jparedes

Hi, my name is Janelle Paredes. I am a 43 yr. old single parent of two wonderful sons. I am a practicing christian and I like to do volunteer work when possible. I also have a tender heart for animals and elders. And what brings me alot of joy in life is spending time with family.

I graduated from high school in 1984 and started working as a counter girl at Arby's shortly after that. I have had many jobs since then and am currently a caregiver and a waitress. When I became a single parent in my thirties, I decided to enroll in a community college. It was one of the best things I did for myself and my children because it enabled me to have a more positive outlook in life and also taught me to be a better parent. However, there is nothing that I have done in my life that has been more rewarding to me than becoming a mother.

Motherhood changed me for the better. I stopped smoking and drinking because I did not want my child to be raised by someone who abused any type of substance illegal or not. Also, it brought an amazing feeling of warmth within my heart whenever I looked at my child. Consequently, the father of my two children was not on the same page as I was when it came to raising our children, so I eventually became a single parent. It wasn't easy for me and life got tougher. But I was not about to let that stop me from being the best mother that I could be.

My eldest son graduated in 2008 from a private school in Hawaii and is currently enrolled at Depauw University in Indiana. He is working towards his bachelors degree in communications, and of recent, has decided to try to get into Law school.

My youngest son is in the 8th grade and attends the same private school as his brother did here in Hawaii. He is active in wrestling and martial arts.

So this is my life up until now but I know I have much more to do in this world. I have this yearning in me to be more than I am. And currently, I am on a faith-based journey to find out what that is. And you are very welcome to tag along.

Most sincerely,

Janelle Paredes.