The Tough Old Bird with a Soft Spot for Women Going Through Tough Times
Mother’s Day Editorial as it appeared in the Beaumont Enterprise
May 14, 2017
Let’s Make Next Mother’s Day Better for Single Moms in SETX
You may know me as The Tough Old Bird with a Soft Spot for Single Moms. I earned that title while raising my three children as a single, divorced mom. I had a college degree with a teaching certificate, which made our lives reasonable, not grand, just manageable.
Single moms account for one-quarter of United States households. 44% of children in Jefferson County live in single parent homes. Of the 254 counties in Texas only fifteen others have comparable numbers. Single parents in the United States have more than tripled singe 1960. A great many of the single mothers I speak with came out of abusive homes, were hungry for love and got pregnant without realizing the consequences. They didn’t have job skills and no way to gain them while mothering a child.
Education makes a world of difference for the single mother and her family. Being a mother, as well as the primary breadwinner, makes it nearly impossible for them to earn an education and provide a better life for themselves and their children.
The Community Coalition, a new nonprofit in southeast Texas, builds Bridges of Hope and has established an Educational Support Program for single mothers. The program is not an original idea. Other programs across the country like Buckner Family Pathways and the Jeremiah Program have proven successful. Motivated moms given the opportunity to earn a degree turn their lives around. Southeast Texas needs this program. We have the moms and we have the colleges.
This program offers moms who have proven they have what it takes, the opportunity to gain an employable skill by attending college for two years. During the two years they will receive assistance with:
I’ve seen what programs like this can do. It’s not an entitlement program. It’s an empowerment program.
Single mothers get off welfare. They are able to earn a living and support their families. It’s a win for everyone.
Community involvement and support is essential. I hope southeast Texas will get behind this effort to make southeast Texas even better than it already is.
I’ve watched single moms manage to earn college degrees. The difficulties they faced were beyond what most of us would ever choose to tackle. They were able to get better jobs and increase their earning potential. However, the cost leaves some in five-figure debt. Others are forced to take twice as many years to complete. Even though several are the first in their families to attend college they often don’t receive family support or encouragement. I recently learned that college students who do not have a family support system are six times less likely to finish as those who do.
This Educational Support Program will give them the support they need to finish a degree and build a life for themselves and their children. We can create a way for women to move across the bridge from dependency to self-sufficiency. Bridges of Hope for Single Moms will do this. You can learn more at www.thecommunitycoalition.com/educational-support-program.html
May 14, 2017
Let’s Make Next Mother’s Day Better for Single Moms in SETX
You may know me as The Tough Old Bird with a Soft Spot for Single Moms. I earned that title while raising my three children as a single, divorced mom. I had a college degree with a teaching certificate, which made our lives reasonable, not grand, just manageable.
Single moms account for one-quarter of United States households. 44% of children in Jefferson County live in single parent homes. Of the 254 counties in Texas only fifteen others have comparable numbers. Single parents in the United States have more than tripled singe 1960. A great many of the single mothers I speak with came out of abusive homes, were hungry for love and got pregnant without realizing the consequences. They didn’t have job skills and no way to gain them while mothering a child.
Education makes a world of difference for the single mother and her family. Being a mother, as well as the primary breadwinner, makes it nearly impossible for them to earn an education and provide a better life for themselves and their children.
The Community Coalition, a new nonprofit in southeast Texas, builds Bridges of Hope and has established an Educational Support Program for single mothers. The program is not an original idea. Other programs across the country like Buckner Family Pathways and the Jeremiah Program have proven successful. Motivated moms given the opportunity to earn a degree turn their lives around. Southeast Texas needs this program. We have the moms and we have the colleges.
This program offers moms who have proven they have what it takes, the opportunity to gain an employable skill by attending college for two years. During the two years they will receive assistance with:
- Housing and utility costs
- Childcare
- Tuition and books.
I’ve seen what programs like this can do. It’s not an entitlement program. It’s an empowerment program.
Single mothers get off welfare. They are able to earn a living and support their families. It’s a win for everyone.
Community involvement and support is essential. I hope southeast Texas will get behind this effort to make southeast Texas even better than it already is.
I’ve watched single moms manage to earn college degrees. The difficulties they faced were beyond what most of us would ever choose to tackle. They were able to get better jobs and increase their earning potential. However, the cost leaves some in five-figure debt. Others are forced to take twice as many years to complete. Even though several are the first in their families to attend college they often don’t receive family support or encouragement. I recently learned that college students who do not have a family support system are six times less likely to finish as those who do.
