Solo Mom

By Donna Sutherland

The title Solo Mom came about due to the experience of single parenting. The word solo is an amazing word that can have several different connotations. First, it can mean "so low" which can indicate a state of being at a low point in life that feels deep and alone. Second, the word solo is one step up and means "only" or just "one." This seems to indicate that there is sadness or loneliness associated with it. Then there is a "solo flight." This reminds me of when my son Brandon was taking pilot lessons. After testing and practice with an instructor, he finally was able to make his solo flight. He had the power of the airplane at his fingertips, and the ability to soar on his own. He would fly over the house and call on his cell phone to say, "Mom, can you see me now?" An exhilarating feeling of soaring on one's own because they have been entrusted with such a great responsibility. And that is what our solo moments become when we continue to look upward to answers to our questions of "Why?"

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Oct 17, 2018
• ISBN: 9781642588552

Book preview

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Solo Mom

Donna Sutherland

ISBN 978-1-64258-854-5 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-1-64258-855-2 (Digital)

Copyright © 2018 by Donna Sutherland

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Dedication

Idedicate this book to my children, Jonathan David Holz and Brandon Don Holz. After all, they provided much of this teaching. They truly are my earth angels, and I also (with tears in my eyes) ask not only how did I do it, but also the question what did I ever do to deserve so much love and respect from my children? I’m still not sure, but sometimes I have little glimpses of some of the maybe this is whys.

This book will also be dedicated to my mother, Charlene Sutherland, who was an excellent mother. She was married at age sixteen and had a child at age seventeen. At the age of eighteen, she had two children (the second born was me), and by the age of twenty-three, she had her third child. I remember also thinking that she was so strong and wise, and I also remember asking her the same question that my children have asked me, Mama, how did you do it?

Introduction

Oh, I’ve contemplated writing a book for quite some time. I thought about writing a children’s book using the adventures of my two children, Jonathan and Brandon. I thought about writing my own life experiences. (Maybe I will still find time to do this.) Finding the motivation to get started came only one evening after calling my oldest son, Jonathan, who was across the country and facing his last semester of work on his PhD in Toxicology. I kept trying to get out of the commitment to write this book, but Jonathan kept insisting that I get started on this. I had every excuse in the world, Oh, what would be any different about a book I would write about raising kids (children) as opposed to any of the many books written by countless number of authors on this subject? I could tire easily just thinking about all of the many books you and I both have seen and have probably read about raising children, and after all, why would you (who are probably looking for help and good advice in this area of your life) waste time reading one more book on the subject and continue to hope that somewhere within these pages will be the magic potion for raising extraordinary kids in a world that seems absolutely to be spinning out of control? Every excuse that I would bring up, Jonathan would have an answer for, such as, Mom, people are always asking or listening to advice from you about raising kids, and I want to know how you did it. Jonathan continued to talk about other families he had observed and that he felt something very deep was missing in them and that he had a great appreciation for being brought up in this family, great family" as he describes it.

My other son, Brandon, has also asked me on occasion, How will I know how to make my children mind and how did you know what to do? So I know this also is greatly on his mind.

If my own two children can value so greatly the privilege of being raised in a family with such a great amount of love, happiness, and acceptance, then perhaps this is of equal importance to many other people who so desire to also have that in their lives. Is this the key to keeping good children grounded and on a positive path amidst all the chaos that exists in our world?

This book will be about our journey as a family, our laughter, tears, trials, and joys. This is us, and once we all realize there is no such thing as a normal family, normal person, then we can be real about who we are and where we have been. It is truly my prayer and hope that you will see yourself in the pages of this book and this will give you the faith and courage to persevere on your journey no matter what circumstances you may face, and know that no matter what you are going through, this too will pass, and you will come out on the other side and hopefully in a victorious way.

Why the Title Solo Mom

Ilove the word solo because there are so many different meanings that we can give to that one single word.

First, the word solo also makes me think of the play on words so low as when we experience one of the lowest points of life. The kind of experience that seems to say this is devastating, and I will probably never feel good or laugh again. How could I sink any lower into despair? I have sunken so low that I don’t know if I will ever be able to pick myself up and get on with life.

Then there is the word solo, which seems to be one step up from so low. Solo means only or just one, which seems to indicate