It's only fitting that after our little technical difficulties, we talk about yours. More importantly, we talk about what you moms do to get back on track after a set-back.

For us, it was patience, communication, and resilience that got the ball rolling and eventually brought our blog back. Of course, comparing real life maintenance to blog maintenance is silly, and we know that. However, maybe some of the lessons are the same.

Years ago, Psychology Today had a short article about how to come back from a setback. Here is the link.

A poignant quote from the article says, "Big losses provide the biggest opportunities for change...They make a person more open to trying new things."

So dear moms, we know times can get tough but we believe in you. We know you can bounce back. Share your stories with us! Tell us how you overcame adversity.

Good Monday Moms--
Forget about the Monday blues. Look at the lighter side of life today, like our new contributing Mom blogger, Angela does. She writes her own blog at Asinglemomsjourneytowardsaneducation.blogspot.com and her latest post is just perfect for sharing.

I was reading it and it gave me knots in my stomach--until I got to the punch line of course. Lesson learned from this? Never lose your sense of humor! Afterall, in the face of adversity, it counts for a whole lot!

Read Angela's entry below:

4/2/10
A Single Mom's Journey Towards An Education: Love Grace
Yesterday, my daughter (20 yrs-old) text me. Her message read, "Joey proposed to me last night." My brain froze. I didn't know what to say. So, I text her back, "Wow!" All I could think about was how they would struggle financially; they're too young; they're babies would run around barefoot with dirty feet; statistically they have an 80% chance for divorce. My heart broke to think about her facing the many burdens and endless responsibilities that come with marriage and child-rearing. (I assume they would have kids.) It just seems so unnecessary to make a life long decision when her life is just beginning. She has so much to do still, so much to see and so much to find.

Then, it occurred to me . . . maybe she refused his proposal or suggested they wait. Ah, there's hope. Quickly, I texted her and asked, "So, what did you say?" She replied, "Happy April Fool's Day!"

And, this is what makes Grace special - she has the sharpest mind and untamed wit!

Take heart single parents, many inspiring and successful adults came from single-parent homes. Not only do these men and women credit their background for shaping their world-views, they recognize that it was because of their single-parent upbringings that they made it far.

Here's a list of some amazing adults who came from single parent homes:

Audrey Hepburn, besides her famous roles in films like Breakfast at Tiffany's, Audrey Hepburn was the UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador from 1988 until her death in 1993. She received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in recognition of her work with UNICEF, and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences posthumously awarded her The Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award for her contribution to humanity.

"How shall I sum up my life? I think I've been particularly lucky. Does that have something to do with faith also? I know my mother always used to say, 'Good things aren't supposed to just fall in your lap. God is very generous, but he expects you to do your part first.' So you have to make that effort. But at the end of a bad time or a huge effort, I've always had--how shall I say it?-- the prize at the end. My whole life shows that."

Ricky Henderson, Arguably the most prolific baseball player in the Oakland A's history, holds the records for most all-time stolen bases (1,370), most home runs leading off a game (75); steals in a season (130), 1982; most seasons leading league in stolen bases and the title of American League Most Valuable Player for 1990, and baseball Hall of Famer.

Christina Aguilera, multi-platinum selling and Grammy winning artist.

From her song, "Oh Mother:"

"So mother, I thank you
For all that you've done and still do
You got me, I got you
Together we always pull through
We always pull through."

Mother Teresa, world-famous activist:

"The problem with the world is that we draw the circle of our family too small."

Alan Heeger, 2000 Nobel Prize Winner for Chemistry

Of the importance for education, instilled in him by his mother:

"One of my earliest memories (long before my father died), is of my mother telling me of the importance of getting a university education. When she graduated from high school, she received a scholarship to go on to university but went to work instead; she was needed by her parents to help support the family. It was always clear to me that it was my responsibility to go to university; prior to my generation no one on either side of my family had an education that went beyond high school. I and my brother were the first in our family to receive the PhD degree."

Any other inspiring children of single parents to add to the list?

While the article pokes fun at the "pint-sized eco-police" and their reluctant-to-change parents, the upcoming Earth Day (April 22nd) is actually a great time to realign your values with your child's, while creating some inspiring earth-themed projects together.