This Educational Support Program will give them the support they need to finish a degree and build a life for themselves and their children. We can create a way for women to move across the bridge from dependency to self-sufficiency. Bridges of Hope for Single Moms will do this. You can learn more at www.thecommunitycoalition.com/educational-support-program.html
Journey with me on the path through single motherhood. Identify with my stories and learn ways to make your crooked places straight. The book can be read independently or used in a group as a study guide.
I'm available to teach your group.
I'm available to teach your group.
Living Learning Loving
by Gail Cawley Showalter
Comments from a reader
I learned several new strategies that have already made my life easier, such as discovering where I fall in the four personality types. Based upon the description chart in the book, I am a choleric and my daughter is a phlegmatic, which explains A LOT about the root of our conflicts. Simply put, this means I am constantly trying to do and be more, and because of that, I tend to push my daughter too much when her personality requires more peace at home. Discovering this helps both of us to have much more harmony at home. Thank you for that insight and many others, Gail! - Nicole
When my three children were preschoolers my marriage to their father fell apart. I was devastated. Over time I revamped my life, raised my children, and developed really strong soul stamina. Now, it is my desire to be there for other women, sharing what I learned.
by Gail Cawley Showalter
Comments from a reader
I learned several new strategies that have already made my life easier, such as discovering where I fall in the four personality types. Based upon the description chart in the book, I am a choleric and my daughter is a phlegmatic, which explains A LOT about the root of our conflicts. Simply put, this means I am constantly trying to do and be more, and because of that, I tend to push my daughter too much when her personality requires more peace at home. Discovering this helps both of us to have much more harmony at home. Thank you for that insight and many others, Gail! - Nicole
When my three children were preschoolers my marriage to their father fell apart. I was devastated. Over time I revamped my life, raised my children, and developed really strong soul stamina. Now, it is my desire to be there for other women, sharing what I learned.
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Interview on "Hot Mamas"
A Heart for Women Gail C. Showalter
Hello, I am glad you found my site.
I’ve experienced life’s transitions on many levels and am here to assist you, to coach you or guide your group through your times of change. You, like most women, probably like to have someone who can relate to your situation. My goal is to walk women like you through tough times. |
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- A Man's Perspective
As a middle-aged male engineer fond of biography and military history, I picked up this little gem when my wife bought it for a single mom friend of ours. In truth, I was simply attracted to the cover art, but when I began to leaf through it, I quickly became absorbed in a remarkably well-spun yarn of personal struggle and triumph, interspersed with succinct and relevant practical suggestions. The author's heart-rending recollections of challenges, failures, and successes actually (I'm a bit - but only a bit- embarrassed to admit) had me moist-eyed more than once. Besides simply being an engaging, worthwhile read, it might even give folks like me some much-needed insight into the struggles others (like single moms) face, and the basis for a new-found respect for these heroic ladies. It's a cheap book, and a quick read, and if I wasn't disappointed, I'm pretty sure nobody else could be.
As a middle-aged male engineer fond of biography and military history, I picked up this little gem when my wife bought it for a single mom friend of ours. In truth, I was simply attracted to the cover art, but when I began to leaf through it, I quickly became absorbed in a remarkably well-spun yarn of personal struggle and triumph, interspersed with succinct and relevant practical suggestions. The author's heart-rending recollections of challenges, failures, and successes actually (I'm a bit - but only a bit- embarrassed to admit) had me moist-eyed more than once. Besides simply being an engaging, worthwhile read, it might even give folks like me some much-needed insight into the struggles others (like single moms) face, and the basis for a new-found respect for these heroic ladies. It's a cheap book, and a quick read, and if I wasn't disappointed, I'm pretty sure nobody else could be.
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Review on Amazon
I just finished reading the book Living, Learning, Loving. WoW, despite the fact that I am in my 50's and raised two boys on my own I found myself wishing I would have had this book much earlier in my life. From her pragmatic advice to her numerous exhortations it caused me to recall a beautiful time in my life raising my kids as a single parent. It has inspired me to reach out to help others just beginning this journey. I would advise anyone to read this book, even if you have already raised your kids. You will not be sorry. -An Amazon Customer
Click here: Interview podcast with Gail "Help! I'm a Single Mom" on "Chained No More" Radio with Robyn Besemann
Endorsements
Gail has been passionate about single moms and the challenges they face for many, many years. Having been a single parent herself, she is quite familiar with the unique struggles and joys of raising children without the consistent help of a spouse. Gail's ministry has been continuous and effective throughout the years, and has become one of the leading thinkers and voices for ministry to single moms in the United States. |
I have attended many seminars and workshops during my thirty years in the corporate world, some of which were for professional development while others addressed personal growth and relationships. There are always those few programs that stand out and Gail Showalter's seminars are most definitely among them. Gail shares great information in a format that is easy to comprehend, extremely well organized and as entertaining as it is educational. Two thumbs up! |
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