Are you actually alone tho?

Ashleigh Jade - posted on 04/04/2011

I do have quite a large family and a few friends. They are a good support network for me. My ex gas the kids on weekends while i work.

Anastasia - posted on 03/30/2011

Your lucky. Im NOT doing this with any support. Sometimes it will be a week before someone can get me to a grocery store. I live with someone who is doing THEIR friend a favor, by having me and my son after a nasty divorce. I still pay for my own food and my childs. Its hard to find work with these conditions too. my ex husband took the car and I have no babysitter to find with no income. My grandparents live down the street from me which is my only family around me; and they wont ever take my son, give me rides places or give me food. Its from every morning to every night. sometimes even in the middle of the night. then the next morning again. If i got errands that arent too far from the house, its me and him in the stroller cold or HOT. Its the hardest thing to go through. Having a child is rough when your a single mother but its even more rough when no one helps out even for an hour to get away from your baby =(

Andrea - posted on 12/16/2010

I have a great support system, my parents and my bf.

Erika - posted on 12/16/2010

Oh and I have been alone for the past 5 years now. No more men for me, I've had it.

Erika - posted on 12/16/2010

I am doing it alone, indeed. I have two kids, aged 4 and 10, only get child support for the older one, I work full time and I have no one to help on anything. My parents are more enemies than friends, one of the kids father is MIA and the other one is too busy with a new family. Still, I rather do it by myself than to owe anything to anyone. Everyone's always trying to take something from us, anyway.

BeeJay - posted on 12/06/2010

I live by myself with my daughter, recieve no child support, have no one to help me with anything (cleaning, cooking, dr appointments, shopping, taking care of my daughter). I do have my mom who watches her so I can go to work. Other than that I have no financial help, and a small amount of emotional help.

Amanda - posted on 07/19/2010

I would have to say that I do have alot of emotional help but as far as financial help and help actually caring for her... not much. I live with my parents at the time because I am trying to finish college but I pay bills here and cover all of my groceries and all the needs of my child. Its hard and I am glad that I have the support system that I do but as far as my daughter is concerned I am really doing 99% of it alone.

Kadija - posted on 07/19/2010

I guess most people think of "alone" meaning the father is not around but there are some doing it alone my parents support me 100% and are great parents and grandparents yet I do most of raising my daughter alone and still have to watch her feed her and basically do everything but they dont help much because I know they wont be around forever and being a mom you have to learn how to do it yourself which can be hard when you when your just a baby yourself (im 17) but I noticed were never alone because we have our children anyways!

Casey - posted on 07/19/2010

i have alot of support from family and friends, but i do not ask for anything from them i prefer to do it alone if i can, i do get my 1 night a month out where my parents will babysit my son but thats all, so no i am not 100% alone....

Tina - posted on 07/19/2010

I am definitely doing it alone. I have no unpaid support system in place. Every day is a challenge.

Jennifer - posted on 07/19/2010

I agree. I do have friends and family to help out when needed on the days I work. As far as financial or the days I don't go to work, I am alone. But you are right, I do have a boat load of support around when I ask for it. And I do appreciate every single one of them and I do let them know it.

Sarah - posted on 07/18/2010

I'm alone. My mom and step dad don't like helping me or "I'll never learn my lesson". All of my family lives in a differant state and friends, well, I don't have many of thoose anymore because at 25 they are much more happy, dating and going to parties and I don't do any of that stuff anymore. I eat, sleep, work and take care of my kid.

Lisa - posted on 07/12/2010

I understand your point, but at the same time, I know I am the only one I can truly count on for my children. Not saying that others don't help or this or that. But when it comes down to it, you are doing it all alone because at the end of the day your children come home to you and only you!

Allie - posted on 07/01/2010

i have no help once so ever. i do it all on my own NOBODY helps me at all. so there fore yes i am really doing it all alone.

Kacee - posted on 06/30/2010

im with my mom. being a first time mom myself it really has helped my with knowing what to do with my son and shes helping me get back on my feet by letting me live under her roof. my grandmother lives down the street so shes daycare while im out looking for a job and going to school. i dont kno how i would do this on my own completely tho i am a single mother i do change his diaper and get up with him in the middle of the night. but its all worth it when i see him smiling.

