Summary: For married women who feel like single parents.

Bookstore shelves are full of parenting resources for moms who are newly divorced or widowed. But where do moms turn if they feel like a single parent–but they’re not? Whether he is away on business, deployed in the military, or obsessing over a computer game, dad may not be available for a variety of reasons. Moms who parent in this situation still need help and don’t necessarily relate to the advice given in divorce recovery or single parenting resources.

Married Mom, Solo Parent is a common-sense, down-to-earth look at the struggles wives and mothers face when their husband is not actively involved in family life. Writing from her own experience as a married single mom, Carla Anne Coroy will help wives and mothers sort through their questions, such as: Can I do this alone? How do I raise kids to honor their father? How do I give my children a healthy perspective of marriage if they never see one in action? With practical suggestions, anecdotes, and biblical teaching, this book will encourage moms to see their position as a high calling, to find healing for their worries and frustrations, and to tap into God’s strength for help in facing the daily challenge of being a married mom, solo parent.

My Thoughts: I signed up for this tour because I have a husband who travels a lot for work, and occasionally is gone for 30-day work assignments. In addition to that, he referees local/area football games every fall, and is gone every Friday (usually until quite late) from the end of August to late October or even early November. There have been many, many times that I’ve felt like a solo parent. When I read about this book, I had to get my hands on it. Finally, someone who understood completely what it’s like.

One thing that gets stressed repeatedly is that the husband is responsible, and will answer to God, for his own behavior. We, the wife left behind, will answer to God for our own response to this situation. While the husband might be wrong, we still are to honor, support, and pray for him. Our attitudes should be one of prayerful acceptance. God is in control, and we need to honor Him, however difficult it can be under these circumstances.

Overall, the book is great. It goes through the feelings we face as well as logistics on how best to keep on keeping on. There were occasional statements about what God wants of us that I wasn’t 100% sure I agreed with, and some of the suggestions just aren’t going to work for me. But, as a whole, Married Mom, Solo Parent is a great resource for those of us who end up managing the home front without our other half’s presence. For one thing, it made me glad that my husband doesn’t travel nearly as much as he could, if God had placed him in a different job and/or industry – and I’m not just talking military. I am grateful that my husband somewhat recently accepted a new position that required less travel. I am grateful for the time I do have him around – and that when he is here, he is engaged with his children. And with household business. I am very blessed, and very grateful for that blessing!

Still, it’s nice to know I’m not the only one who struggles with the times I spend parenting – and running a household – on my own. It’s nice to have this book to help me work through the emotions, to help me focus my attention on God, and get my heart where He wants it to be.

I think, though, my absolute favorite part was toward the end, where she talks about adjusting to having him back. Let me tell you, that is rough – and it’s so nice to know that it’s normal for it to be rough. The kids and I get into a good routine, things run smoothly, they respond to my correction, etc. Then he comes home and all bets are off. Kids are crazy, he has to do things his own way, etc. Time for a new routine that includes Daddy. Fortunately, his tendency to be engaged with the children and at home in general makes it a bit easier, I think. He doesn’t fight me on getting back into things or on spending time with the kids. We just have to negotiate rules – in some areas I’m more lax than he is, and vice versa. We butt heads a bit, then come to some understanding. Still, it’s awkward for the first few hours/days – depending on how long he’s been gone.

Interestingly, I found myself reading this during one of my husband’s week-long business trips. Coincidence – or Divine appointment? I’ll let you decide.

Source: Received as part of a blog tour promotion on Litfuse Publicity Group. Find more tour stops on the page HERE.

Read It: You can get your own copy HERE. (Yes, this is an Amazon Affiliate link, but not for me. Purchase through this link would benefit Litfuse.)

About the Author: Carla Anne Coroy runs the Married Single Mom blog at www.carlaannecoroy.blogspot.com. She speaks regularly and serves as a staff writer for an online Christian women’s magazine Mentoring Moments for Christian Women. Carla Anne lives in Canada with her husband and four homeschooled children. For more information, visit www.carlaanne.com.

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*****WIN A KINDLE TOUCH*****

Come to an encouraging MomChat party on Facebook…you could win a KindleTouch!

To celebrate the release of her new book Carla has partnered with her publisher, Kregel, to host a live MomChat party on Facebook! http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=177346262342482

The party will wrap up the blog tour (http://litfusegroup.com/blogtours/text/13420715) and Carla will be hosting an encouraging MomChat about all things mom and wife related. There will also be a fun contest and she’s giving away a KindleTouch and a ton of other fun stuff (books, gift certificates and more!).

So RSVP today and then come back on 10/25 at 5pm Pacific, 8pm Eastern for the party.

Don’t miss the fun … and tell your friends.

♥

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