Let's suppose I'm a single mom, I have a two year old, I'm twenty two with a high school education...

Question

How do I go forward with my life to better myself for me and my child, while at the same time not be gone all the time trying to accomplish this goal? I'm struggling to make ends meet now. What do you suggest I do?

Folks, did you guys read the first two words in the question? I'm a man but thanks for the advice, I'll keep my legs closed next time.

Answer 1

Under the Conservative "plan", either she or the child are screwed - probably both.

What if her parents or family are dead or incapacitated? What happens if they don't have the financial wherewithal to help her? Aaah the stupidity and the shame................

Answer 2

First of all, congratulations. Being a single mother of a young child is the hardest job on the planet. Well done.

Second, people are going to tell you you are doing the wrong thing no matter what you do. If you stay at home with the littlie you will be trash, if you go out there and study or work you will be neglecting your child.

My advice, listen to none of them. Its not the quantity of time you spend with your child, its the quality. If you are happy, your interactions with your child will be happier ones too. Kids are adaptable.

ALL families need to make sacrfices to get somewhere in their lives. Most mums and dads have to work full time these days. Do we all want to? Hell no. We all want to stay and raise our kids all day every day, we just can't.

Studying can seem like such an up hill battle but in the long term its worth. Go and be the best person you can be and follow your dreams. You had a child, you don't need to be a matyr. Find your passion and follow it. Thats the best example you can set for you child.

Good luck to you.

edit: ok, just realised this actually was a hypothetical question. Thought perhaps the poster was just a little embarassed..my mistake.

Answer 3

Cut your budget by 15%. This may mean you have to cook more at home, cut your cable service, make less trips in your car, cut your own hair, go generic, what ever. Do it.

Now, pay off any and all credit card balances with the money you're saving, in the order of highest APR. Pay off any additional debts.

At the same time, you should be looking for ways to lower your fixed costs while increasing your income. If you can find a cheaper place to live, like your parents', do it. If you own a car, shop for the cheapest insurance.

Depending on your skill set, you might be able to do odd jobs on the side. Cut hair, clean houses, make clothing, mow grass, paint, rebuild motors....I have no idea what you're capable of, but I guarantee there's something you can do people will pay money for. Once your child's in school, go back to school yourself.

If it was easy, we'd all be rich.

Answer 4

Take the child to a day care or a babysitter and get a job.
Apply for food stamps and stuff like welfare for now atleast, or until the child is 5 years of age. then when the child is a lttile older, go to college or even a community college, or get a GED and get a good pating job. Then u can take care of ur child and rent a home or apartment.
Never put yourself down, u r a great person. If you werent a good parent u wouldnt have mentioned ur child in ur question.
love ur child the most u can, and dont let anyone judge you. :)

Answer 5

Well first you need to acknowledge that you F'ed up. That being said, I would find out if you could move back in with your parents so that your 2-year old will have some positive influence in his or her life. Forget about dating or a love life for a while. Instead focus on taking some classes, getting yourself a decent job with normal hours, and contribute what you can to your parents. Your only other hope is to find a man willing to overlook the fact that you already have a child, marry you, and allow you to be a stay at home mom to your child while he's at work.

Answer 6

What are you interested in becoming? Take some community college courses in the field at night when you're not working. Unfortunately, people in your situation almost always have to depend upon family members for survival.
Don't let any people come in here and lecture you about choices you made, just keep being the best person you can be.

Answer 7

you should get on welfare and try to obtain a scholarship for single mothers- there are very good ones out there. the welfare money can make up for the fact that you won't be able to work while at school
most colleges have day-care. other day-cares cost money so if you can't afford it, hopefully you'll find a babysitter.

welfare lasts a few years. you should be able to get at least an associates. and go to planned parenthood- free controception if you don't work. small fee is you do

(yes I know you're a man)

Answer 8

your days of wanting to stay at home are over.
you should have thought of this BEFORE you got pregnant. children are not little surprise packages that come in the mail.

you have a child and the child has to be taken care of. that means you have to work full time.... if you want to better yourself you MUST go back to school. take one class at night until you are finished. go to a trade school, beauty school, tech school or any other school that will educate you to the person you wish to be!!!! that is the ONLY way to better yourself.

Answer 9

You chose to have a child, be a parent. Balancing single motherhood and a full time career sounds like a fasttrack to burnout.

Answer 10

Go to school online and pursue a college education! You can go as far as you want to go, and it's never too late to be that someone that you want to be.