The Single Mom Story

As a hard-working college student and maintaining a full-time job I would never have imagine me being a mom at 20.

My daughter's father was someone of a different caliber than I, somewhat of a less caliber I may add. He already had two kids my two different girls at the age of 20.
He told me he would be there for me which he was somewhat but he was too really to busy cheating to really be there.
My daughter was his only child he saw born and I thought that would make him grow up. However, that was a negative.
We did get engaged but also had to deal with him cheating with a lot of girls and doing a two-year jail sentence with him. After seven years on and off I couldn't take the lies cheating and to top it off the neglect that I was given when I gave birth to a stillborn fetus alone.
The road with my daughter hasn't been easy we've had lived in shelters, on floors and from house to house. There were days we didn't have food there were even times when I went to Social Services in New Jersey and got denied living assistance because I had moved from New Jersey to another state then moved back because I had nowhere to go. Then when I tried to get child support, I was told I had to go find my daughter's father and then call the Warrant Squad and tell them where he was and exactly what he was wearing so they could pick him up, meantime he's in the rears for around $50,000.
Being a single mom help to see who your real friends are and trust me you don't have as many as you may think.

I turned 31 I met another gentleman well someone I thought was gentleman LOL. After a year being together but not really knowing him I got pregnant with my son. Even though I didn't have the same struggles I had with my daughter I had to deal with it man who had a whole other life in another town. He had a girlfriend of 12 Years he had a drug problem and a history of domestic violence and he also turned out to be a stalker. I did end up going to a domestic violence shelter because he would hide in bushes by my home or come by all types of the night knocking on my door or on my window. I tried to make it work for the sake of my son because I didn't want to feel like a failure yet again and not giving my kids a family or a father.

As a woman and mother you have to think about what's best for your kids. Yelling, arguing, and fighting is definitely not so I was at it again at being a single mom. I had to realize being a single mom doesn't mean feeling, it means strength. Strength to leave a situation that isn't healthy for your kids or yourself making a good situation occur after being abandoned or having to leave a unhealthy situation.

Contributor: Danielle Turner

Moms Morning Smoothie Recipe: Avocado Banana

• Avocado's have great health benefits, they contain Vitamin K, Folate, Vitamin C, Potassium, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Vitamin E.
• Then it contains small amounts of Magnesium, Manganese, Copper, Iron, Zinc, Phosphorous, Vitamin A, B1, B2 and B3n and do not have any saturated fat.

Avocado Banana Smoothie

Ingredients: 

1 half of a Avocado

1 half of a Banana

1/2 cup of fat free Vanilla Yogurt

1 Cup of 2% Milk or milk of your choice.

1 tsp of honey or agave (optional)  

Directions:

Add Avocado and Banana into blender along with yogurt and milk. Blend for 2-3 minutes.

Add Honey or Agave if desirable.

Add handful of Ice as well if you want smoothie chilled. 

Urban Moms Protein Recipe

Protein Breakfast 

Ingredients:

2-3 Eggs

Natural Organic Peanut Butter

2-3  Fresh Strawberries 

1/4 cup of 2% milk

Cooking Details:

Preheat frying pan, add a little olive oil so eggs won't stick.

Scramble egg whites in a bowl with a little bit of milk to make fluffy.

Pour mixture in frying pan.

Scramble egg white until done (5 min or less)

Remove from pan into desired bowl or plate. Let cool if desired.

Add 1-2 tablespoons of peanut butter on top of eggs.

Cut strawberries in halves and place on top of peanut butter.

Get Your Winter Boost Of Vitamins.

Winter can be a drag, all you hear is sneezing instead of the sound of a nice warm breeze.

So in order to quiet those sneezes, there are some Winter Fruits that can boost you and your kids vitamin C. 

Pomegranate

Pomegranate are in season between September- February.

Pomegranate is rich in disease fighting nutrients, anthocyanins, contained in out of season berries and they're highly packed with fiber.

When buying pomegranate you can always tell which is the best pick by its weight. The heavier they are the better. They can last up to three weeks when refrigerated.

Kiwi 

Kiwi is available all year round.

Kiwi is fun looking for kids, plus their body can absorb the antioxidants more easily than Strawberries. Eating kiwi before bedtime may also improve sleep quality and duration.

When picking your Kiwi look for the plump ones with some softness.

Mango

Mango's are available all year round.

Mango is a tropical fruit highly packed with vitamins A&C and rich in folate a nutrient that helps cell division and produces red blood cells.

When picking Mango look for the ones you can lightly press into.

Kumquat

Kumquat is available from November- July.

This fruit is very nutritious with sweet edible skin. Kumquat contain Vitamin A&C, antioxidants such as cancer-fighting lutein and zeaxanthin. The skin is packed with fiber and oils such as anti-flammatory limonene.

When buying Kumquat make sure it is bright orange with smooth skin.

Asian Pear

Asian Pear is available from September- February.

Asian pears contain extra-heart healthy fiber and potassium.

When purchasing Asian Pear look for firm unbruised fruit. This fruit most likely won't soften.

Grapefruit 

Grapefruit is available all year round. 

Grapefruit are packed with antioxidants that help stabilize blood-glucose levels. They also lower the risk of diabetes. However, grapefruit doesn't mix well with some meds so refer to your doctor if you are taking and medications or antihistamines.

When picking your grapefruit make sure it's round and heavy without blemishes.

Oranges

Oranges are available year round.

When choosing your oranges the most recommended are red blood orange and pinkish Cara Caras.

These oranges contain healthy plant compounds that aren't present in other variety of oranges.

Cara Caras have lycopene which is also in watermelon and helps fight cancer.

Blood oranges have anthocyanins which is a heart healthy antioxidant.

When picking your oranges look for firm, shiny heavy oranges. 

Pregnancy Bump: Don't touch

Everyone loves to hear the magical news of someone being pregnant.

It is definitely a blessing to be able to carry another life. However, people also feel the need to want to touch a growing baby bump which is not always something expecting mother want.

This is my third pregnancy and with my other two pregnancies it was never a bother to me for people to touch my growing belly but now it urks me. I don't know if it's because I'm pregnant with twins and I'm super protective or because I'm older, but whatever it is it's a constant annoying especially when they do not ask.

My co-worker constantly touches my belly saying goo goo ga ga and I didn't know how to tell her nicely to stop and step away from the belly!

After asking around and figuring out how to nicely tell people to back away I wanted to share some helpful tips.

1. You have to keep in mind their intentions are good before you get nasty.

2. Stick to your guns no matter who it is touching your belly.

3. Many people do not ask and just reach out to touch, therefore, you can say things like "I would prefer that you don't, I feel very uncomfortable about people touching my belly."
Or you can kindly say "I would have preferred if you asked first."

4. Keep in mind, do not be rude sarcastic or nasty it's very ungracious and shows a lack of gratefulness.