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Articles by Jennifer Maggio
8 Signs You May Be Dating a Narcissist
I began a ministry for single mothers almost two decades ago and have had the privilege of talking to thousands of single mothers across the U.S. Through the years, I’ve conducted many Q&A’s and, of course, the regular questions of sex, dating, loneliness, and future mates come up often. But I’ve recently been struck by the number of conversations where the term “narcissist” has come up. So I began to do a little research.
8 Signs You May Be Dating a Narcissist
I began a ministry for single mothers almost two decades ago and have had the privilege of talking to thousands of single mothers across the U.S. Through the years, I’ve conducted many Q&A’s and, of course, the regular questions of sex, dating, loneliness, and future mates come up often. But I’ve recently been struck by the number of conversations where the term “narcissist” has come up. So I began to do a little research.
25 Parenting Tips for Single Moms
The Life of a Single Mom Published Sep 25, 2024 If we surveyed a thousand single moms, there would be a thousand different answers on the best practices of how to parent your children well. Different strokes for different folks, as they say. That said, we want to provide some clarity and calm to what can sometimes be a difficult journey of parenting alone. Let’s be real. It is hard. It is really hard. There are droves of single mothers who have gone before you and have done it well.
4 Ways God Grows Us Through Loneliness Original
“As I sit here in a room filled with hundreds of other Believers, I couldn’t feel more alone. I feel invisible in a sea of faces. Somehow, I feel very unseen. How did I get here? What did I do to deserve this level of loneliness? How will I ever move forward? My life isn’t going as I planned, and I don’t know if I’ll ever get it back.” These words were penned by a friend of mine several years ago. She had written that note to herself while sitting in a church filled with almost a thousand other people.
4 Ways God Grows Us through Loneliness
The Life of a Single Mom Updated Aug 15, 2024 “As I sit here in a room filled with hundreds of other Believers, I couldn’t feel more alone. I feel invisible in a sea of faces. Somehow, I feel very unseen. How did I get here? What did I do to deserve this level of loneliness? How will I ever move forward? My life isn’t going as I planned, and I don’t know if I’ll ever get it back.” These words were penned by a friend of mine several years ago.
25 Ways to Serve a Single Mom This Mother's Day
With 15 million single mothers in the United States today, it is likely that you know a single mom. Maybe you were raised by one and saw how hard she worked to make ends meet and effectively balance the demands on her time. Many of the single mothers in our lives are juggling carpool, daycare, two jobs, or maybe career and secondary education. The lists of demands are endless. We implore the body of Christ to actively look for ways to invest in single mothers and their children. Impact a single mom.
Confessions of a Recovering Perfectionist Parent
The first fourteen years of my kids’ lives were pretty easy – not in the sense that we faced no challenges because there were plenty. Rather, I felt in control of my children’s lives on most days. Sure, there was the occasional temper tantrum, dirty room, or smart mouth, through the years. But I don’t know if anything could have adequately prepared me for the journey I would take through those teen years. What happened to my sweet, obedient little angels?
Raising Difficult Children
Okay, full disclosure here. I struggled with the title of this article. Our children, young or older, are gifts from God. They are precious and called with a purpose. God has a plan for them, filled with purpose and hope. And we love them with every fiber of our being, so let’s just get all that out of the way first. Admitting that our children can be difficult does not mean they aren’t gifted by God or that we don’t love them immensely, it simply means that parenting them is …… well….
10 Things Your Teenagers Want You to Talk About
The Life of a Single Mom Published Apr 04, 2024 There’s no denying the teenage years can be difficult, especially for inexperienced parents who are ill-prepared for the challenges that await them.
The Dangers of Isolation
The more hurt I was, the more I wanted to run. The more I replayed the past, the more I wanted to simply stay underneath the covers and not get up in the mornings. It seemed the harder life was, the more I wanted to isolate myself from others. And life got darker….and darker…. and darker. That's the danger of isolation. When we're going through hard times, it is easy for us to isolate ourselves. We don't want others around. We don't want to cry one more tear over the situation.
Am I Really a Christian?
I began serving single mothers in my living room almost two decades ago. I started a small Bible study, and three single moms attended that very first meeting. Over time, that group grew and grew and grew. Three moms turned into ten moms then twenty-five, then seventy-five. It was exciting to see more and more women coming into the Bible study. About two years into the ministry, I got a phone call at about 11 o’clock one night from a sweet mom who had regularly been attending our ministry.
7 Ways a Single Mom Can Fight Discouragement
Mommas, I know there are some of you out there – many of you – who are facing an immense amount of discouragement. The weight of it sits squarely on your chest, sometimes making it hard to get out of bed in the morning. Sometimes, this single parenting journey can seem like an impossible task, wrought with difficulty, obstacles, hardships, and criticism. Just when you seem you are getting a little bit ahead, another mountain presents itself for climbing.
