It's no secret that single parents learn from other single parents; that's why those at SingleParents Magazine want to know what's on your mind!

SELF CARE:
What do you do to "Feel Like A Woman"? Money may not be too plentiful these days, but there are things you do to bring a smile to your face and soothe your tension -- without sinking your financial plan.

SANITY SAVERS:
How do you maintain your relationship with your children's father? My ex and I have completely different views about how to raise our children. He let's them have free range with no responsibilities. When they come home, I have to deprogram them. I'm frustrated because it's like good cop vs. bad cop.

DIVORCE & CUSTODY:
What is the best custody arrangement for a toddler? My ex is moving out in a couple weeks and we have come to the conclusion that a divorce is eminent. We have completely different views about the custody of our 4-year-old son. I want the " traditional" every other weekend and 1 or 2 days a week. They want week to week.

NEVER A DULL MOMENT:
How do you handle childcare emergencies? I knew immediately something was wrong when slowly, the door to my bedroom opened and a green face peered in and uttered the words ‘I don't feel so good.’ My stomach began to churn and suddenly I didn't feel so good either. My boss would kill me if I was late again and I had no idea what to do with Jessica.

If you can offer advice or have a problem you wish to share, email or write to Them. Letters should be under 150 words and possibly published in an upcoming issue. Please include your address, daytime phone number and email address.

Write to:
Single Moms Who Think
c/o SingleParents,
P.O. Box 1128,
Los Angeles, CA 90034

or email singlemomswhothink@singleparentsmag.com.

They may request a photo to accompany your letter. All letters and photos become the property of SingleParents Magazine and may be reused in any other media.

SKOR BARS:
1 Sleeve Soda Crackers
1 Cup Butter
1 Bag Milk Chocolate Chips
3/4 Cup Brown Sugar

Cover cookie sheet with tin foil and spray "PAM" on tin foil.
Lay out crackers on foil in orderly fashion.
Melt butter in microwave and add sugar.
Mix with whisk until thick.
Pour over crackers.
Bake in oven at 350 deg for 10 minutes.
Pour chocolate chips onto crackers and place in oven just to soften chocolate.
Spread with a spatula.
Chill one hour.
Break into pieces and keep in fridge.

The Single Father : A Dad's Guide to Parenting without a Partner
by Armin A Brott

From the best-selling New Father series comes this guide to parenting for dads on their own. The Single Father combines advice from experts with the valuable real-life experiences of divorced, widowed, gay and unmarried fathers. This book covers balancing work and parenting, organizing the house, fun learning activities with the kids and financial planning. Armin A. Brott begins with the breakup or death of your spouse, taking you through the stages of divorce or grieving, custody and child-support arrangements. Highlighted with fun cartoons, the text explores establishing a dad-and-kids routine and even the possibilities of a new relationship.
(© Chapters.ca)

Stuff That Matters for Single Parents
by Patricia Lorenz

From money matters to time crunches, from loneliness to navigating the dating scene, Lorenz addresses a myriad of issues that can baffle even the most even-keeled of individuals. Having single-handedly raised four kids, she knows all about life's little ups and downs. This book offfers encouragement and support for all single parents.
(© Chapters.ca)

Nannies on the Web
Many parents feel the impact of keeping a balanced work and family life while trying to provide the best care for their young children. Finding the right at-home childcare provider could be one of the biggest challenges in busy lives. There needs to be a way to provide flexibility, accessibility, and keep parents in control of the screening process. The internet is a great tool to serve all of these needs without involving any intermediaries. Currently, the dominant resource for the parents to find at-home childcare is the fragmented nanny placement agencies with limited local inventory of nannies. As a result, parents are forced to use limited and expensive print advertising to find nannies, a process that is not only costly but also very demanding on the busy time of working parents.

Among the few online sites that facilitate direct online advertising for childcare needs is www.NannyBank.com This site instantly displays search results based on given criteria for available families or childcare providers. Both parents and nannies can benefit by signing up and advertising their needs, just like they would in the newspaper classified ads. This is an effective way of using the web to make connections between parents and nannies and get quick results. The portal features of the site makes advance planning possible for families relocating, or going for extended vacation as well as nannies moving from one area to another.

Well folks, that's it for another month. As usual, if you have any suggestions or contributions just reply to this email and let me know! We're always up to suggestions and recipes sent in also have the chance to be included on the website.

Jill Lassaline, editor
Single Parents World