Single Mom Advice, Tips, and Support

May 9, Babies father is an emotional abuser.

Thu, 09 May 2013 11:04:41 GMT

Hi Sara, I really need some advice, to someone who is outside my friendship and family group. I am 25 and about to become a single mum being eight months

Apr 23, Dad Talk

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 03:05:09 GMT

Single Dads! Here's your opportunity to talk about what's on your minds!

Apr 23, Balance Up p 5

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 02:16:39 GMT

Single Mom Mentor Sara Sherman's continued trek to a balanced financial life.

Apr 23, Balance Up! p 4

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 01:32:02 GMT

Single Mom Mentor Sara Sherman continues her Balance Up! journey to financial freedom.

Apr 15, Am I Really an Abusive Mom?

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 21:47:23 GMT

Hi Sara. I'm a mother of a five year old kid. I love him so much but he really gets on my nerves most of the time. He does things that irritate not just

Apr 15, single mom to be and Im scared :(

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 21:42:34 GMT

Hi everyone my name is Cyndi and I been married for almost 10 years, since then I haven't worked and I'm about to be a single mother, it's not that I

Apr 15, An Unhappy Son

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 21:41:20 GMT

Hi, I can't believe I'm asking parenting advice online but then again I'd do anything for my kids, so here goes: My 10 year old son is unhappy, and

Apr 15, Struggling with my teenage son

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 21:38:18 GMT

Hi Sara, I just had a particularly traumatic morning with my teenage son. He had decided he was not going to school and I of course said that yes he was.

Apr 15, Hw Can a Single Mother Train Her Son to Become Great in Life

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 21:37:06 GMT

How can a single mother train her son to become great in life and make him excel in all his endeavors?

Mar 19, Bad behavior and nothing seems to work

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 23:34:14 GMT

I have a 10,7, and 4 year old girls. They do see their father but he does not discipline at all. I am the one who has to do it all. My 7 year old got

Feb 19, how long should a punishment last

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 03:46:41 GMT

I have a 16 year old son, he recently has been ditching school. I really shouldn't say ditching- because he just does not to wake up for school & misses

Feb 2, Child in hospital

Sat, 02 Feb 2013 09:33:24 GMT

I am a single mom of three, ages 17, 12, and 9. My 17 year old is in the hospital and wants me to stay overnight and I have no one to watch other two kids.

Jan 20, single mom crisis: recent biochem grad can't find work and more

Sun, 20 Jan 2013 22:51:14 GMT

I will try to keep this brief: I am a single mom of a 5.5 yr old girl. I am also a recent graduate (graduated May 2012) with biology/chemistry degrees.

Jan 12, I don't feel I am loved but just to be needed and be used

Sat, 12 Jan 2013 23:35:56 GMT

Why my daughter is not treating me as nice as she treat to others after that I have done everything that I can for her the best?

Jan 12, Death of a father

Sat, 12 Jan 2013 23:35:15 GMT

Hi there, My name is Vanessa and I am a single mom. I was with my daughter father for 5 years, ages 19-24. I have a beautiful, amazing 4 year old who is

Jan 12, When to tell a man you have kids

Sat, 12 Jan 2013 23:33:13 GMT

I just met a man at a singles happy hour briefly and he asked me out. We will go out this evening for the first time.. When should I tell him that I have

Jan 12, How do I handle the transition?

Sat, 12 Jan 2013 23:18:38 GMT

Me and my husband have been married for 6 yrs and for the past year he has not been able to work due to medical problems so he has been watching the kids

Jan 12, OMG!!! MY twisted life

Sat, 12 Jan 2013 16:39:54 GMT

Okay so me and my boyfriend have been together for 6 years and have only been apart for one night! We have a four year old little girl. He stays home I

Dec 31, Should I Stay or Should I Go

Mon, 31 Dec 2012 00:31:25 GMT

Some years back I moved from a large city to the small town I grew up in. It was only supposed to be a temporary move, but I seem to have gotten stuck

Dec 24, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays

Mon, 24 Dec 2012 01:52:48 GMT

Christmas will be here in about 30 hours...and everything is finally done. We have been to Grandma and Grandpa's, and Great Grandma's and Great Grandpa's. I have shopped until I just can't take it anymore...and I have a freezer full of our favorite hors d'oeuvres for Christmas Day. Yes, you read that right. We are having hors d'oeuvres, and yes I had to look up how to spell that. It has been a long standing tradition at our house to have our favorite hors d'oevres on Christmas Day. Having snacks gives me the day off (which IS the most important part), and the kids think it's fun. (It is best when they don't know you have the day off.) Our table will be covered with pizza rolls, chicken wings, mozzarella sticks, sliced apples, chopped veggies, cheese, crackers, and summer sausage. The kids are free to graze at will while I relax. I wish the very same for you!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you and your family, from me and mine. God Bless!

