Name: Audrey

Email:

Bio: Audrey is a full-time student at Washington State University, a Christian, and single mom in her early twenties. She has a big heart for people and intends on pursuing a career in social work in hopes to help families in her community. In her free time, Audrey shares her experiences with us on this site in hopes that other people will become more equipped to face storms in their own lives. Audrey also enjoys reading the Bible with her son. Her favorite verse is Romans 4:17 which promises that through our faith in God’s great power, we can call things that are not as though they are. We have invited Audrey to write for us because of her incredible testimony overcoming challenges throughout her life. She has been jailed, rejected, disowned by her family, but she found Jesus was willing to work with her to help her get established. Now, she is part of a church family, she is on the honor roll at school, and her son is a model of health and intelligence. If you would like to personally contact Audrey, her email is: audrey@forworkathomemoms.com

Posts by Audrey:

    Free Time Ideas

    July 31st, 2011

    Graduated and FREE... Now what?

    I find recalling life before having my child nearly impossible.  Now, having graduated from school and left with loads of free time and laundry to do, I’m stuck wondering what normal people do with their 24 hours every day.  I’m sketching out some ideas about things to do for myself and with my toddler son (indoors since Washington State is a rainy place to live).

    If you have ideas, feel free to make additional comments!

    ~Church events participation
    ~Picking up a novel
    ~Hitting up Netflix for a movie
    ~PlayDough with my son
    ~Finger painting
    ~Aquatics center for swimming indoors
    ~Coloring books

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    Study T!PS for the Single Mom

    May 28th, 2011

    Study T!PS

    So you are studying for something?  We have some tips for you that are sure to aid you in your success.  You already know that nothing comes easy, but understand that studying can come easier if you try out some of these interesting tools:

    T!P 1: Write your notes on light blue paper.  (This is a memory tool I learned in a psychology class!)

    T!P 2: Work in a silent area where other people are also studying (library or study hall ect.)  If you can’t escape your children for a study break, involve them in the process by reading aloud.

    T!P 3: Draw cartoons of the subject matter to help you remember with a photo memory.  Your children will like to see your art ^_^

    T!P 4: Record yourself reading the material that is most challenging to you and play it back as an mp3 during your day.  (Your child won’t mind.  Maybe your little ones can learn with you!)

    T!P 5: Put key concepts on sticky notes and place them on the bathroom mirror, the front door, and by your computer.

    If you want more advice, write a comment down below, and we can get back to you.  Tell us about your learning style, the subject matter you are studying, and the level of education it is for!  We would be glad to help.

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    Online School and the Single Mom: Before Enrolling

    May 4th, 2011

    The stork often makes surprising house calls, no?  Don’t let the shocking news of a bun in the oven prevent you from having the life you always dreamed of.  Thinking about life beyond the realm of parenting is a daunting task, but there are options.  Many universities offer classes and degree programs online.  This was the route I decided to take.  I am a few weeks away from graduating with honors!

    The first thing I did was ask God to guide my plans.  Then, I wrote down  a few plans and back up plans.  Plan A was to get my education online and join the military.  However, recent changes make it so that single parents have a very hard time getting in; they are asked to sign over custody or get married.  Neither of those options seemed in my cards, so I fell onto my plan B: get my bachelor’s online and continue my education in a grad program on a nearby campus.

    If you are thinking about enrolling into school, online and/or on campus, just be sure to have back up plans as well.  Know how you are going to afford it, which career plan suites you, and get an AA or BA in a program that has a lot of options profession wise so that if you change your mind or get bored, you can use the same credits to transfer into something else.  For instance, I went into my AA program before pregnancy and took the same classes I needed later on down the road for my BA program not in nursing.  The BA program I chose was supposed to be easiest of the easies so I could hop into the military as an officer, but then those credits still aligned with a grad program I chose when the military plan fell through.  Keep doors open by having back up plans and open ended majors.

    I know that doubt wants to settle into your mind about whether you can accomplish your school career as a parent.  Just know that whenever your strength fails you, you can lean on God’s power.  I know that He is the only way I have gotten this far.  Sometimes, I think about the thousands of dollars in loan money I have accumulated, but then I remember that God has a plan and will open the doors for me when the time is right.  Nothing is bigger than God!

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    Romance and the Single Mom

    May 2nd, 2011

    There are obstacles to overcome when the single mom tries to get into the dating scene again. Past relationship failures, weight gain, depression, and/or anxieties about a new man around her kid(s) all add stress. I think the most important thing for a woman to do before trying to date anyone is to become aware of a personal identity that is solid in faith of God’s Word. When we woman can love ourselves for who we are and have goals that are directed by our Father, it becomes more clear how to play the dating game.

    In my own experience, I have found the boundaries of what is possible through my strength. Actually, I cannot handle a lot of stress. God can, so as I venture forth trying to juggle a babysitter, the right outfit to hide my muffin top, and all my nervous anticipation, I find myself leaning on God to overcome the barriers that hit me before I even see my date! There’s a whole other round of anxieties after the date begins, but getting our feet wet into the dating scene is crucial if we are to ever find Mr. Right someday.

    How do we find him? Be diligent, sister. Tear up the online dating scene, connect with people at church, talk to strangers at the grocery store, wave nicely to a cute guy when you are stuck in traffic. It might be totally out of your comfort zone to meet new people, and Mr. Right might be someone you actually already know, but in any case, if you fail to be social, the chances of you dating people that will stick around decrease.

    For an example from the Bible on romancing in the face of difficulty, turn to the short book of Ruth. Ruth lost her husband and became very poor, yet she finds love again along with great wealth. So can the single mom!  Be safe and be sure he has a heart bent on loving Jesus!

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