working as a single mom

That would be a very difficult thing for me to advise another mother so I can only tell you what I did. I am not single, but I did give up a very lucrative career to stay home most of the time to be with my kids. Now, that they are teenagers, I can see I made the right decision, even though financially, we could have had so much more had I decided to remain at work full-time.

In your case your fighting to bring home the bread and it must be hard not being able to spend time with you child. The discussion which I've read, I've been nothing short but blessed by how focused you on matters which must be very hard yet you control them incredibly well. without making self sound more strange it is very nice to read and is moving. (There's less and less mothers like you out there in the world, especially where I live) I think focusing on your career is important but time for child is aswell and if you need to work, then your doing best by your child. Thanks for sharing this and I hope I haven't offended you by the comments here. ~Joey

The most precious thing you can give to your child is time! Teach him now that we don´t need all those material things to be happy, and as he has grandparents that can help, it should not be so difficult when he can have some things that other children have. The only thing that cannot be replaced is the time you give him now. You can help him to develop a kind, gentle generous personality and teach him the joy to give to others and how to build great relationships.

Why aren't you getting child support from his father? You are eligable for it, you know. Take his a$$ to court. Get your education now, when he doesn't know that having a poor working parent is anything out of the ordinary. I know from experience that teenagers resent parents for being poor.

i'm not a mom yet but to reply to this, I should say you should take care of him, or maybe work but still have time to him.

I'm very torn on this queston and myheart goes out to you for haveing to make such desisions. Wow, I know you want to spend more time with your child, thats what I would want, but the child is still very young, its when he's older that he's going to need you most. You need to find a career that makes your meat, but doesn't drain you of your time. Balanceing a career and full time mother is hard, and realy I think you could use public assestance right now, I wouldn't be assamed or critize someone who needed it. Best of luck, realy hard question to answer.