Anna - posted on 06/09/2010

all i have is my mom and she watches my daughter for me while i'm at school but since i've met a new guy since my ex husband i'm not so alone anymore he helps me out so much now and i've just gotten so lucky here in the last three months since i've met him he's never watched my daughter alone but he helps me out when he's around me which is every evening till about 10 or 11 then he goes home and now his parents are having stuff to do with me and my daughter they're helping out by buying stuff for my daughter which i never asked them to they just started doing it all on their own which i actually feel kind of weird about because my ex's parents don't help out with her no one in my ex's family does but this awesome guy i met and his family has done way more for me in the last three months then anyone in my ex's family ever has so it's a pretty good feeling i'm still alone in the basic sense of doing everything by myself but i have alot more support now that's just started and it's a wonderful feeling but i was doing everyone alone when i first started when i first found out i was pregnant jan 2009 so i'm pretty thankful for what i have now

Jennifer - posted on 06/09/2010

I really can say that I am primarily doing it alone. I do have a couple good friends to talk to but the actual help and support I need in other areas.. like understanding, help with monetary gifts and babysitting and just love.. no not really to be honest. I do not get child support and do not really pursue it. I can say that I am thankful for all the support I get though.. and I am more attentive to others and sensitve because of this. But as far as making decisions for me and my son and providing and doing all the millions of other little (but big) things.. yeah its me.. no one helps in the process of raising my son.. but I keep my sensors heightened to pick up any helpful hints along the way to guide us and make my "nest" a happier one. :)

Sinead - posted on 05/30/2010

Being on your own is crap. I have family that dont help, an odd school pick up maybe and sisters with their own kids, work and husbands. Same for the handful of good friends I have. I hate asking, always feel im a pain in the bum. Ex has them for a couple of hours on the weekend, big deal. Doesnt pay maintenance, so im complete relying on the state too. would like to go back to college but really cant see how I can manage full time days with school pick up and drop offs and cant afford after school care. Sometimes I feel so trapped.And my mother constantly remindes me that I dont work!!!!!
Any one who says they love being a single mum has no idea.

Sarah - posted on 05/29/2010

Yes, I totally agree with you. I have tons of support from my family but sometimes I still feel very alone.

Jamie - posted on 05/29/2010

I'm very, very blessed. My lying, cheating husband left me for his pregnant girlfriend about seven weeks ago, but my daughter and I have a ton of practice running the show by ourselves because he would be gone two or three weeks at a time for work. Plus, have an amazing support network through our church and my family is close enough to help.

Kimberley - posted on 04/14/2010

I have a lot of family around me, but they all have kids and jobs , so yeah i do it on my own. I don't mind though, they would help more if they could.

Amber - posted on 04/14/2010

I'm glad you have a large support system! That is awesome. I really am doing it all alone--alone. I am a widowed mother of two. My husband was an only child whose family never had anything to do with us before he died so now it's even less contact. I have no family close. I have learned to juggle, although not always well. LOL. I live up in the mountains, too, so have considered moving to the city to make things easier. It is what it is, though, and we all do the best we can. Learning not to compare my situation with anyone else's or think of what ifs seems to be the key.

Erika - posted on 04/14/2010

I have been a single mom since the birth of my youngest. My girls are now 15 & 13 and I have never received a dime from their dead-beat father, nor has he seen them since my youngest was born. I have my parents and siblings close by but only bother them to babysit in dire emergencies. But knowing I have them close is the wall that keeps me standing up. I am truly lucky to have them.

Blair - posted on 04/14/2010

i was actually doing it alone with my first child WITH NO HELP FROM ANYBODY! i felt stressed for awhile but then i went to this support group that somebody referred me to and omg it was so helpful. now i have a 6mth old and i'm getting help from my family and BF.

Kayla - posted on 04/13/2010

"I have girl/boy twins and although I do have support from my mother and if I asked for it family and friends. It's just not the same having a partner to share all the ups and downs, would be great especially on the emotional side of raising kids. But I get through it and my children are totally worth all the craziness. So I'm not doing all alone although it feels like it sometimes."

I completely agree with you, its different having support and having a partner. Having a partner you have someone to share the whole thing with. A support system just gives you someone to lean on. They are two completely different things. Which can leave you feeling alone anyhow, no matter how much help you have. Being a single mom is hard work. I just wonder if someday I do find someone to help me raise my son, if I will feel like I can share all the ups and downs with him even though he isnt his dad.