If your kids are older, look for special events around town, they're happening across the U.S. throughout the month of April. Like, in downtown Edmonds, WA, where there is going to be an Art Walk on April 15 from 5:00pm - 8:15pm. They're celebrating with the "Arts For The Earth" initiative, a display of earth-inspired art and tastings of the local organic cheeses. If you're elsewhere, try browsing EarthDay.org's official event calendar or looking in your local paper for stuff to do.

If you've got little ones, try some green-inspired craft projects. The lovely Nickie Knight of HipMomsGoGreen.com has some awesome crafts like the "litter bugs", made from bottle caps, old buttons, or whatever else may be laying around the house.

There are also some earth interactive crafts, like helping the local birds make nests. This tip (among others) comes from AmazingMoms.com.

1) Start out by grabbing a mesh bag (the one your onions or potatoes come in) and cutting the top open, making sure the cute is wide.
2) Then stuffing it with things like yarn, old stuffing from teddy bears or pillows, or dried grass.
3) When full, hang it somewhere birds can safely access it. Hopefully, a bird looking to nest will find it and use your materials in a tree nearby. This way, your child can really see what "reuse" means when it comes to interactive environment!

Whatever you decide to do, enjoy!
Parents, do you have any other great ideas for celebrating Earth Day with your little green monsters?

Here a few quick and easy suggestions that may ease the burden of choosing nutritious foods your children.

• Buy baby bottles of water. Kids will be more apt to drink them if they can carry around on their own.
• Fresh fruits/veggies can be affordable. Kids love baby carrots and celery sticks. Add a little low fat peanut butter and you have a nutritious delicious snack.
• Avoid white starches-look to whole grain alternatives: whole grain bread (at least 3g fiber a slice). Put low fat peanut butter and real preserves on whole grain bread and kids will love it. Added bonus, the fiber in the bread will keep them sustained for a longer period of time. Great for lunches.
• Slip a high fiber, great tasting granola or bran bar in their book bag for an afternoon snack.
• For dessert, always have some low fat yogurts and puddings on hand. Always a favorite! Also buy real fruit bars in place of fudge bars, popsicles and ice cream. Although some low fat ice cream. Serve in a decorative coffee cup for portion control.
• Avoid the “100 Calorie Pack” fad. Frankly, it can get expensive. A more sensible solution is to use zip-lock snack size bags, and place enough for one serving.

By following some of these quick and easy suggestions, your kids will be getting the nutrition that they need without even knowing it! And when choosing foods for your children, use common sense. Does this seem healthy/nutritious? Does this sound too good to be true? Stick with the nutrition trends that have stood the test of time.
Your kids will be happier, healthier and will develop good eating habits that they carry into adulthood.

By Jaclyn Maupin

Kids are the best gift that any woman can have. The only issue being
whether we are ready to accept this gift.

They call the earth "Mother Earth." Why?
Because she gives of herself in every possible way. She gives when you
ask for it and she gives when you don't ask for it.
She bears our burden gives us space to build upon.
She provides us with grains, fruits, flowers . you name it she offers
it and does so beautifully.
She provides us with beautiful landscapes, valleys, mountains, hills
and so much more to explore, to travel upon when we need to.
She provides us with jewels, gems, precious stones to adorn us.
She provides us with beautiful trees that sustain us, that provide
oxygen for us to breathe.
As our Earth is a Mother, so are we chosen to be Mothers. Why?

Because we are able to share in the beautiful process of creation.
Because we can nourish a life, sustain it.
Because we give of ourselves, our energy, our time, our love, our support.

But, we can only do all this when we are ready from inside, when we
are ready to accept our gift, wholeheartedly.

Having a child changes our life, there is no denying this. But it is
in our hands to keep this change positive. Yes, there are sleepless
nights, increased expenses and less time for yourself. All of a
sudden you are a mature adult looking after a child.

Tell yourself I will manage if I want to. I will take the changes as
they come. So maybe at times I will be tired; I am only human. But I
am ready to give it my best effort; it's all for my very own child.

Just like Mother Earth, we too have the capacity to to be there when
we are needed. We have the strength to bear life and to sustain it.
So be proud of yourself.

