Single Parents

This article is discussing the hardships and challenges of a single parent. I interviewed two single moms and this is what they had to say about their life as a single parent. They also offer some helpful advice for young single moms that are just getting into the role of being a mom. To be the mom and dad to your child or children is definitely no easy task. Here are their stories.

Mom #1

Hi, My name is Betty, I have two young men. I had my first son when I was 22 and 4 years later I had another son. When I first became a single mother of two boys at the age of 26, I was devastated. I was staying with an older sister because I feared staying on my own, the job I was working was paying under minimum wage, also had to lean on the government for support (food stamps) but I made everything work. For a while me and my boys were comfortable and happy. Until, My oldest son hit his teenage years and wanted more than what I could give him. I finally came to terms with myself. I had Social Anxiety also was insecure about my skin tone. I have worked with kids almost all my life because I felt/feel like kids genuinely appreciate you as a person and they are honest.

I love building their self esteem up to be all that they can be in life. My peers on the other hand made me feel like less than nothing. On my quest to finding myself, so I can support my boys better. I was used and my kindness was taken for weakness, bottom line. I lost control of my life. It’s 2020 now and at the age 42, 43 in July, I can FINALLY, after years of mental abuse from my peers, have full control of my life and my boys are back on track, HEADED in the right direction. My advice to single parents. Always take care of home before impressing the streets. These kids didn’t ask to be in this world. So, as parents we really need to step up and be everything that our child/children need. Never let the weight of the world take your focus from the real reason you get up and make it happen. And that reason is your own flesh and blood, your child/children.

Mom #2:

Life as a single Mother of 1 to sum it up in one word was HARD. It made me very grateful to be blessed to have only one child. Nothing was ever given to me. I worked and used whatever resources was available. For example, food stamps, welfare, housing, city bus etc. But I will say that I thank God for all my negative situations and hardships in my life because it actually helped to make me want to strive and make a better life for me and my child so he wouldn’t be subjected to the lifestyle I had as a child. I tried to surround myself with positive things and people and do positive things as well. But as we know God always have a plan for everyone. Though my child may not be perfect, I am proud all the same and by God’s grace I will continue to put one foot in front of the other and keep praying for a better day. The advice I would give single young parents is to always think positive and surround yourself with positive people. Talk to people who build you up and want to help you, not people who are always tearing you down and last but not least do positive things, don’t wait on people to do things for you, get up, get out and make things happen for yourself, because as long as you know that God is for you, it doesn’t matter who is against you (Romans 8:31).