Money was the biggest problem I faced as a single mom, especially in the early days of motherhood. I was constantly worried about how I was going to pay for food, gas, rent, and clothes. The basics needs of our lives couldn’t be met without a lot of worry, juggling, and praying.
Occasionally I got help from my parent but I hated to ask them for anything. I lived with them for a few months after I had my daughter then moved out. I was blessed to be on the local Section 8 or rental assistance program. I was on food stamps and WIC too so that took care of my food issues. Still, being on these programs did not diminish the nagging worry about money.
There was still mounting debt, being under employed despite having a two year degree, and simply not being able to buy clothes whenever I needed to or do something nice for myself. Most single moms can relate, very few can’t.
Remembering the struggles of single motherhood prompted me to brainstorm the ways single mom struggle. I’ve included the money piece above and added the entire mind map on another page. Take a look at it and see if I’m on track. Did I miss something? Leave a comment and let me know.
Samantha A. Gregory is an author, consultant, and speaker. She’s a single-mom lifestyle, money, and parenting expert featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times, Essence Magazine, HuffPost, ABC News, and Mint.com.
Samantha founded the award-winning RichSingleMomma.com™, the first online magazine featuring personal finance, parenting, and personal development content and courses for single moms.
She aims to inspire women who are ready to thrive and not just survive in their single motherhood journey. Connect with her on Instagram @richsinglemomma.
Wow, great job in mapping it all out. I guess I would just add expectations of the single mom’s parents and their single mom reality. My mother doesn’t relate to me in certain instances because she wasn’t a single parent. My experiences and choices in dealing and talking with my daughter are different than what she did…something like that. Great job though!!!
You know that was a big issue for me too. I guess it still is. My mom can never understand what I go through yet she still expected me to do all the things she did, namely keep a spotless house, be at the kid’s beck and call, do homework for hours on end (didn’t matter that I was in school too).
Now I pretty much do my own thing and no longer seek her approval so she leaves me alone, lol!
Yup, you pretty much have it all covered lol
Great mind mapping!
I agree, this is a really good map. Mapping is great because it allows you to present these issues as what they are: multi-level. I am interested to know what your next step is. Are you going to also map some suggested solutions or perhaps list some?
Thanks everyone for commenting.
@Ms. Bar B – I plan to suggest solutions in various ways including doing podcast, articles in upcoming newsletters, and videos. I just really want to get people to think and make the choice for a better life. It is attainable but sometimes the stuff that is in your face crowds out any hope for the moment. I’d like to make this a fun and painless process. We single moms have enough worries and seriousness (even though this is a serious matter).
Cool. I look forward to seeing all that you come up with.