Single | Grit and Grace Life

This Is What I Learned About Life After My Rape and Pregnancy

By Monique Jackson King / HerStory, Motherhood

In 2009, I was ending a relationship that had me completely mesmerized! I was involved with this man for the previous five years in what was called, by today’s standards, a “situationship.” In other words, I was madly in love with a man who had no intention of honoring our relationship with validity or legitimacy. Each of my close friends would ask me what our status was, and my standard answer was, “We’re taking it day by day.” In my heart, I knew this wasn’t the love that was designed for me, but I also did not want to let go of the good conversation, the companionship, the intellectual stimulation, or the familiarity that it provided. I allowed that fear to blind […]

This Is What I Learned About Life After My Rape and Pregnancy Read More »

7 Things to Look for in a Man

By Darlene Brock / Relationships

I recently read an article listing the top seven characteristics you should look for when hiring an employee. As I read through them, it occurred to me that these are exactly the things every girl seeking a life-long relationship should want. They are the qualities that make a marriage work, will build a healthy partnership, and can weather the storms of life. It made me wonder why we don’t take the same well thought out, purposeful approach in finding marriage material as we do when hiring our next assistant. So let me just share with you these seven qualities that make a great employee and are equally important in the arena of dating relationships. Not cuteness, a great car, or fun on

7 Things to Look for in a Man Read More »

Tips for Living the Single Life With Grit and Grace (Video)

By Our Grit and Grace Life Videos / Relationships

If you like this video, be sure to check out some of our favorite articles about living the single life with grit and grace: 5 Tips for Successful Independence Traveling Solo, How and Why You Need to Just Go for It Managing Your Money So It Doesn’t Manage You 5 Reasons to Love Being Single Learning to Love Your Single Self 9 Things I Miss About Being Single #gritandgracelife

Tips for Living the Single Life With Grit and Grace (Video) Read More »

My Story, Daring to Date After Divorce

By Shannon Degarmo / Relationships

I was talking with one of my besties from high school while the kiddos played with their toys on the floor. We were just about to hang up the phone when she quickly interjected that she thinks that she found a guy that she wants me to meet. Ummmm…does she remember that months ago I went through a terrible, heart wrenching, devastating divorce? Does she even understand that I have NO intention of dating anyone…maybe ever again! I tell her I think she’s crazy and that there is no way I’m interested. She persists that he’s this great guy, and I’m like why don’t you date him if he’s so great? She begins to get the drift that I’m not interested, but

My Story, Daring to Date After Divorce Read More »

After Years of Dating, Should You Keep Waiting?

By Darlene Brock / Relationships

I recently had lunch at a wonderful lakeside restaurant where my server was a cute, incredibly perky girl in her mid-twenties. Looking at her, I thought about what a great stage of life she’s in—one that so often brings the beginning of new life roads. Because I just have to know about every new person I meet, I asked her what keeps her busy when she isn’t working. Her answer was looking at bridal magazines. The obvious response from me came next, “That is so great! When are you getting married?” Her response, “My boyfriend and I have been dating for three and a half years and he hasn’t asked me yet, but I’m sure he will. So, of course I am thinking about a

After Years of Dating, Should You Keep Waiting? Read More »

Can You Have a Fairy Tale Love?

By Darlene Brock / Relationships

Life’s fairy tale—fact or fiction? I hear the clamor of female voices saying, “Disney lied! There are no princes! There is no happily ever after!” Dreams dashed, fantasies destroyed. In many ways they are correct; you will not walk through life singing with the birds while fish harmonize and other woodland animals dance in time. Unless your career is that of a park ranger… There are males out there who can indeed be princes, yet they are just as likely to be frogs. A real-life man is often some of both. Expecting the dragon, evil queen, or bad-lipstick octopus to be defeated for your rescue, is probably not going to happen. But, that doesn’t mean you need to give up on some of

Can You Have a Fairy Tale Love? Read More »

Young Love… It’s Not So Complicated

By Linda Clements / Life & Culture

I had no brothers; therefore I didn’t get the inside scoop on what happens when younger dudes gather. I was very much a girly girl growing up. So, understanding how the guy mind pings and processes when he is interested in a girl was foreign to me. Imagine my shock and surprise when both of my babies turned out to be boys! It’s been a learning curve to say the least. Over the years I have learned a few things about how the male mind and heart works through observing my husband, my sons, and my son’s friends. I’m about to let you younger ladies in on a little secret you might want to know, and it just might answer that important question of “How do I know if he likes

Young Love… It’s Not So Complicated Read More »

Learning to Love Your Single Self

By Christi Anderson / Life & Culture

“Hi Mommy. How’s life? You have a boyfriend yet?” I had just picked up my 9-year-old daughter from school. It was a rare moment that just the two of us were in the car together, and after she plopped down in her seat, that is how she greeted me. Well…when I dropped her off at school at 7:50am I was single, and when I picked her up at 3:00pm I was still single. I had to tell her that no mystery man who wants a very part-time girlfriend had presented himself to me that day. And I’m OK with that. I’ve been a single mom for 8 years. Right now, I love it. I have three children and they are my priority.

Learning to Love Your Single Self Read More »