Nov 28, Please read and answer this asap!

Wed, 28 Nov 2012 00:57:15 GMT

Hello, I am a mom with 2 teenage daughters. Their dad is very rich, but he is very hard to live with. He always hits me and he is a really bad father for

Nov 24, my crazy life

Sat, 24 Nov 2012 15:46:30 GMT

I'm 22 I have 2 children a 2 1/2 year old and an 8 month old. My soon to be ex-husband and I where together for 7 years. Which means we started dating

Nov 20, How to rule the freaking world

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 13:16:10 GMT

I love Kathy Najimy. I love her talent, her confidence, and her mind. In this one minute clip she'll not only show you why, but she give you the secret ruling the world!

Nov 14, how does she do it all

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 00:48:24 GMT

How DOES she do it all? Don't have the secrets of single moms who do it all? No problem! Sara's got some new secrets for you!

Oct 20, Submit Your Article Idea

Sat, 20 Oct 2012 22:34:43 GMT

Single Mom Mentor Sara Sherman is always looking for great articles that benefit her readers. If you have an article for Sara's Single Mom's submit your article idea here.

Oct 5, Good kid - Bad kid

Fri, 05 Oct 2012 18:28:17 GMT

My daughter is not a bad kid. She doesn't do any thing wrong because she doesn't do anything. She doesn't do drugs or drink or run around. She is 16

Oct 5, A father that is no longer in the picture

Fri, 05 Oct 2012 18:27:06 GMT

I am a mother to a beautiful 15 month old baby girl that the father is unfortunately no longer in the picture. After finding out that Briana's father

Oct 5, She won't get herself organised

Fri, 05 Oct 2012 18:25:48 GMT

Hi, I am a single mum of three girls. My eldest is 18 and has been hard hard work- no input from her Dad at all. My problem is that i still have to organise

Oct 5, Is this the right decision

Fri, 05 Oct 2012 18:24:28 GMT

OK. Me and my child's dad whom I dated for 3 years, broke up in Feburary of this year! It was too much for me. He cheated and broke my heart by saying

Oct 5, How to get time to yourself ?

Fri, 05 Oct 2012 18:19:03 GMT

Hi, My name is Chery'l and I'm 21 years old. I have a 1 year old baby girl and I'm seeking advice on getting some time alone. It's very hard because I

Oct 5, My Mom Found a Lump

Fri, 05 Oct 2012 12:37:14 GMT

To find a lump in your breast is akin to striking lightening in your heart. This is the story of my mother's lump and why it should have been found much sooner.

Sep 24, I don't have any friends or relatives to help me with my 6 months old son, where can I get help from?

Mon, 24 Sep 2012 11:44:37 GMT

I am just getting out of a relation and my baby father refuse to help me with our 6 months old son. I have no friends or family member with me but I clearly

Sep 15, Can you be a mom...and a Governor?

Sat, 15 Sep 2012 20:41:34 GMT

The Chicago Sun Times recently published an article about a current female Attorney General, who intended to run for Governor. The article asked, can she be a Governor...and be a mom? Yeah, I was pretty pissed when I heard about it, and so were many others. Clearly, this is a sexist statement, and I signed the MoveOn.org petition demanding the Sun Times admit their error in judgement. After all...we don't ask men this question. And there's the rub. This question should be asked of all parents. Maybe not out loud, but in our country, in our world as a matter of fact, we don't ever ask if a parent can fulfill their parenting responsibilities and pursue their desired career. (Unless they are female.) Come on...if moms are important, then they are important; and if dads are important, then they are important. As a single mom I have turned down countless beneficial career moves because I have a responsibility to be an effective parent. I did not relocate because I was unwilling to take my children from their father. I turned down a promotion because the hours my boss was working were insane. (I was later fired by the new guy because he was threatened. Sometimes you feel like you can't win.) I didn't apply for jobs that had odd hours or required a lot of travel. My own Governor gave a speech recently explaining why political wives are not often seen. He said they were home doing the laundry and raising the kids because the politician was out on the campaign trail and never at home. The speech was intended to show the great sacrifices these families make so daddy can be free to run the world. To me, it is simply irresponsible parenting. So can a human be a Governor and a parent? I believe that if that human is able to control the work schedule such that he or she is available to parent, then yes they can. Sometimes it's easier when you are at the top of heap because you are free to call the shots. However, if it is such that the work schedule interferes with the ability to parent, then I absolutely believe that the parenting comes before the career. While work and service are often acceptable excuses to put your children and your parenting responsibilities on the back burner, they are just that...excuses.

