Still Going it Alone: Mothering with Faith and Finesse When the Children Have Grown - Softcover

"What now? The kids are grown and gone. "Still Going It Alone: Mothering with Faith and Finesse When the Children Have Grown, " by Michele Howe is here to help you deal with the transition. No more arguments about curfews, SAT scores, bad-driving habits, homework, or Saturday morning clean-your-room frenzies? Many single mothers, who have devoted their lives to rearing their children, often feel lost when their children grow up and leave the nest. These mothers have spent so many unselfish hours mothering and providing for their children that they've forgotten how to have a life for themselves, and they find parenting a grown child different and challenging. Howe's book targets single moms whose children have moved on and out. (This book is a sequel to Michele's book, "Going it Alone," which is for single moms rearing younger children.)"Michele's positive self-help book will show women how to acclimate to these new crossroads by giving them examples of how other moms became more aware mentally and spiritually. A few of the chapter topics are: entering the crossroads, relating to in-laws, instilling financial stability, grandparenting, and caring for aging parents. Each chapter begins with a Scripture quote and consists of different real-life stories of struggling women, a step-by-step section on how to adjust to changes and set positive action plans, a mother's prayer, and a thought for the day. "This book is well organized, but it's easy for readers to get confused as to which character each story is about because there are so many different stories within each chapter. This isn't a "quick-read" sort of book. The benefit to the reader will be greatly improved if she takes her time to reflect on and absorb each chapter's message. This is a great reference book -- one that mothers will want to keep handy as their lives continue to change -- to reflect on over and over again. The back of the book also contains recommended resources for further reading and spiritual growth. "Chapter Six's Bible verse is from 2 Timothy 1:7. It says, "For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline." I recommend this book for mothers who are looking for a boost with this parenting transition. Be prepared to journey with proactive single moms who look at this new parenting quest as an opportunity to grow and embrace change through the power, love and self-discipline that God has given us." --"Christian Book Previews" "Howe wrote her first book, "Going It Alone," for newly divorced moms who faced raising their young children alone. Now she helps mothers take steps farther down the road as children leave the nest and begin families of their own. 'It is my hope and prayer that this book offers single moms a safe place--a community--where they find rest and renewed hope, strength, and shelter, ' the author says. She addresses many unique challenges facing single moms as they enter a new phase of life: an empty house, helping young adult children set goals and building new relationships with them, in-laws, new career options, finances, grandparenting and more. Her chapters on caring for elderly parents and aging are especially helpful. Howe laces her book with real-life stories and adds hands-on action steps in each chapter's 'Ready, Set, Adjust!' sections. Chapters also include a prayer and final thought taken from a pertinent book. Howe targets an audience not often aimed at and hits it dead on." --"Publishers Weekly" "Howe addresses in a Christian voice, a unique and equally important population of single moms in the process of sending their children off to college, a job, or into marriage. As with all life changes, the role of mother is still ever-important, but it changes as children grow and become more independent. Howe does a wonderful and respectful job of gently guiding mothers through these changes in a strong, reassuring voice. Clearly, the goal of this book is to provide single women with a way to connect and strengthen her relationship with grown children while also addressing personal issues all mothers wrestle with such as dealing with an "empty nest," remarriage, growing old alone, financial reassessment, and career goals. ."What I really love about this book Howe does a marvelous job of making each chapter reader-friendly in terms of brief - yet powerfully packed - paragraphs and antidotes. With topics such as: Assessing Career and Educational Options; Pondering Remarriage; and Discovering Joy and Contentment Despite; the author gives mothers lots to think about and reflect upon in their own lives. In addition, the end of each chapter contains two unique and inspiring messages: "Every Mother's Prayer" and a "Thought for the Day" with carefully crafted messages and thought-provoking prayers that give the reader a sense of calm closure at the end of their daily reading. The Bottom Line: Don't miss this great opportunity to read a book that will not only help you -- but inspire you!" --"Parenting Pink" "Howe wrote her first book, "Going It Alone", for newly divorced moms who faced raising their young children alone. Now she helps mothers take steps farther down the road as children leave the nest and begin families of their own. 'It is my hope and prayer that this book offers single moms a safe place--a community--where they find rest and renewed hope, strength, and shelter, ' the author says. She addresses many unique challenges facing single moms as they enter a new phase of life: an empty house, helping young adult children set goals and building new relationships with them, in-laws, new career options, finances, grandparenting and more. Her chapters on caring for elderly parents and aging are especially helpful. Howe laces her book with real-life stories and adds hands-on action steps in each chapter's 'Ready, Set, Adjust!' sections. Chapters also include a prayer and final thought taken from a pertinent book. Howe targets an audience not often aimed at and hits it dead on." --"Publishers Weekly"