If I were to start a charity, it would be to help single mothers who are trying to go back to school or launch their own business. I have been blessed that I am a single mother with two children, and I still have been able to pursue my dreams because I had my family around me, who were always there to help me out.

I did take a course in starting a non-profit organization, and I read books on how to do it. When I have launched my business full-time, and I have extra time, I am definitely going to start one. I want to be able to hand out scholarships to help these women also achieve their dreams, and better take care of their children. It saddens me when I hear about a single mother struggling because it shouldn’t be that way.

When I know that a single mother is working two or three jobs in order to take care of their children, or have a horrible job they can’t leave because they are the sole provider, even though I haven’t dealt with that, I still sympathize. I couldn’t imagine not being there with my children whenever they needed me.   Being a mother is one of the most important jobs that a woman can ever hold, and she shouldn’t be prevented from doing the best she can.

The Boy who Cried Wolf, originally uploaded by bris1969.

I don’t apologize unless I mean it. When I was a little girl, I used to apologize over anything and everything. It continued until I was in my teens. I finally decided to stop when I was twentysomething, and I was in a relationship with someone who was constantly cheating, emotionally abusive, and made me lose my self esteem. Every time he did something wrong, he would turn the tables on me, and I was the one apologizing for overreacting. After a few years of this, I said “I am DONE!”

I vowed never to apologize unless I really did something wrong, and only if I genuinely meant it. It’s something that I am teaching my children as well. I am not going to have them fall into the same patterns that I fell in, and I see many others fall into as well. You could say it’s like the little boy who cried wolf. He made up so many lies than in the end, when it really counted, no one believed him. I feel that way about saying the words “SORRY.” It should be used sparingly because then when you really mean it, then no one believes you.

I’ve hurt a few people when I didn’t apologize. I told them that wasn’t my intention, but I didn’t feel it was something that I needed to do. In the end, they respected me more because they understood that I respected them enough not to deceive them.

1.  Coin Purse
Cause I hate having lose coins

2.  Brush

To brush my daughter’s hair when we are rushing her to school

3.  iPod 

I never leave home without it

4.  Wallet

Come on

5.  Lipstick

I always carry some

6.  Lip Gloss

I like gloss

7.  Blackberry

My lifeline

8.  Pens

I am always writing

9.  Gymboree Coupon

Going to buy kids clothes this weekend

10. Goals Book

To write and update my goals

11. Inc Magazine

Just got it

12. Bicycling Magazine

Have to buy a bike for June’s marathon

13. Deer Park water bottle

I always have water

14. Little Dog Toy

Daughter left it in the car

15. Notepad

To write things down in 

My most embarrassing childhood memory was when I was around 11 or so. My mother was away on a business trip, and so my father was left to take care of my two sisters and I. An Army sergeant with the Latino chauvinism is the best way to describe my father. Whenever my sisters and I would start crying about something, he would scream at us like we were part of his battalion, “Stop being weak! You are a Polastre, so toughen up!” He would take my younger sister and me fishing, camping, hiking, etc., which ensured that we would be tomboys for life.

One morning I woke up with a horrible stomachache. I remember thinking that I must have eaten something that upset my stomach, so I headed to the bathroom. When I sat on the toilet, I looked down and saw blood coming out. My parents are very old fashioned, so they never really told me about menstruation and what not. Luckily I had an older sister, who had already left for school, so I knew it was my period. However, I didn’t know what a woman had to do. I called my younger sister down. She came, and I whispered, “Call my mom.”

She asked why, and at that moment, my dad was coming. He knocked on the bathroom door and asked in his military voice, “Shevonne, why aren’t you ready for school?!

I didn’t answer.

“I asked why aren’t you ready?!”

“Papa, can you call my mom?” I meekly responded.

“WHY?!

I either told him what was going on or I would be living in the bathroom forever.

“I’m bleeding.”

Silence. After a few minutes, my dad said quietly, “Hold on.”

He knocked on the door and said, “Open so I can give you these pads.”

I cracked the door and grabbed them. He explained the whole process to me, even when I had to change them. I think because of the embarrassment we both had to endure, he let me stay home from school.

Even til this day, I blush when I think about the day I started on the road to becoming a woman, and it was my dad who helped me out.

Here is a pic of my daughter Isabelle with my dad:

My ex, kids (who were 1 and 3 at the time), and I went there for vacation. It was horrible because my ex was a total dick the whole time. He partied all night, and then wouldn’t help me with the kids. While driving the ten hours to get there, he slept the whole time.

When we arrived, he didn’t want to help carry the kids or spend any money. I regretted every minute of it. He decides to leave in the middle of the night to avoid traffic, and guess who drove the whole time? Me!  Isabelle started vomiting when we got to New York.  I had to pull over and get out of the car because he wouldn’t move away from the passenger seat.  Let’s just say that there was more curse words said than any other word in the dictionary.

I am someone who loves to take pictures.  Only four pictures were taken.  See any of me?

Definitely not something I will ever do again.  I didn’t!  That was the last summer before I left the relationship. =)