Sep 4, And the story just goes on

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 02:49:09 GMT

After a few hours of sleep I awoke to in-room coffee. It is not unusual for me to be unable to stomach this coffee, but on this day God had mercy and the coffee was from Wolfgang Puck. Wolfgang always delivers. Hotel breakfasts have expanded from the oj and donuts of my youth, but it remains carb intense...aside from some fresh fruit; and of course the fake meat...and fake eggs. When I travel, I give great thought to my hair products. In a new climate it's hard to guess the perfect combo of moose, gel, and root lifter. Just a little off one way and you have helmet head, off the other way and you're left with flat limp locks. I had given it my best shot, but 15 minutes into my presentation in an very warm, very crowded room, perspiration glittering off my upper lip, I knew I had failed miserably. I spent the rest of my day driving hours from appointment to appointment, criss-crossing the great state of Georgia. By the grace of God I made it back to the airport on time, grabbed all the trains and escalators required, found my gate and sat down for a nice dinner. A juicy hamburger and a cold beer. Heaven. Of course when I finished my meal and went to my gate I found it had been moved to a gate a few train rides and escalators away, and I whispered a prayer of gratitude that I had skipped dessert. While not every business trip is so challenging, I have never experienced one that didn't come with at least a fair amount of stress. I have found that there are only 2 kinds of people in airports. There are those who are bored to tears and exhausted waiting for their next flight, and those who are frantically trying to get to their next flight. There simply is no place for stiffly pressed suits and high heels, although you will see them from time to time. As I write this I am on the plane for my next trip. I made it to the airport with time to spare, the valet folks were ready, and I have enough time between appointments to treat myself to real eggs. That is glamorous travel.

Aug 26, Fake eggs and bad coffee continued...

Sun, 26 Aug 2012 02:46:13 GMT

In a panic, I headed to the only parking lot I was familiar with...the one right next to the door. I knew I was sunk if the lot was full. Fingers crossed, deep in prayer, round and round I went up the levels of the garage. Bingo! There, on the roof, near the door, was a space! I grabbed my gear, ran through the airport, arrived at my gate just in time...to hear the announcement that the flight was late. Finally, the plane was off to Atlanta and the flight was smooth, always a plus. On the ground in Atlanta, our tardiness had lost us our gate. We wait twenty minutes on the tarmac before we have a gate. The Atlanta airport is the busiest in the world. To get where you need to go you take a big escalator to a train, ride the train, take another big escalator, grab your luggage, walk to another building, take another big escalator, ride the train to the rental cars, and after one more big escalator you arrive at the cars. I have this great set up with my rental car company so that they have my car all ready for me. No stopping at the counter for me. I stroll (on this particular day drag my exhausted behind) find my name on the big board and head to my assigned spot. In the car, at nearly midnight, I finally relax. All I have to do now is drive 2 hours to my destination. I find the lights, AC, adjust my seat and mirrors when there is a knock on my windows! Yes I about jumped out of my skin and nearly wet my pants. Two men, who fortunately were very kind, said they had been assigned to my car. I confirmed the spot number and one of the men went back to the desk to confirm he had the right information. Yep. We both were indeed in the same spot. I pulled out my luggage in the near 100 degree heat and schlepped back to the desk. I was in the right car, but since my plane was late, the computer reassigned my spot. The rental people apologized, and gave me a new spot all the way on the other side of the parking lot. Finally I am off. I manage to stay awake for the ride to the hotel and I arrive safe and sound in the wee hours of the morning. I walk into the hotel and the desk person says, "Sara Sherman?" Talk about waiting for me! I am so tired at this point I can only nod. "We have you down for 2 rooms." Of course they do...

Aug 26, Fake eggs and bad coffee continued...

Sun, 26 Aug 2012 02:46:13 GMT

Aug 19, Single Moms Ask Sara Featured Question

Sun, 19 Aug 2012 20:11:54 GMT

Check out the Single Moms Ask Sara visitor featured question and give your best advice to others.

