Ruthann is a well traveled mid-westerner. She grew up in Des Moines and spent several years in missions work that took her to another country (ask her about Japan), before she got married and settled in Seattle.

After extreme circumstances in her marriage, Ruthann moved back to Des Moines to be around supportive friends and family. Like most single parents, Ruthann never envisioned her journey to include being a divorced, single mom.

"For me, it's been a long process of grieving the loss of the marriage and working through the shame of the divorce." She said that although she thought she was solid in her faith, the experienced, "rocked my theology, and made me rethink some of what I believed."

"It's hard when we can't see all of God's purpose. The situation pressed me into His heart and brought me closer to knowing the all loving, all wise, and all good God." Ruthann says some days are still hard, but, "Christ continues to heal, redeem, and restore my heart."

Ruthann says one of the biggest challenges she faces as a single parent is the need to always be "on". "There are all the things needed for the job, and all the things needed to run the home, and then all the things needed to be a good parent. It can be often overwhelming and exhausting in the day to day, and sometimes even in the moment to moment."

Although she had supportive people around her, she didn't know others who had gone through a divorce or were single parents. To get better connected, Ruthann joined a single moms group. She says, "Single Parent Provision (SPP) is such an amazing organization. They are great at helping single parents get connected to others who get it. They provide unique services that are so needed and so appreciated. Break Time was my initial point into SPP, it allows me to refresh and get the things done I need to do."

Today, Ruthann teaches elementary school and is mother to a lovely 5 year old daughter. "I love, love, love being her mom. To watch her grow, develop and discover, and to know I am responsible for shaping and modeling her life is such a joy."

Ruthann also enjoys meeting other single parents and helping to come alongside them in the journey. She says if there was any advice she could give others it would be to, "press into God's heart wherever you are emotionally and he will meet you there and take care of you."

She suggests to find support from others who have been there. And, lastly, she suggests that you pray for your kids. "I pray scripture for her of what I really desire to see in her life and what I want God to do in her life." She says that is one of the most powerful things any parent can do in the lives of their children. 

Thank you for sharing, Ruthann.
You are an inspiration!

Published October 2017