Rating: 
Summary: sweet, but not much useful information
Review: I purchased this book because I am planning on adopting a child as a single parent. I had hoped to find some useful information on parenthood, but this book was more just vague optimism and humor from a divorced parent. It is a positive and sweet look at being a single parent, just not very informative.
Rating: 
Summary: Not much useful info here...
Review: This book struck me as being mostly common sense. It's cute, and might make a clever gift for a new single mother, but for someone looking for useful info it's pretty light on that.
Rating: 
Summary: This book is a winner!
Review: As a single mom of 3 adopted children from China and Cambodia, and who also works full-time "outside" my home, I have little time for reading. "The Single Mother's Survival Guide" is a true gem. Patrice Karst is a single mom and I enjoyed her writing style tremendously. Each chapter is 2-3 pages so it's great to pick up when you have just a few moments. I leave it at bedside and plan to re-read a chapter a night. Afterall, she calls us single moms "godesses"! She offers this tip for helping with money issues. If you aren't too embarrassed, ask for the "single mother's discount" when you buy something. She says she gets it about 25% of the time. I think I'll try it when I buy a new car!
After I read it, I immediately ordered another book she wrote -- "God Made Easy"--can't wait for it to arrive.She is an inspirational speaker. I'm keeping my eye out for her to come to Boston.
Rating:
Summary: Buy this for your favorite single mother today!
Review: If you are a single mother, buy this book - if you know a single mother, buy it for her... Patrice thank you for writing this book, you gave the voice of humor, power, strength, and faith to single mothers everywhere - of all the single parenting books I have read over the past four years of my single-motherhood, this one spoke to me, and reminded me that I wasn't alone, that I can support myself and my children, that we will be OKAY - and on days that I am too exhausted to cook my girls anything but mac and cheese for dinner, I remind myself that the Single Mother's Survival Guide says its OKAY! :) p.s. I am soon not to be single mother anymore, I actually met a man who is not a drug/drinking addict, doesn't live with his mother, not a freeloader, he thinks my stretch marks are CUTE:))) (see list of men to AVOID - thank you Patrice!) - most of all he is kind to me and my children.
God blesses Single Mother's and their children everywhere, it is the hardest job in the world.
Rating:
Summary: Buy this for your favorite single mother today!
Review: If you are a single mother, buy this book - if you know a single mother, buy it for her... Patricia thank you for writing this book, you gave the voice of humor, power, strength, and faith to single mothers everywhere - of all the single parenting books I have read over the past four years of my single-motherhood, this one spoke to me, and reminded me that I wasn't alone, that I can support myself and my children, that we will be OKAY - and on days that I am too exhausted to cook my girls anything but mac and cheese for dinner, I remind myself that the Single Mother's Survival Guide says its OKAY! ....I am soon not to be single mother anymore, I actually met a man who is not a drug/drinking addict, doesn't live with his mother, not a freeloader, he thinks my stretch marks are CUTE.... (see list of men to AVOID - thank you Patricia!) - most of all he is kind to me and my children.
God blesses Single Mother's and their children everywhere, it is the hardest job in the world.
Rating:
Summary: Might want to skip this one...
Review: Doesn't really tell you much that most of us don't already know: It's a difficult job, to take care of ourselves as well as our children and that we aren't alone.
I read the entire book in an hour. Many of the pages just have a few sentences of her thoughts... I was looking for a book with more substance and suggestions, not simple commiseration. I don't feel that there's any real practical advice but it's not a bad bathroom book for when you only have a minute or two. One great line in the book though: When a married woman tells you that she could NEVER do what you're doing - tell her that's too bad because there's a 50% chance that she'll have to. I simply cannot wait to use that one.
Rating:
Summary: Just what I needed.
Review: This little book is packed with warmth and encouragement. It feels like a hug from someone who's been there. It's divided into 3 highly readable sections, "The Basics", "The Workbook" (a place for you to air your gripes, write down your goals, and express your dreams for your kids), and "In Closing" with several wonderful pages of creatively printed encouragements, as well as a suggested reading list. Even though most of us don't actually choose to be single mothers, it's a position more and more women are finding themselves in these days, and encouraging books like this are invaluable.