Aug 18, Child with Disabilities

Sat, 18 Aug 2012 17:12:14 GMT

Raising a child with a disability can be completely overwhelming for a single mom. Get some tips from disability and single mom expert Sara Sherman.

Aug 18, Ask Sara Single Moms

Sat, 18 Aug 2012 02:35:05 GMT

Single moms often feel alone, and we feel like we are struggling with unique issues. Reach out, ask for help, and share your experiences to help someone else.

Aug 11, About Sara

Sat, 11 Aug 2012 21:47:49 GMT

Single Mom Mentor Sara Sherman provides a wealth of advice, tips, and support to single moms raising fabulous kids.

Aug 1, Reviewing movies, books tv

Wed, 01 Aug 2012 23:28:33 GMT

Do you recommend a website for reviewing things our kids read or watch

Jul 30, Raise Fabulous Kids

Mon, 30 Jul 2012 18:10:02 GMT

Worry that the odds are against your kids because you raise them alone? Nothing could be further from the truth! These pages will give you tips, advice, and support to help you raise fabulous kids!

Jul 29, Be Incredible

Sun, 29 Jul 2012 16:15:25 GMT

Be incredible! Single moms have incredibly hard job. Sometimes you hereneed a little support to celebrate your own awesomeness. Find it here!

Jul 28, Find Babysitting

Sat, 28 Jul 2012 21:44:10 GMT

Searching for child care can be overwhelming. Grab a free babysitter interview guide from The Single Mom Mentor.

Jul 28, Fake eggs and bad coffee

Sat, 28 Jul 2012 14:42:32 GMT

Growing up an hour from the nearest interstate gave me big dreams of travel. One day I was going to get out of my Ohio Cowtown and see the world! I was going to see it in style too! With my college degree in hand I planned to travel to glamorous locations, strut through airports, calmly, confidently, wearing perfectly pressed navy blue suits and high heels. I would see the sights, meet the locals, and breeze out smiling and waiving Marilyn Monroe style...and the cost? It would all be paid for by my job. A job where they loved me, valued me, and paid me lots and lots of money. While I have traveled for work hundreds of times by now, I have never experienced my fantasy trip. Not only have I never even come close, I'd have to say my work trip from last week was about as far away from my fantasy as I could possibly get! I was scheduled to be gone for about 26 hours. How bad can it be in 26 hours? I was about to find out. First, I had to get the family situated. In this particular 26 hour period there were a higher than usual number of kid activities that I needed to make transportation arrangements for. Because the kids were out and about, I also had to make arrangements for dog feedings and pee-pee breaks. It took some time, but I managed to arrange for everybody's needs and pay everyone requiring pay for helping out. I should have headed out the door at 6pm. However...I wanted to say good-bye to the kids and give my last set of instructions to everybody, so I waited until they got home. After hugs and kisses all around followed by numerous "We know, Mom" statements of exasperation, I was out the door. Getting to my gate on time was going to be a challenge. I had been here before. I was sure I'd be fine. For the last 15 years I have used the valet service just outside the airport. They are incredibly dependable. I felt confident. I pulled into the valet lane and...there was a line! Oh my gosh! That had never happened before. "Breathe" I said to myself. I wait. I waited some more. No little man was coming out of the valet hut. What was going on? Finally! A valet man arrived...only to tell me he was the only one and I would have to wait 20 minutes! I had to find a place to park and had no flippin' idea where to go! (Stay tuned...)

Jul 28, Housing!

Sat, 28 Jul 2012 13:56:33 GMT

I'm a divorced mom of 3 small kids and I'm trying to find help with housing but I don't know where to start or how this all works!! Help!!

Jul 28, Becoming a single mom

Sat, 28 Jul 2012 13:54:14 GMT

I'm 7mos pregnant,my first time and I'm alone since I'm in a foreign country and the father of my baby ran away from me. I was told already to quit my

Jul 28, BELIEVING

Sat, 28 Jul 2012 13:51:53 GMT

Not Knowing exactly where to begin, I will describe myself as a single mother of twin seven year old boys. Everyday I wonder if I am doing right or wrong

Jul 21, Toddler Bunk Beds

Sat, 21 Jul 2012 19:46:52 GMT

Kids want exciting, fun, and creative beds. Parents want safe, sturdy, and affordable beds. Bunkbeds.net offers the perfect solutions to make everyone happy.

Jul 21, Patience

Sat, 21 Jul 2012 12:46:30 GMT

I am a single mom of 2 children. A boy who is 6 and a girl who is 3. I have a full time job and by the time I am done working I don't have any patience