9 Tips to Tackling Difficulties in Parenting
Moms, I have been where some of you sit. I’ve been through the times of lacking techniques, realizing no one really taught me how to parent. I’ve been having a teenager failing classes, getting in trouble at school, smoking weed, sexual immorality, dishonoring our family, disrespect. I’ve been through wayward children. I’ve been through it all. The following tips are truly everything I know and everything the Lord has laid on my heart about parenting in difficult times. Watch what you are saying.
Dear Self, You Won't Always Be a Single Mom
The Life of a Single Mom Published Feb 16, 2024 Seven years. It’s been almost a decade. Years of laundry and dirty dishes and endless vacuuming and dust strokes. Years of sitting in church alone. Years of celebrating alone the milestones of walking and potty-training and reading of first books and cheering home runs. I think, in the early days, I just assumed it wouldn’t last this long.
Dear Self, You Won't Always Be a Single Mom
Seven years. It’s been almost a decade. Years of laundry and dirty dishes and endless vacuuming and dust strokes. Years of sitting in church alone. Years of celebrating alone the milestones of walking and potty-training and reading of first books and cheering home runs. I think, in the early days, I just assumed it wouldn’t last this long. The adrenaline of just needing to keep two babies in diapers, working two jobs, and balancing college, alongside the other demands, kept me going.
The Reason I Left My Career
Like many teenagers, I entered my senior year of high school with a list of big plans to be accomplished after graduation, not the least of which was to run as fast as I could from my small town, leaving it in the dust. I would get my degree, land a big-time job in an even bigger city, probably New York, and I would change the world with my loud, very passionate, never wrong, voice.
Avoiding Life's Burnout
I love this God-given opportunity He has placed in my life. I love being a mom of three very different children, two whom are adults now. I love being a wife, a friend, and a coworker. I love working with churches, pastors, and anyone who has a heart to serve single mothers and their families. However, there have been too many times to count over the years, that I worked myself into complete exhaustion and burn-out.
7 Common Reasons Parents Miscommunicate with Their Adult Children
I am the mother of two adult children, with a third just shy of adulthood. As my children entered their late teens and young adult years, I clung to every Bible study, book, podcast, and video I could and… hung on for dear life! I don’t mind telling you it was a bumpy ride, and those years were hard! They were hard for so many reasons (many of which I’ll share with you today). Through much of that parenting journey, particularly with my firstborn, I was certain I was doing it all wrong.
7 Common Reasons Parents Miscommunicate with Their Adult Children
I am the mother of two adult children, with a third just shy of adulthood. As my children entered their late teens and young adult years, I clung to every Bible study, book, podcast, and video I could and… hung on for dear life! I don’t mind telling you it was a bumpy ride, and those years were hard! They were hard for so many reasons (many of which I’ll share with you today). Through much of that parenting journey, particularly with my firstborn, I was certain I was doing it all wrong.
Blessing Others This Holiday Season
The holiday season is a time of thanksgiving and gratitude. It is a time to reflect. We gather around fires and giggle with family. We host parties, give gifts, and drink hot cocoa. We visit friends and tell old stories. We roast chestnuts on the open fire. (Has anyone ever actually done that?) We thank God for our blessings and often look for ways to bless others. Sometimes, that blessing comes in the form of financial giving. It is a vital part of giving back to others.
The Single Mom's Choice This Christmas
Christmas is my favorite holiday of the year. Those who know me will attest to that fact. I begin my holiday planning in October. I'm singing Christmas carols at the first hint of a fallen leaf! I start thinking about Christmas décor and holiday gatherings mid-year. I make lists of friends and neighbors that I'd like to bake some goodies for. I relish the day it turns cold, so I can bring out a scarf or sweater.
Why Christian Women are Not Boss Babes and Divas
Some years ago, I was a 25-year-old corporate executive who was quickly finding success in the realm of corporate America. I was flying across the country, managing a number of employees, and exceeding company goals. I was earning a lucrative salary, and for a girl who had once lived in government housing as a broke single mom, it felt like I had arrived, in some ways.
Discerning the Voice of God
Have you ever wondered if you are in alignment with God’s instruction? Have you wondered if that little voice in your head was the devil or God? Have you heard something in your spirit man, then second-guessed whether or not it was God? Or maybe you’ve wondered whether or not you were in God’s will? Some of us have even cried out to God in our journey with questions, like, “Where are you? Do you hear me?
How to Overcome Fear as a Single Mom
By the time I was 21 years old, I had suffered a lifetime of disappointments. Both of my parents were dead, as well as all my grandparents and most of my aunts and uncles. I had seen more death than most do in a lifetime. I was pregnant multiple times outside of marriage, which carries its own shame and embarrassment. I had been homeless, lived on government assistance, and struggled to put food on the table as a single mom.