Kayla - posted on 04/13/2010

I'm with you I say that Im going at it alone but I have a huge support system. My son has 3 sets of grandparents, a set of great-grandparents so anytime I need someone to keep an eye on him I have them. But I do breastfeed so when it comes to feeding him it is all me. Everything finacial falls to me as well. Still working on the whole child support thing with his dad, he just left for the army so it could be months before anything happens. Right now I'm working a part time job and going to school so it does get pretty hectic. The little stinker is almost 6 months old too and is still not sleeping through the night, so I'm pretty sleep deprived but nothing anyone can do about that. But I couldn't ask for anything better, my baby boy makes my life and all the stress now will make the great life we are going to have worth it!

Christina - posted on 04/13/2010

I have my mom there with me.

Jessica - posted on 04/13/2010

I am recently separated and I am doing this 100% on my own most of the time. I visit my parents every other weekend and my daughter is supposed to go to her fathers every other weekend as well, however, he always comes up with excuses for why he can't take her. When he does take her he doesn't take good care of her. I don't feel safe with her over there so half the time I don't let her go. I am at my wits end and have very little support from others. I still don't know how other people in my situation do it and stay so sane.

Adriana - posted on 04/13/2010

I have girl/boy twins and although I do have support from my mother and if I asked for it family and friends. It's just not the same having a partner to share all the ups and downs, would be great especially on the emotional side of raising kids. But I get through it and my children are totally worth all the craziness. So I'm not doing all alone although it feels like it sometimes.

Diane - posted on 04/12/2010

hi,



i'm a single mom to a 16month old girl. I have absolutely NO support whatsoever. I have a full time nanny who to me is the same as if my child went to creche so in the morning and evenings when i'm home from work; Riley is my responsibility. Also on the weekends, there is no-one to even look after her for an hour to give me some "me" time (this weekend i had a tummy bug and could not allow myself to be sick because my child needed me). My mom lives in the UK (I'm in South Africa) and my family are flung across the countryside. So it's not easy and there are times when i yearn for a partner to make our little unit complete, but I wanted her and I adore this funny little child that was given to me so there is nothing to do but make the best of a not ideal situation.



You are very lucky to have help!

Kassye - posted on 04/11/2010

I am a single mom of a 3 month old, so this whole single parenting thing is def new to me lol. I have recently moved back in with my mom and having a support system is truely wonderful, but not receiving child support or any financial help is def difficult, especially in today's economy. I am so grateful for my mom allowing my daughter and me to live with her, but I still consider myself doing this alone bc I dont pawn my daughter off on my mom so I can go out on the weekends like my friends do or get money from anyone...but all in all havin family and friends you can count on to be there if you need them is a huge blessing! Good luck to you!!

Meghan - posted on 04/11/2010

I live with my mom and I have some great g/f's that will watch my son from time to time. Like you I always say that I am doing it alone, but really I have a lot of help! During the day my mom works but as soon as she get's home at 6 my son is all over her! They play for a bit and she watches him when I go to work but other than that I do all the feedings, diaper changes, bath etc. Sometimes I wish I had someone to get up with him at 6 in the morning but I figure even if I was still with my ex, I wouldn't have much help there anyway. my mom is really great in that if I want to go out for an hour or so after he is asleep she encourages me to go-and I am always home in time to get up with him! Thank God for mom's hey!

Andrea - posted on 04/11/2010

I actually live with my parents....its just economically smart right now. I can't leave my dad alone with the kids because of his illness, so no they don't babysit. I only work when my two oldest are at school and I take the baby with me. I do have a great support system and that truly helps.

Joni - posted on 04/11/2010

I'm lucky. I have my parents and a few very good friends to help. Though I am proud and stubborn and will only ask for help if I really need it. (Getting better about that though ; )
I love being a single mom, but I envy my friends who have baby's daddy close by. I would love having every other weekend off! LOL

Teresa - posted on 04/10/2010

I have some emotional support from friends, but actual help? Nope. The only person I can leave my son w/ w/out his sisters being there is my mom.... who lives 3,000 miles away. The only other person that will really watch them has 2 toddler boys, so.... I don't ask her unless I have absolutely no other choice. My dad lives 15 minutes away from me, but has only watched the 3 of them once.



I have no childcare, so haven't had any work yet.... Receiving no child support (he owes, just won't pay) and being supported by the state at the moment. Hoping to get off that soon, but may need to wait til my son can start preschool in a year and a half....