Black-Mother-and-Child

 

No little girl dreams of being a single mother and the lavish lifestyle that come with it balancing children, career and love. I’m pretty sure the ideal situation has something to do with a prince charming, wedding bells, a white picket fence and a “conventional family”. However, the reality for most women in the year of 2014 is the exact opposite. Relationship cycles have digressed to courting, moving in, creating offspring, splitsville and in most situations co-parenting.

 

The reality is as a mother you become both parents even if “dad” is still present. Present in this case is a very relative term referring to a variety of “dads”. Being a dad can translate into many things, case in point: non-existent to financial supporter, weekend pick-ups to daddy day care, summer visits to holiday calls, no call no shows to the infamous “baby daddy”, you name it.

 

No matter what role the “dad” plays the fact still remains that it ‘s time to put on your big girl panties and woman up. Although, courting was nice the result still stands that there is a living breathing person who depends on you for their every waking need. Now that love is gone and the ability to just make a grocery store run alone is not an option, what’s next?

 

Plan or no plan here you go. These are a few helpful steps to get you on track and back in motion.

 

• Be aware of exactly what you make on a monthly basis. Put all your bills together and project the range, high and low, of what you can anticipate to pay monthly. (Utilities, rent, mortgage, groceries)

 

• Turn the lights off in your home when not in use.

 

• Wash clothes when a full load has accumulated and conserve water when showering and washing dishes.

 

• Make a grocery list, stick to it and cook daily. Plan to eat out as a reward even if it’s a fast food meal.

 

• Do not include your child support if possible; this can be the icing on the cake that will supply clothes and extra curricular activities for the kids. Do not exclude free activities; there are an abundance of them out there.

 

• If you qualify for government assistance, utilize it don’t depend on it.

 

• As your kids get older don’t be afraid to recycle old clothes. Meaning utilize the good old “hand me down” method, sell them to resale stores and don’t forget eBay. You would be amazed how much fortune you have laying around the house.

 

• Put the money you’ve saved in a saving account. It doesn’t matter if it’s $20 a month, after 12 months it will have added up to $240 you would have spent.

 

I hope this helps ladies and remember, every penny counts. It’ not the end of the world, it’s actually the beginning of a beautiful, independent and fulfilled life.

 

 

Article submitted by Sam Summer, contributing writer for STACKS Magazine.