By Nusrat Malak

Weathering the difficulties of single motherhood means we are growing
too. Like our children, it is happening to us fast; so fast we may
not be seeing our progress.

I have watched myself grow for the past four years, having left a bad
relationship, with no job, no hope and a second child on the way. I
believed my life was doomed for some untold reason and that these two
children were a blessing perhaps I did not deserve.

Now, four years later I can see that the blessing was all of the pain
I have had to feel, heal, and move through. The scars of my struggle
are the shining wounds of a warrior who went to battle against all
odds to nurture and protect her children ... and I have won.

Though the outside world has not changed very much, our home and our
daily lives are chaotic and peaceful in their own right. I have come
to accept where we are. We are closer to poor that rich for now, but
we are far richer than those families I see whose lives have never
been turned upside down for survival and safety. And somehow, I
managed to keep it together: be completely sober, stronger, older,
wiser and less afraid of anything that comes our way.

My boys are now 7 and 3, and we are making it with the help of family
and friends. We are also propelled by the energy of preservation from
the Universe, the one that keeps the flower tight in the bud and safe
on the coldest night and tells it when it is time to gently open up,
and share its true beauty with the world.

by Christina Ciani

Well, no more.

I’m of the opinion that our single-parent status makes our lives better, in many ways, than they would be if we had partners. Think about it. We make our own choices for ourselves and our children. Their schools, their spiritual educations, their activities…bottom line, it’s all up to us. I’ve been a single mom since the day my daughter was born. This means I chose my daughter’s name, I chose to nurse her, I chose to co-sleep. I got to hold her when I wanted to, and didn’t have to hand her over to someone else when I wanted another cuddle from her. I had all that I wanted. I still do.

So many of my married friends have complained that their marriages took serious hits when their kids came home. The dynamics in their relationships were totally altered, and it was hard to adjust. They have also lamented their lacks of sex drive, and have complained that, after a long day with children attached to them, the last thing they wanted was more touching in the evening.

These same people, however, often tell me they don’t know how I “do” it. But I know that I couldn’t do what they do. I’m certain that they’ve had it harder than I have. I had to adjust my life to accommodate one new person: my daughter. I didn’t have a relationship that had to adjust to her presence, and I didn’t have a partner who was adjusting, either. And rather than making my life harder, it made it oh, so much easier.

I knew from the moment I got pregnant that this was going to be all me, so there were no illusions that my husband would shoulder any of the childcare responsibilities. You know what I’m talking about. Don’t you hear your married friends complain that, when the baby came, they were the go-to parents? Didn’t their husbands try to continue behaving as they had before the baby came? Didn’t you roll your eyes and sympathize with them? And weren’t you thinking that you were so stinkin’ glad that you didn’t have to deal with that kind of nonsense?

I say that we single moms have it pretty darned good. Our kids are growing up brilliant and confident. They have strong female role models, and will never think that a woman can’t do what a man can do. Because we’re doin’ it every day, all by ourselves. And that’s awesome. Yep, we have it good.

The future is never a predictable place but I don't think anybody ever saw this one coming. In the last century, more science fiction writers saw us leaving the planet than changing the way we use this one and I don't think any of them predicted a closer relationship between human beings and the bodies that house them. There was a time when futurists feared that advanced technology would allow the human race to outgrow its use for bodies. But chances are we'll grow into a need for bigger better bodies instead.

We can make up the standards as we go and I'm pretty sure we should we address the 'peekaboo' issue before it becomes an issue. I know the plumber's-butt look is in for guys and the thong-crawling-out-of-the-jeans look is hot for women (too bad it's not limited to those who have the bod for it) but I really think we should consider the minimum and maximum coverage question now. If you skimp on the foliage, you're stuck padding the diet with cheeze in a can or doing the unthinkable -- stealing. When is it a case of playfully thieving crops from a friend or grabbing lunch at the expense of others? Will low blood sugar be an acceptable defense for such a personal crime? You may not be stealing the food from my childrens' mouths but you're stealing it right off my hand or my thigh or -- wherever it's growing!! We're gonna need a new set of laws. Forget about indecent exposure -- if it all falls out you can always put on clothes. But illegal mowing, clipping and gnoshing are the ultimate concern. Don't touch my daisies!!!!