The War No One Is Talking About
When I was four years old, my parents made me take a daily nap in the early part of the afternoon. I remember this quite vividly and I absolutely hated that nap, but not for the reason you may think. During that time, on a regular basis, I had a recurring dream. A faceless, tall man in a long trench coat and a dark fedora hat would walk slowly down my street and up my driveway.
9 Things Single Mom Ministries Should Never Be
With over 22 million single parents in the United States today and numbers continuing to rise, many churches are launching or at least exploring the idea of single moms’ discipleship and evangelism in their ministry and outreach plans.
Establishing Boundaries With Your Children
Parents, what are the things you hold most valuable in your life? I would suspect that at the top of that list are your children. We are nurturers, boo-boo kissers, and wisdom-givers. We want to see our children thrive, grow, become successful at whatever vocation they choose. And if all of this is true, why is it that so many of us struggle to establish strong boundaries for our children? Establishing boundaries with our children means we love them enough to do so.
How to Prepare for the Storms of Life
For those of you who don’t know my story, the abbreviated version is this. My mother was killed when I was 17 months old. My father was devastated and turned to alcohol and women to cope. He married a total of 6 times, not counting all the girlfriends. My home became very unsafe. I endured 10 years of sexual assault, physical abuse, and malnourishment during those years.
6 Ways to Thrive Through an Empty Nest
The day my first-born got his driver’s license and pulled out of the driveway alone with my two younger daughters in tow, tears streamed down my face. One or two lone tears gently flowed down my face, but one or two quickly turned into a river, as I peered out the window. “This is it. This is the beginning of the end.” Even then, with my son only sixteen, I was keenly aware that he would soon be leaving the nest and my daughter, only seventeen months his junior, would be following quickly behind.
How to Live a Balanced Life as a Single Mom
There are many roles that we, as single moms, answer to: mom, counselor, friend, sister, aunt, employee, homework consultant, soccer mom, dishwasher, clothes washer, chef, and fixer-of-all problems… and so many more.
Navigating Shame
I was recently asked to teach a two-hour workshop on navigating shame. As with any such invitation, I pray, read the Word, and reference other notes and materials I may have written or taught through the years. As I began to prepare for the workshop, I researched many binders of notes. I was surprised to find that even after fifteen years of teaching ministry, I had almost nothing in the way of content on shame. I was shocked.
What I've Learned About God During Pain
No matter what I write over the next few moments, it won’t be enough to explain the splendor, wonder, and mystery of our God. The things I’m about to share are certainly not an exhaustive list of the majesty of our God. They are but a snippet of who He is. I don’t write to you today as a Bible scholar or theologian or a PhD. I don't write to explain every mystery. I write to you as a sister in Christ who has read God’s Word for more than 30 years.
6 Ways of Becoming Unapologetically Un-offended
Life is hard and the wounds left by its treacherous journey of valleys and mountaintops can be deep. Most of us have faced more battles than we know what to do with, as we swing against rejection, loneliness, financial ruin, loss, and pain. Family wounds, heartbreak, and financial challenges can leave us limping. Repeated broken hearts leave us mutilated, emaciated, and weak.
Finding Hope in the Wilderness Season
Finding Hope in Wilderness Seasons When I was a little girl, I lived in rural Mississippi, down a long dirt road that was named after my family, that offered no cable television, few visitors, and long hours playing in the yard. My sister and I also learned to love to play in the wooded area directly behind my house. We loved being in the wilderness and playing house and school and grocery store, and the like. We put an old chair out there and dug around in the trash dump for old pots and pans.
11 Ways to Be a Good Friend
In a world where access to information and world-wide connection has never been more readily available, sadly, we are often more disconnected, isolated, and lonely than ever before. While we have access to more potential friends through social media, many lack true, meaningful friendships that last and stand the test of time. The advances in technology and media often make our day-to-day easier to navigate, saving us time and energy, in many cases.
5 Reasons Your Church Needs to Change Your Single Moms' Ministry Plan
Jennifer Maggio Jennifer Maggio is a mom to three, wife to Jeff, and founder of the national nonprofit, The Life of a Single Mom Ministries. She is author to four books, including The Church and the Single… More Jennifer Maggio is a mom to three, wife to Jeff, and founder of the national nonprofit, The Life of a Single Mom Ministries. She is author to four books, including The Church and the Single Mom.
Whole Armor of God: Being Fully Prepared for the War at Hand
When I was four years old, my parents made me take a daily nap in the early part of the afternoon. I remember this quite vividly and I absolutely hated that nap, but not for the reason you may think. During that time, on a regular basis, I had a recurring dream. A faceless, tall man in a long trench coat and a dark fedora hat would walk slowly down my street and up my driveway.