Rating:
Summary: The best book for single moms!!
Review: This book really focuses on the joys of being a single mom. It is such a refreshing read and I definitly laughed a lot reading this book.. It is nice knowing that there are other people who can relate to the triumphs of single motherhood!!
Rating: 
Summary: I Loved it!
Review: As she invites her readers to in the back of her book, I wrote to Patrice Karst via email just to say thank you for writing the book, 'The Single Mother's Survival Guide'. It came into my hands just when I needed it most. I read the first few pages at my desk at work and started to cry a few tears of laughter and relief. Someone actually understands EXACTLY what it's like to be me! I am so glad she took the time to put these thoughts down on paper. There is nothing earth-shatteringly original in this book, but that's not the point of it. Being a single mom can be like a cold day in the rain, and this book is like a comforting mug of tea by a roaring fire with 'I Love Lucy' reruns on the TV. It's comforting, humorous, and very warm and affirming, and makes you smile and reminds you of who you REALLY are, despite how the circumstances can make you feel. I do plan to buy a copy of my own, so I can jot in it. Specific things I liked about this book, which differ from other 'single mom' books I've seen: 1) Brevity and conciseness. Other single moms will understand perfectly when I say that the bathroom is the guilt-free sanctuary of the single mom, for five to ten minute sanity breaks. I always have an uplifting and humorous book stashed in a basket in there. I love the one-or-two page spreads that give one a quick uplift when there isn't time to read a chapter or two. Sometimes that's all one has time for or needs to break a train of negative thought and turn it around, or get a quick warm feeling to replace a cold one. 2) Humor, of course. There is NO way to accomplish this feat without it. 3) Warmth. Patrice's sincerity and understanding shine through and feel like a hug from a sister/best friend. 4) Positivity. It is a real challenge to remain positive in spite of everything, much of the time. I too have learned how easy it is to get sucked into the vortex of shared misery! 5) The page called 'I have a theory...' I laughed and cried to mentally picture 'the wife' 'leading a mediocre existence, laying tile in MY palace for all eternity'....I love it!!! This is great!!! 6) 'Reasons to be happy about being a single mom'. My favorites: 'Any kind of motherhood is a gift. And, Your other option is misery'. Amen! 7) 'Ways to Nurture Yourself'. Amen again! I already do most of these things and I can guarantee their effectiveness, especially gardening, for me. I could go on and on, but my point is that she has hit the mark with this book. I've been a single mom since the age of 19, and now I'm 38. (Some days I feel 68, but other days I feel 17.) I'm proud to say my 19 year old daughter is in her second year of college and is practically running the place, and my 10 year old son is a scholar, artist, singer, AND an athlete, besides being a nutcase whom I have great fun with. We are all three very close and best friends. We single moms need to be reminded frequently of the reality that kids from single mom homes are quite often more self reliant, more mature, more compassionate, and better equipped to handle life than their two-parent home contemporaries. My daughter sees so many kids (from two parent families) around her at college that can't cope with life, while she takes it all in stride and excells. Patrice is so accurate in describing our 'decorated and electronically enhanced single-mom prisons...'Children are chains around our feet and hearts.Finally, I loved her suggestions of comebacks to use with those who ask too much of us. One of my favorites was, "No, but can I borrow some money?" Wonder if I can try that on my boss?? Thank you again for the book, Patrice, and much love to you and Eli too.
Rating:
Summary: Look on the bright side of life!
Review: This book came at an opportune time. In the midst of my preparation for the arrival of my baby girl....I was at a loss of what to do, how to do it, all those questions. And everytime I tried to look up some stuff about Single mothering, it was always about taking this seriously, no laughter, etc. Patrice took on a different angle - she was light-hearted, humorous, yet serious at the same time. The moment I started on her book, my tears started falling because I CONNECTED and she touched my heart in so many ways. It was like I finally found someone who understood what I was going through. I finished the book in a night, and it now sits on my bedside stand, always there for me whenever I need some "pick me ups". I strongly recommend this book to all single mothers. No regrets!
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