How do you single mother survive? You are so amazing!?

My husband and I are hoping to have our first baby soon.





When I calculate all the things a baby needs its insane!





We will be fine with both of our incomes, but if I was single I don’t know how I would make it work.





How do you single mothers do it?





How do you pay for everything and not go crazy?





My own mother was a single mother at 23 with two children!





She didn’t get any welfare or child support from my father and she raised us fine.





As an adult I find it amazing that we never felt poor growing up.





There are some good moms out there!





Single mothers pat yourself on the back!!

How do you single mother survive? You are so amazing!?
It's no picnic for single fathers either, although we conveniently forget about them.
Reply:welfare or they know Britney spears
Reply:I think single mothers don't get near enough respect. My hubby is an over-the-road truck driver and is gone alot, and I have often said I feel like a single mom, but I am not on my own financially. Kudos to the single moms who succeed in doing it on their own!
Reply:well it's easy with welfare, food stamps and all kinds of other tax payer supported government handouts. plus we get to milk are baby's daddy for as much as we can to pay for our lifestyle (as if we'd really use it on the kid). some of us are even smart enough to have multiple babies' daddies... that's like hitting the jackpot.





i can't believe some girls are so dumb that they prefer to wait until they are educated, working, mature, married and responsible enough to raise a family. how dumb. it's like they are actually thinking of the child's future and not just themselves.
Reply:thank you- that was very nice- it seems like some days it isn't gonna happen, and I can't take it anymore- but then words of encouragement get tossed our way and faith gets restored again- thank you
Reply:First off thank you! It seems like it would be a struggle but, it really isnt. I am now expecting twins...STILL SINGLE! Amazing huh? But, now i have a highly devoted bf whom is extremely helpful... just wish i had met him earlier. Either way Being a single mom is hard emotionally, physically, financially, and most of all DRAINING! I dont think i have had a good night sleep since i had my son and he is 1 now. Once you become a mother single or not your instincts kick in full drive and nothing can come between a mother and the love for her child.
Reply:Thank-you very much. Money is tight as I am on a disability pension (get a new hip in a couple of months) but my kids miss out on little. Some times I have to make a choice on whether they do certain stuff, for example school swimming is next term but at $73 each for 8 days I have decided NO. They have private lessons so we will skip this. We don't have take-away very often but enjoy non vegetable Friday nights LOL tonight we had pancakes. We have a roof over our heads and meals on the table and a great family. This is more than a lot of people have. Our holidays do not involve a plane or motels, just a car and a tent and the kids love it. Yes they would love a trip to Queensland but know we can't do it and are happy to camp as a lot of their friends don't get to do this. I teach them to be happy with their lot in life and between swimming scouts and basketball they are lucky kids. I did offer to them to give up their after school activities and we put the money towards a trip to Queensland and they said no they like to do their sports instead. No we don't have a lot money and yes at times i stress on this but all in all we are happy people who have a warm house and a loving family. Who needs all the material things in life? (though a trip to Queensland would be nice lol)
Reply:I agree with Shannon. Thank you so much for your kind words. I have four children and although two of them are grown it's still just as hard. I recently was granted custody of one of my grandchildren and will probably soon get the other one.





There is a lot of making do with what we have and doing without some things we want (a vacation would be nice) and even some things we need. Even though my children don't get to wear the latest styles or have the newest toys, they have a mom that will fight to the death to protect them, a shoulder to cry on, discipline when it's earned, a homemade cookie after school and all the love they could ever ask for.





Financially, we don't have it but we have each other and we make it work. I wish you love and happiness with your first child.
Reply:Babies don't need that much so I don't know what you are calculating. My husband and I did not have alot of money when my first was born and I became a SAHM so we had one income. We got things at tag sales and purchased store brands of diapers and wipes. I had no issues with hand me downs or buying gently used clothing via online auctions.
Reply:Thank you but I agree being a parent whether single or not is difficult. There is government assistance out there but believe it or not not every single parent is leaning on the government or "milking" their sperm ( egg) donors.I believe if you need assistance from the government or state, use it while you need to and then work your butt off to become independent. I am a single mom, I go to school, I own my own house, and I receive no assistance from the government or from my daughters father. I work very hard and I am frugal. We have never been to Disneyland, but we go to the movies and arcade. I don't have a new car and most of my girls clothes are hand-me-downs or Wal-mart specials. I have to say no to a lot of "extras" ( delivery pizza, Mc Donald's, Toys). So what. I am proud of the way I am raising my daughter. You do what you have to do to provide for your family.
Reply:very carefully
Reply:Actually parenting is tough, doesnt matter if your a single dad or mom or even a couple. Parenting is tough. I have to say though, I was single mom for 2 years, and i met a wonderful man who was also a single father. And i dont think we give fathers the credit they deserve. He raised his babies by himself with no help from the gov or any other type of support from the birth mother of these children. You can milk the father when it comes to child support. But when a mother gets off the hook and doesnt have to pay, its like pulling teeth. She hasnt paid a dime in the past 5 years, Better that way anyways. We dont need her help nor want it. Its just funny how men dont really get what they deserve, and people act like single fathers arent out there, Im sure now days theres tons of single fathers, So if anyone needs the credit i think it should be given to them for the wonderful job they do :)!!! Women naturally have the motherhood in em. Men dont :) but they do a heck of a job :)
Reply:WOULD SINGLE DADS BE OK. I DO GET HELP FROM THE GOVT. I'VE GOT 2 BOYS, AND I GET A LOT OF SUPPORT FROM MY FAMILY. I GET NO HELP FROM THE MOM, NOR DO I WANT IT. BUT THE REWARDS OF SEEING MY KIDS GROWING UP IS SO WORTH IT.

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