Here are three I highly recommend that are active.

Single Sisters, Single Mothers

Single Mothers United

Single Mothers Raising Boys Discussion Group

No meeting times for you to struggle to make. You can just reach out to women who understand where you’re coming from. You can ask them questions and most of the time someone will reply within 24 hours.

Handling Nighttime Loneliness

When work is done, your kids are fed and they’re fast asleep, you are then left with yourself. What can come up during this time can be painful. Those reoccurring thoughts of, “I did this to myself, I made him leave me,” “I just want someone to help me through this,” “I feel like I have no one who can understand my pain,” or “If I tell anyone how I am feeling, they will think I’m selfish.” These are all normal thoughts that can be disruptive to your wellbeing, when they aren’t dealt with in a healthy way. Here are a couple ways you can handle these emotions and come out of it feeling more satisfied and at peace.

  1. Read a book you love.
  2. Make a happy list of things you did that day that brought you joy. Even if they are small things, they will still make you feel better, I promise.
  3. Start a blog about your experience as a single mother. Your words could be a source of comfort for single mothers all over the world. Plus, it’s therapeutic to get your thoughts out on paper. Many other single mothers have started blogs that have become very successful. Here are two to check out- http://mssinglemama.com and http://www.single-momnation.com.
  4. Do chores around the house to tire yourself out. It will keep your mind busy.
  5. Watch a movie that you know you’ll enjoy. Your time matters.
  6. Take a bath, give yourself a facial or do your nails. All those things can make you feel good and girly too.

mom-computer-baby_m

Plan For you and your Baby’s Future

Are you interested in going on a girl’s weekend in the coming months and you need to plan to get a babysitter? Do you want to take your son or daughter on an adventure you know they will enjoy? Maybe you want to start dating in the coming year, and you’re looking for the best online dating website to join. These are all exciting possibilities that take a bit of planning to achieve. Planning for the future can be a lot fun and I highly recommend it as a great before bedtime activity, to keep you positive and moving forward.

Surround yourself with Good Friends and Family

Everyone’s lives are busy and it may be easy to think my friends and family know I am having a tough time, they should call me or come over to see how I am. Unfortunately, your friends and family aren’t mind readers, meaning, you need to be the one to reach out and tell them what you need. If they are good friends and family, they will be there for you, no matter what that looks like. And In the end, you’ll be happier.

Hope this post gave you a couple tools to use when days feel tough and difficult to get through. Just remember, you are not alone.

At Villa Majella, we strive to instill a strong sense of self-esteem in the mothers who come through our doors. If you are homeless, in need of housing and support, you are not alone, we are here for you.

Advertisement

Why Getting your GED is Important for your Future

08 Monday Jun 2015

Posted by villamajella in Education, nonprofit

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

education, GED, nonprofit, School

GED

If you didn’t finish high school and you’re looking to better your financial future, getting a GED (General Educational Development) is a great option for you. You may not know all the benefits to receiving a GED certificate, which compels me to tell you why passing your GED exam will change your life.

  1. You Will Have Better Job Opportunities

You will be qualified for more job opportunities than a high school dropout. You can expect to get jobs in these areas: construction, office and administrative support, installation, maintenance and repair services, short order cook, cosmetologist, occupational therapist aide, physical therapist aide, retail salesperson or a travel agent. By passing your GED exam and also completing one year of vocational job training or license training, will allow you to enter into one of these positions.

  1. Better Your Chances of Furthering Your Education

If you’re interested in a college degree, getting a GED allows you better chances of getting accepted to a four-year accredited college, or a two-year associate program, which leads to even better job opportunities and financial earnings later in life.

  1. You Will Earn More Money

Those who have a GED certificate or a high school diploma, can expect to earn on average $2,400 a month or $28,800 a year, compared to high school dropouts who earn $2,100 a month or $25,200 a year.

  1. You Will Build Your Self-Confidence

You will gain more self-confidence, knowing you took big steps in investing in your future. Also, the GED is not an easy exam. When you pass the exam, you will feel a great sense of achievement. And receiving your GED certificate will also give you more confidence in applying for jobs you want, because your ability to get them are greater than someone who didn’t finish high school.

GED

I know that testing can be difficult, and the process towards getting a GED can feel intimidating or stressful, however, just remember your life is important and you do deserve a chance at a brighter future for yourself and your family. You can get started right now with the resources provided below.

At Villa Majella, we do stand behind the GED program, as a positive education pathway for our residents.

Resources and Practice Questions

GED Testing Service

http://www.gedtestingservice.com/testers/test-sections

Free GED Practice Tests

http://www.gedstudyguide.org/free-ged-practice-tests/

http://www.studyguidezone.com/gedtest.htm

GED Test Guide

http://www.gedforfree.com

http://www.amazon.com/Cracking-Test-Practice-Tests-Edition/dp/0307946045

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1618658875/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1?pf_rd_p=1944687562&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=0307946045&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=184GK8W173S09S7YC0ZN

http://www.walmart.com/ip/10532425?wmlspartner=wlpa&adid=22222222227000015617&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=52921420608&wl4=&wl5=pla&wl6=43593639552&veh=sem

GED Prep Classes

San Luis Obispo- http://ae.slcusd.org/ged

Santa Barbara- http://www.sbcc.edu/ce/ahs-ged.php

Ventura- http://www.vace.com/programs_adult_literacy.html

Los Angeles- http://college.lattc.edu/academicconnections/ged-pathways/

  • Home
  • About
  • Website

Contact Us

604 N. Kellogg Ave.
Santa Barbara, CA 93111
805-683-2838
M-F 9am - 4pm

Recent Posts

  • First Holiday Season with Baby
  • Playtime With Your Baby
  • What Kind of Parent Am I?
  • Changing Seasons
  • Single-Parent-Person: “Staying Afloat”

Archives

  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • May 2016
  • December 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • August 2012

Categories

  • abuse
  • adoption
  • baby
  • benefits
  • childcare
  • daycare
  • Education
  • Exercise during pregnancy
  • First
  • fundraiser
  • holidays
  • infant care
  • nonprofit
  • parenting
  • pregnancy books
  • Pregnancy Tips
  • Relationships
  • self-esteem
  • self-help
  • single mother
  • Uncategorized
  • volunteer

Meta

  • Register
  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.com

Like

Like

Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com.

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Follow Following
    • Villa Majella
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • Villa Majella
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...