6 Tips for Raising Difficult Children
Okay, full disclosure here. I struggled with the title of this article. Our children, young or older, are gifts from God. They are precious and called with a purpose. God has a plan for them, filled with purpose and hope. And we love them with every fiber of our being, so let’s just get all that out of the way first. Admitting that our children can be difficult does not mean they aren’t gifted by God or that we don’t love them immensely, it simply means that parenting them is... well...
The Reason I Left My Career
Jennifer Maggio The Life of a Single Mom 2023 10 May Like many teenagers, I entered my senior year of high school with a list of big plans to accomplish after graduation, not the least of which was to run as fast as I could from my small town, leaving it in the dust. I would get my degree, land a big-time job in an even bigger city, probably New York, and I would change the world with my loud, very passionate, never-wrong, voice.
The Reason I Left My Career
By Jennifer Maggio, Crosswalk.com Like many teenagers, I entered my senior year of high school with a list of big plans to accomplish after graduation, not the least of which was to run as fast as I could from my small town, leaving it in the dust. I would get my degree, land a big-time job in an even bigger city, probably New York, and I would change the world with my loud, very passionate, never-wrong, voice.
To the Single Mom Who Feels Left Out
My dad was a hard-working farmer from Mississippi who missed the first few weeks of school each year, because he had to pick cotton. He did, indeed, walk miles to school each day, barefooted and in overalls. Like his family before him, he made a living as a farmer and fisherman for most of my life. He had several side hustles, before anyone even knew what that was! While we always had plenty of food on the table and clothes on our back, there wasn’t much extra.
The Reason I Left My Career
By Jennifer Maggio, Crosswalk.com Like many teenagers, I entered my senior year of high school with a list of big plans to accomplish after graduation, not the least of which was to run as fast as I could from my small town, leaving it in the dust. I would get my degree, land a big-time job in an even bigger city, probably New York, and I would change the world with my loud, very passionate, never-wrong, voice.
The Reason I Left My Career
By Jennifer Maggio, Crosswalk.com Like many teenagers, I entered my senior year of high school with a list of big plans to accomplish after graduation, not the least of which was to run as fast as I could from my small town, leaving it in the dust. I would get my degree, land a big-time job in an even bigger city, probably New York, and I would change the world with my loud, very passionate, never-wrong, voice.
A Letter to My Younger Self
Sitting on a pew in a small Baptist church with two small children in tow, I was certain that everyone was staring at my un-ringed left hand, as a blinking sign flashed across my forehead that screamed “single mom.” It had been years since I had been in a church, and it took everything in me to load those two children into my car to drive to a local church that Sunday morning. The shame that weighed on my shoulders was almost unbearable.
Find You Again
The transition into any new season can be a challenging. There are so many unanswered questions and for people like me, who hate change, it can be especially hard. I am the type of person who loves the expected. I love safe places, boundaries and normalcy, I am not big on surprise parties or surprises in general. Well, I guess you can say I am one of those boring types of people - you know, the predictable type. I think that the same can be true for many of us.
The Reason I Left My Career
Like many teenagers, I entered my senior year of high school with a list of big plans to accomplish after graduation, not the least of which was to run as fast as I could from my small town, leaving it in the dust. I would get my degree, land a big-time job in an even bigger city, probably New York, and I would change the world with my loud, very passionate, never-wrong, voice.
6 Tips to Raising Difficult Children
By Jennifer Maggio, Crosswalk.com Okay, full disclosure here. I struggled with the title of this article. Our children, young or older, are gifts from God. They are precious and called with a purpose. God has a plan for them, filled with purpose and hope. And we love them with every fiber of our being, so let’s just get all that out of the way first.
6 Tips to Raising Difficult Children
By Jennifer Maggio, Crosswalk.com Okay, full disclosure here. I struggled with the title of this article. Our children, young or older, are gifts from God. They are precious and called with a purpose. God has a plan for them, filled with purpose and hope. And we love them with every fiber of our being, so let’s just get all that out of the way first.
6 Tips to Raising Difficult Children
By Jennifer Maggio, Crosswalk.com Okay, full disclosure here. I struggled with the title of this article. Our children, young or older, are gifts from God. They are precious and called with a purpose. God has a plan for them, filled with purpose and hope. And we love them with every fiber of our being, so let’s just get all that out of the way first.
5 Steps to Finding Strength in the Battle
By Jennifer Maggio, Crosswalk.com When I sit down to flesh out an article, it is customary that I consider my audience and often share a personal story that may resonate with the readers and offer them a common ground to build upon. I’ll admit this article’s journey wasn’t as simple. When I sat down to ponder the contents of this piece, I wondered what battle I would expound upon. What would resonate with you most deeply?
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