Meet Rhonda Thomas. A single mom of an a nearly 16-year-old son, Rhonda spends time helping other single mothers find their life’s purpose through the business that she founded.
What’s one thing most people don’t know about you?
Most people don’t know that I speak, write and read three languages—English, Spanish and French.
What are you passionate about?
I am passionate about helping and empowering other single parents to successfully raise their children.
How has motherhood changed you?
Motherhood has helped me put priorities in order. The responsibility to raise children is the most awesome challenge given to any parent. Being a single mother has taught me that the simple things in life are most precious in the end. After graduating from college, my goal was to move up the corporate ladder and become a controller. When I arrived at that point of success, the next question was, now what? Motherhood brought me back to the reality that the investment we make in the next generation is the only noble quest in life.
How do you banish stress?
My favorite stress relief is through singing and dancing.
What inspires you?
My inspiration comes from a deep inner faith and a desire to see our young people succeed.
Do you work? If so, what do you do?
I am the executive director of the Single Parent Support Network (405- 917-1817, www.supportforsingleparents.com) and President and CEO of National Business Concepts (405-503-3296, www.gobizconcepts.com).
What do you like most about your job?
I love to encourage and motivate others to discover the gifts and talents within themselves and to observe as they come alive to a new world that was always awaiting their discovery.
What is on your wish list?
Run a marathon, write a book, travel the world and take a muchneeded vacation.
What are you most proud of?
I am most proud of the child that has been entrusted to my care and for the young man that he has become.
What motivates you?
My motivation comes from a greater calling in my life, a vision that my family lives by— to blaze a trail and impact the world.
How do you find balance in your life?
Balance has always been a challenge in my life and I am constantly driven by my passion and vision. I always need to have someone tell me to take a break, take a vacation, you can go home now, etc.
Advice for other moms?
My advice for other moms is to develop a family vision and mission statement. Live by the guiding principles that you have set for your family and develop relationships with your children. It is not about the “stuff,” it is about the relationships.
Where are you from originally? What brought you to Oklahoma?
I am originally from the Caribbean and have lived in Oklahoma for 27 years. The dad of one of my childhood friends was teaching at Southern Nazarene University and he encouraged me to come to Oklahoma and attend SNU.
What’s the biggest challenge in your life?
The biggest and most rewarding challenge has been raising my son on my own.
How do you help others?
Helping others is our daily routine as we reach out to help single parents from all over the city. Sometimes an encouraging word, sometimes a suggestion, sometimes a recommendation of a book, counselor or resource. What ever it takes to help the parent get to the next level.
What is your parenting style?
My style is selling my son on a family vision and mission and funneling every decision that he makes through that vision and mission. It is the most effective selfcorrecting method that I have found with my son. I work on telling him I love him every day and try to daily say thank you for something that he has done.
Favorite quote or advice about motherhood?
“History has demonstrated that the most notable winners usually encountered heartbreaking obstacles before they triumphed. They won because they refused to become discouraged by their defeats.”– Bertie Charles Forbes
Quick Facts about Rhonda:
- What 5 words describe you? Passionate, self-motivated, positive, encourager and misunderstood
- What is your favorite indulgence? Connecting with nature
- What can’t you live without? Music
- What’s always in your handbag? Pen and paper ready to write down my thoughts or ideas.
- How do you spend time alone? Reading or creative thinking
Mari Farthing is the editor of MetroFamily Magazine.
