Here’s the thing. Single parents are amazing. I say parents because there are both single moms and dads out there. However, today I’m going to focus on single moms, not because dads don’t do the same thing or are any less amazing, but because that is what I know. Growing up, from when I was 1 until I was 12, it was just my mom and me. And I loved it. She was my best friend, and worked so hard to take care of me and give me all I needed. However, for a 30-something single woman from England, with only a high school diploma, I’m sure she struggled. But I never knew that. I just knew that she loved me.

I always looked forward to dinner time with my mom. She made delicious food, and it was a time we could sit down, talk, and be together. One dish that she made frequently was pasta. Specifically spaghetti or tortellini with spaghetti sauce. And I LOVED it. In fact, I still love any kind of pasta dish, and I attribute it to my mom. Looking back, I think we might have eaten a lot of pasta because it’s a cheap and filling dish, but that doesn’t bother me. Like I said, I loved it.

And so, whenever I think of a pasta dish, I think of my mom. And whenever I think of our dinners together, I remember that I always loved eating with her, sharing our days, and laughing at everything. She knew just how to make me feel warm, and loved, and cared for.

So now, as a mom myself, I love to try to utilize dinner time as a warm and loving time for our family to be together, just as it was when I was growing up. Of course, with two under two, dinners are a little hectic, but at least we’re together.

One of my favorite dishes to make is ravioli with meatballs. Not only are they quick and easy, they are generally healthy, too (bonus points if you make your own meatballs!), and can easily be dressed up with salad, garlic bread and fancy cheeses. I love to use Ragu pasta sauce, because not only is it easier for me as a mom, but I know it’s a taste I can trust. No matter what flavor of sauce I choose, I know everyone around the table will like it.

Another reason I really like the Ragu brand is because I can connect with it. The founder, Assunta Cantisano, was a single mom, who emigrated from Italy with very little to her name. Sound familiar? Alright, so my mom isn’t from Italy, she’s from England, and she didn’t start to sell her own pasta sauce, but you can see the connection, right?

Single moms are amazing. They have to not only raise their children, but they have to earn the money to care for them, too. I have a hard enough time taking care of two kiddos by myself when Kyle works 12 hour days or travels (very rarely) for work! I cannot even imagine how exhausting it must be to have to work full-time, possibly go to school, and then come home and raise your children – making meals, doing laundry, cleaning the house, etc. And having to stress about paying bills on top of that. Single moms are super heroes to me! In fact, whenever I was asked who my hero was when I was a child, I would answer “my mom and Jesus”.

And I still agree with that today.