The Single Mum’s
Survival
Guide
I never set out to be the single mum the position was thrust upon me, quite
suddenly and without warning. As the
mother of a three-year-old and a tiny
three week old baby, as you can imagine
it was quite a shock! Later on (this time
of course with older children) I became
a single mum again when I escaped
from my disastrous second marriage to a
sometimes charming, yet abusive, man.
I was losing sleep about how to pay the
bills and my weight fluctuated as I tried
to find the balance in my life. The things
I learned along the way enabled me to
retain my sanity and sense of humour
and also to help my children through this
difficult time. Strangely, my determination
to not only survive, but thrive, contained
within it the certainty that not only would
I get through this, but that I would help
other women in the same situation to
build a happy new life.
These days I’m happily remarried to my
third (and last!) husband. Luckily, my
two boys adore him and the feeling is
mutual. I’ve qualified as a coach, NLP
and hypnosis practitioner and I also
run a women’s business networking
organisation in the Brighton area
called the Athena network. My book,
however, remains one of my proudest
achievements. I like to think that it has
been the perfect way to turn what at the
time was a very negative and distressing
experience into something positive and
constructive. A friend of mine describes
the book as a little bit like a group of
women sitting around my kitchen table
exchanging confidences, giving advice
and sympathy, shedding the odd tear and
sharing a laugh. It’s a really good mixture
of inspiration, comfort and practical help.
It’s not just my story you see - I spoke
to dozens of other single mothers as
well as expert contributors in the fields
of parenting, finance and legal matters,
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among others. In fact, Mayo Wynne
Baxter’s very own Gemma Hope is one
of the featured experts.
When I met Gemma, we realised that
there was a lot of synergy in the services
we offer. We are both passionate about
helping single mothers on their journey
to empowerment and independence –
both financial and emotional. We will be
collaborating again on 10th July with
a free seminar for single mums going
through divorce or separation (or dealing
with the aftermath). Gemma and I, as
well as a mortgage advisor and financial
advisor, will be speaking at the seminar.
We’ll be giving advice on topics such
as: how to tell the kids, what to do when
your children meet his new girlfriend for
the first time, dealing with the legal and
financial issues, finding time for yourself,
getting the help and support you need
and moving on. These are just some of
the subjects I cover in the book.
“THE SINGLE MUM’S SURVIVAL
GUIDE – How To Pick Up The Pieces
and Build a Happy New Life” is
available to order on Amazon now
and will be in book stores from 1st
July this year.
For a chance to win a free individual
coaching session or a chapter of
my book: email your name and
contact details to the vivienne@
thelifeyoudeserve.co.uk. Prizes will
be sent to the first ten readers to
contact me.
To book your place on the free
SINGLE MUM’S SURVIVAL GUIDE
Seminar, please email sparsons@
mayowynnebaxter.co.uk or call
01273 223220
By Vivienne Smith
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