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Single & Parenting is an encouraging support group for individuals navigating the challenges of being a single parent. It recognizes the fatigue, overwhelming tasks, and often underappreciated efforts that come with single parenthood, and offers a safe space for sharing experiences, learning, and finding emotional solace. The group conducts video seminars covering a range of practical topics, such as handling financial pressures, dealing with emotional stressors, managing behavioral issues, and more.
Participants are also offered a platform to build meaningful connections with other single parents, sharing not just parenting advice but also personal journeys, thus creating a supportive community to navigate life's ups and downs.
Reconciliation Resources has made a huge impact in my life. The small groups are led by people that are or have gone through the same things as you. Being part of a small group is important to me because of the safety, encouragement, and advice you can only find in a settings small groups provide.The Bible talks a lot about being part of a community so you can learn and grow together; even Jesus had his disciples. We cannot heal and grow being by ourselves we need people who understand and have experienced similar things as us, it doesn’t matter how hard you try and how many people you have supporting you – forgiveness and healing only come from the grace of God.
I am a mother of three grown children. I have two sons and one daughter. I was married twice. After the breakup of my second marriage, I was very hurt. I remember just talking to God (not praying) saying, “God help me not to be angry about this because if I can be angry, I would burst because it is too painful. Please help me to use this pain to help someone, anyone.”I remember it was a Tuesday when I said this, and I was invited to an Alpha course on Thursday. The first night in my small group there was a lady who was looking sad and it looked like she was crying the whole time. At the end of the class, I sensed down in my spirit to go and say hi to her and introduce myself. I had never introduced myself like that to anyone in my life. I didn’t even know how you do that but on the last page of the books for the Alpha course, was a space to take other people’s phone numbers. That made it easy for me, so I went up to her, introduced myself and we exchanged phone numbers. On the Saturday, she called me. We were on the phone for at least an hour. She poured her heart out about what she was going through.I couldn’t believe there’s people who are going through hard things like what she shared with me. I just sat there and listened. At the end of that conversation, I couldn’t even think about my pain, so I started praying for this lady. I don’t think God wanted to minimize my pain, but I believe this was an answer to taking my focus off of my painful situation and to also realize I was not the only one hurting. I am still thankful to God for showing me that there are people hurting all around me. My healing began from there without even knowing that, that’s what was happening. A couple years later, I sensed God speaking to me about single parents. I thought, people might think I am looking for a man, so I made all kinds of excuses and decided to switch it to single moms. God is a loving God and through all of my leading single mom’s groups He was faithful and patient with me.In 2017, I attended a ladies' leaders’ retreat and met other lady leaders from the church. I mentioned that I do need support and one of the ladies said they knew someone she could introduce me to. A few weeks later, I was connected with Jodi Bryant.She is the one I was introduced to. We made an arrangement to meet for lunch. We met on the day as planned and while we were waiting for our order, we started talking about what my plans were. She explained her ministry to me and mentioned that there are many options we can decide on. She pulled out this pamphlet (Single and Parenting) and she didn’t even say anything, and I just couldn’t control myself, I started crying and she didn’t understand what was going on and I said to her, “I have a confession to make. God had put this ministry in my heart for so long and I think it is time for me to drop the excuses and do what I am supposed to do.” I facilitated a Single and Parenting group. I learned a lot and am looking forward to growing in this ministry and seeing what else God has for me in the future. I also would like to thank Vanessa for introducing me to Jodi and Jodi for everything I am learning under your leadership.
In Sept. 2017, I moved to Saskatoon and set up a CANGRANDS chapter for kinship and grandparents raising grandchildren. I had a fall in March and was struggling with doing this local group as well as the online national support work. Then, Lorraine Fajt called me. She is raising her two grandchildren and was looking to set up a support group through RR. We chatted, then met up and have been supporting those who will show up for monthly meetings under the name of Grand family Support. The “Gratitude for Grands” Christmas Dinner and a “Picnic in the Park" are just a few of the events we’ve hosted. We have more upcoming events planned to include International Grandparent’s Day. As the founder of CANGRANDS, a National Kinship support for the past 25 years, this is a work close and dear to my heart.
