Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

A Mother's Love

Theo and I, November 2007

Sometimes, when things get dark, heavy, or scary, when circumstances conspire to break you, the only thing that can get you through is the love that you have for your child.  I am so grateful that the love I have for my Theo sees me through any and all pain.  While it might not be enough to make me invincible, while I may still hurt and cry, my love for my baby will make it so that I will never stop fighting, never give up, never back down.  I love him more than I love anything else in this world, even more than I love running away from pain.  I will face anything if it means taking care of my boy, giving him the love and security he needs, and providing him with a foundation that will serve him well for the rest of his life.

Here's to the single mamas out there that wake up every day, knowing the day may bring hardships, and face the day anyway, because a mother's love trumps all.

Thinking Of Dating Again? Make Sure You Check Out Bedsider.org

Stefan Vasilev / Stock Xchng

Having children is a blessing.  I only have one but I know that no matter how many a mother has, she loves them all, each in their special way.  I also know, though, that when a mother has all of the children she wants, the idea of an unplanned pregnancy can be extremely troubling.  I’ve always known that I’d be a one-child Mama, and even if I were to find my “Prince Charming” I’m positive that I don’t want any more children.  Prince Charming better have kids of his own that he’s actively involved with because he ain’t getting any from me!

Dating and being sexually active again hasn’t been something for which I was ready for a long time.  I know that it will happen soon, though, because I can feel myself wanting to at least give it a shot.  I’m not going to stay in a dating cave forever; I still look pretty good for my age, darnit!!!  When I do start dating again it’s going to be important that I protect myself, first from the diseases out there that could compromise my health, but also from an unplanned and unwanted pregnancy.  Since it’s been so long since I’ve had to worry about either of those things, I’m glad that I’ve been made aware of Bedsider.org.  Bedsider.org is a site where women can research, compare, and decide upon the best method of contraception for themselves.  The thing that I find really awesome about this site is that you can set up birth control reminders that text your cell phone so that you can stop forgetting to take the pill!  That definitely used to be an issue for me.  You can also schedule appointment reminders on the site for yourself, watch videos of other women talking about their own personal experiences, and view animated short films that debunk the myths about birth control that can sometimes keep women away from using them.  There is even a tool that helps you find health clinics near your zip code that can help you to get low-cost (or even free!) birth control.  Bedsider.org is a great resource, and I’m glad I know about it now.

If you are thinking about getting back out there, or if you’ve met someone you are thinking about becoming intimate with, you should definitely go on over to Bedsider.org.  Even if you’d like to have more children some day, you should get to be the one to decide when.  Having control over your reproductive choices is one of the many ways we can be good to ourselves and the children we already have.  And knowing that we have the power to make these choices goes a long way toward empowering ourselves to take control of our lives.  And as single mamas?  We deserve one less thing to worry about. 

You can find more information regarding Bedsider.org on Youtube http://bit.ly/BS_YT, Facebook http://on.fb.me/BD_FB, and Twitter http://bit.ly/BD_Tweet.

*I was selected for this paid campaign by Latina Bloggers Connect. All opinions are my own.

Wordless Wednesday

An Interview With Avon Representative, Christina Williams

As you know from my previous post, Avon is a company that has helped women earn income for 125 years.  For generations, women have turned to Avon to buy cosmetics, skin care, scents, and more - and for that same amount of time women have turned to Avon to help them earn money that has supplemented a main source of income, sometimes doing so well that it becomes their sole or largest source of income.  Single moms often look for ways to make more money without compromising the amount of time we spend with our children, and selling Avon can be a great way to do just that.   I had the opportunity to speak with single mom and Avon Representative, Christina Williams, about what it is like to have her own Avon business so that I could share it with you here.

Christina Williams and her children

Christina Williams joined Avon as a means to provide for her family as a single mother and a military veteran.  Christina struggled to find a job when she was released from the military; her pay was cut in half and she needed a way to support her family financially while having a flexible work schedule.  With her Avon earnings, Christina has been able to give her children many opportunities they may not have otherwise had.  With her children helping her to pack all of her orders, Christina has quickly risen to Unit Leader and has recruited many people to join Avon as well.  Christina takes pride in being associated with a company that supports breast cancer and domestic violence awareness.

Issa: What made you become an Avon rep?
Christina: Being in the military meant I had spent a lot of time away from my family and I felt as if I had missed so much, so it was essential for me to find a way to spend more time with my children.  I am now a full-time student, so it was important that I earn an income in a way that allowed me to spend as much time with my family as possible.

Issa: How has your Avon business helped your family?
Christina: Avon has provided an extra income while I also get to go to school full time.  My Avon business also allows me to spend time with my children.  My children help me fill my orders, and I love seeing how excited they get when they see the boxes of Avon products arrive.  Filling my orders is something that we have fun doing together as a family.

Issa: What do you think some of the fears or misconceptions are that may keep some women from choosing to become Avon Reps?
Christina: I think people are afraid that you have to put up a lot of money to get your Avon business started, but the start-up cost is only $10!  With such a small investment there was really no reason for me not to at least try it out.

Issa: What are some things women should know about starting their own Avon business?
Christina: Starting your own Avon business is work, and you get out of it what you put into it.  Avon gives you many resources, though, that if put to use will help you to be successful.  With your own website, blog, and widgets, you can get the word out about your business.  They also provide you with a web office to help you keep important data all in one place such as customer information.  Going to monthly district meetings also helps me to keep abreast of any new initiatives going on, as well as allowing me to talk to senior Avon reps who are always willing to offer good advice.

Issa: How do you find customers?
Christina: My customers come from the usual places like my family and friends, but I also tend to strike up conversation a lot because I'm a mom.  So, when I'm at the playground or at the doctor's office it's easy to mention that I sell Avon in conversation.  I also ask my family and friends to drop off catalogs at their jobs, so that helps as well.

Issa: Do you have a favorite product that you would buy even if you weren't an Avon Rep?
Christina: The Anew Genics skin cream is amazing. I use it every day.

Issa: What is the biggest benefit of having your own Avon business?
Christina: The biggest benefit is definitely having more income and more time with my family, but I also find that one of the biggest benefits is how empowering it can feel to run your own business, to watch yourself stretch and grow to meet your goals, and how good it feels to empower others to grow toward achieving their goals.  I love working with people and meeting people that I'd normally probably never get to meet if it weren't for my business.  The personal connections I have made with my customers have been wonderful.

Thank you, Christina, for sharing your time and insight with us!




*I have been hired by Avon to share their business, and the representatives that make the business possible, with my readers.