- my iParenting
- quick clicks
- moms today articles
- moms today q&a
- community & groups
- research baby names
- prepare a birth plan
- content channels
- ip channel rss feeds
- read birth stories
- read parenting stories
- recommended books
- e-newsletters
- safety recalls
- ip diaries
- ip store
- mom of the month
- dad of the month
- editor's letter
- letters to the editor
From Our Sponsors
- e-newsletters
- Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters
- award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
On Your Own
Becoming a Single Mom Through Choice
By Neilia Sherman
Knowing the potential pitfalls going in should encourage potential single moms to come up with a plan of action, says Temple. Key issues often revolve around finances and social support.
Julie Newton of Virginia Beach, Va., is raising 3-year-old Brandon on her own and is expecting a second son in February. She says that it is essential to have a solid bank account, a flexible work schedule and a back-up plan.
When she became pregnant, single mom-to-be Robin Slaven moved from New Jersey to St. Petersburg, Fla., to work at a more family-friendly job. The new job has a better schedule and easier commute to allow her to spend more time with her son. Slaven also hired her cousin to assist with daycare and serve as backup support, which is especially helpful since her son is now only 6 weeks old.
Life with a newborn can be the most difficult time for single mothers, as this is a time rife with exhaustion and depression, so it is important to line up as much support as possible from family, friends and hired help. "The hardest thing is not having someone to share the joy with ... I would love to share those moments with a partner," she says.
McKenna advises women considering the single-mom path to realistically ask themselves if they can handle this emotionally, physically and psychologically. "Think very hard about your single life and who you are and why you want this child," she says.
Want to see more?
Comments
Found 1 comment
Displaying all 1 comments below
|
Post As:
|
||
| Enter your comment below: | ||
| Title | ||
| Comment Text | ||
| CAPTCHA | ||
| Please note that any comments submitted become the property of Disney Family / iParenting and can be edited and posted at our discrection. | ||
"PLAN B, Single Women Choosing Motherhood" documentary by anonymous on 12/28/2009 04:39PM
A great documentary on single mothers by choice is "Plan B, Single Women Choosing Motherhood." It's intelligent, thought provoking and empowering. The women in the film are honest and I felt as though I knew them. If you want to have a child nothing can replace that need. Women of today don't have to wait in order to start a family of their own.