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Feature/General
SINGLE PARENTING: Circle of Support
By Lesli Terrell Payne
Mar/Apr 2007

We had a great response from our last issue about the creation of Athens Single Parent Network (ASPN). Many have emailed asking for more information as well as made suggestions for the group. Following are some ideas of where we're headed. I strongly encourage you to let your single parent friends and family know about us. ASPN is still very much in the "infancy" stage so please get involved and be a part of something dynamic for our children and for ourselves as parents!

I also encourage you to look online for support as a single parent. I found dozens of websites that offered discussion boards, advice, books, etc., all for dealing with the challenges of single parenting. I have not been a single parent for very long and the fact that I have joint custody means that I do have some support; not every one is so fortunate.

One of the main reasons I wanted to do this was to help others who truly need some help or maybe just a kind ear. There are days (especially ones when I don't have my kids with me) that I just want to talk - other times it would be fun to enjoy an evening out. I truly hope that ASPN will be a way for single parents to make new friends, create a ring of support amongst us and maybe even bring that old social life "back to life" all while trying to be the best moms and dads we can be.

Lesli Terrell Payne, founder of ASPN, is mom to Henry, 5 and Will, 2. She is also "mom" to Maggie (her dog & running partner), Tom (an ancient cat) and Q-Tip (a rabbit).

Fun, fun, fun
(activities with the kids):

  • Family Game Night
  • Park Outings (W.O.W., Memorial Park, Bishop Park, Sandy Creek, etc.)
  • Zoo Atlanta, Georgia Aquarium or Children's Museum of Atlanta
  • Picnics
  • Enjoy and explore our public library
  • Camping
  • Movie Night
  • Ice Cream Social
  • Fly Kites
  • Yard Sale
  • Scavenger Hunt
  • Pot Luck Dinner
  • Community Service (what a great way to introduce our children to "giving back"!)

Parents Survival Activities
(resources and support for parents):

  • Weekly or bi weekly Lunches or Coffee Breaks
  • Once a month Dinner and a Movie (no kids)
  • Baby Sitting Co-op (for a well deserved "night off")
  • Dinner Exchange
  • Weekly Online Chats (for instance, Mondays from 9-10pm)
  • Community Service
  • Newsletter or Listserv

Save the Date!
"March Madness" is coming to ASPN. This "adult time" event will take place at the Broad Street Bar & Grill on Saturday, March 31. Join our listserv for more information by emailing AthensSPN@gmail.com.

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