Being a single mom: Not always easy

Single moms are good at making it look easy. They always seem to have a handle on dealing with children in public, getting the shopping done, working and/or taking classes. They feed their children, keep their homes and pay the bills.

But the simple truth of the matter is that it is not always easy. There are plenty of times (daily, weekly, monthly, yearly) that each single mom feels like she is drowning. Like she is no longer capable of holding her head above water.

These are the times when she might fall into a negative stupor.

What might cause these feelings of helplessness? Many things. She might not get to socialize on a regular basis. She might be dealing with a negative person on a daily basis. Perhaps her child has a mental illness, or she just does not have the skills necessary to handle certain situations. Maybe she is drowning in debt, and is about to lose her home and everything else.

Maybe she doesn't really have it all together, and is just putting up a good front so others wont know her troubles.

Does any of this sound like you? Do not let these feelings drag you down. Do not let them make you bitter, or feel insecure. Do what you can to pick yourself up and move forward in your life. You can do it.

To start to get your life back, consider taking these steps.

  1. Visit your doctor. Does she think you might be depressed? Maybe some depression medication, coupled with positivity lessons, might be helpful. Perhaps some counseling will also be helpful.

  2. Would your doctor recommend you to a nutritionist? Nutrition plays a huge part in helping you to feel healthy.

  3. Discuss fitness options with your doctor as well.

  4. Schedule fun time with your children on a daily basis, even if only for a few minutes.

  5. Be sure to also schedule time for yourself. Perhaps a friend can spend some time with your children while you do this.

  6. Schedule (at least) a monthly get together with your friends. You might also schedule time with other single moms and their children.

  7. Be sure that you are spending time with your family.

  8. Let go of toxic people whenever possible. They suck the energy from you.

  9. Read The Secret, The Power, and The Magic by Rhonda Byrne.

  10. Try to stay positive. This can be difficult but you will learn the skills necessary to pull it off.

Be sure to subscribe to Bangor Single Moms to receive all new updates to the column. Please share articles you enjoy on Facebook, Twitter and other social and bookmarking venues. You may contact Shannon any time at shannonlbuck@gmail.com, or by leaving a comment here.

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, Bangor Single Mom Examiner

Shannon L. Buck, author of blogs dealing with living frugally, losing weight and running a freelance business, is a single mother of two. As a freelance writer, Shannon has written on topics that include parenting and saving money. Many of her articles have been published to eHow.com and Yahoo!...

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