His Diffuser Blends
Add 2–4 drops of the following essential oil blends in the diffuser while working in the garage or office.
- Wintergreen and Cedarwood for confidence and self esteem
- Cypress and White Fir for a sense of empowerment
- Peppermint or Melissa for a sense of alertness
- Lemongrass for an aroma that most men enjoy
I thought a lot last month about single dads.
When folks talk about single parents, they are often referring to single moms. A new single parent ministry just formed in our church. It is focused on moms. I’ve been a single mom and I come from a generation that birthed the bias that single parents are moms. I also come from a generation that told me that I couldn’t stay home with a sick kid because the company’s sick policy was meant for my own illness. I had to risk being fired because my kid had the chicken pox!!
Being a single mom was hard in a time when women were supposed to be homemakers. When I was pregnant, I almost lost my job because I was pregnant. Women were not supposed to have children and work. I had an employer tell me that I didn’t deserve as much money as my male counterparts because I must be getting alimony and child support. I wasn’t. He went on to assume that I had a dad, brother or uncle that was financially supporting me. Sigh. I didn’t even get angry. He wasn’t being mean, he was just that steeped in assumptions and honestly shocked to be wrong. My generation had to juggle through a world full of confusion and change.
Today, women sometimes outpace men in their careers. When women are earning more, sometimes men stay home with the kids. Although that’s rare and most men work, they are taking turns staying home with sick kids and taking responsibility for activities like sports. It short, guys are taking a more active role with their children!! It’s not wise to assume that women are the folks who have the primary responsibility for children or that they are the only ones who currently struggle as single parents.
I have single dads in my life who work hard at parenting alone or co-parenting with an ex. Negotiating parenting techniques is difficult when you’re living under the same roof. It’s even more difficult when there are two roofs. Most of the world assumes that the mom is naturally the better parent. These dads I know rock their parenting role! Sometimes the dad is the more nurturing, loving, guiding and supportive of the parenting team. My dad was. My mom had solid qualities, but when it came to making me feel loved and grounded he took the prize.
Being a single parent, whether it is as a single Mom, or a single Dad, can be very tough. But parenting, in general, is tough. Make sure you build a support system. We all need a little help sometimes. And let your children have some responsibility for getting things done. We don’t have to be super parents. The most important role we play is that of caretaking, teaching and loving our children.
Last, but not least, remember to take care of yourself. Put a little of your favorite essential oil in your diffuser and remember everything good that happened today.
Penny LaClair
