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Ask your questions here...and get answers! How often have you had a single mom question, but didn't know where to go for answers? Often we think we are the only ones struggling to juggle everything on our own.  That's just not true. Our single mom experiences are more common than we think, and this is where we can help each other.

Submit your question here, and provide answers to other single moms. Questions from other single moms appear below the submission form.  Just click on the title to read the questions and share your wisdom. We're all in this together!


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You are not alone! Raising kids by yourself is a tough business and it can be hard to find the answers you need. By sharing our questions and answers we learn from each other.

What others are asking...

Check out other questions and answers here.

My children  
Hi Sarah, Help me! I’m feeling like I can’t win, my kids do everything with their dad they love the new young wife and baby and I’m always left out. …

Inconsistency 
I have a 10 month old, her dad and I split up for couple of months now but I remained in the same house so we could coparent in order for it to be easier. …

My child’s father is inconsistent, should I ask him to stay away until he decides to change? 
My daughter is 10 and we live 3.5 hours away from her father. He does have moments where he come Most of the time he is just wish washy when it comes to …

depression with my 15yr old daughter . 
Hey Sara . My daughter is 15 , she is an honor roll student and does very good around the house with her chores and everything else . But she doesn't …

Single mom trying to work with an inconsistent father 
I am truly trying my best to work with my child's father. However, I believe there may be better ways to do so. I know my son's father loves him. He …

My sons biological dad is inconsistent, disrespects and degrades me as a person and a mother, should I give in and let him take my son when he wants? 
Hey mothers, my son's biological father has just finally started trying to take my son for day visits and sleepovers, but the issue is, he only asks when …

My daughter lied about who she was going to be with. 
My daughter is 15 she told me she was going with her dad to Philly and then he going to drop her off at his cousins house later so she can babysit, I said …

My teenage daughter has chosen to live with her Dad 
A couple of months ago, my 15 year old daughter decided it was best to live at her Dads. Her and I have been struggling to have a relationship for the …

Co parenting  
Ok. I am a mother of a 5year old boy and 1 year old girl. Their father is extremely inconsistent. He was extremely abusive toward me in front of my …

Teen wants to live with dad who deals 2 to 3 hundred pounds of pot per month 
My 14 yr old wants to live with her dad who deals 2 to 3 hundred pounds of pot every month. She says he is more stable than me because he has lots of cash. …

Daughters nudity and lack of boundaries in front of her Dad 
My stepdaughter is 25 and thinks that it is ok to walk around the house in a t-shirt and thong, pull her pants down and moon her Dad, leave the bathroom …

Son wants to live with dad 
My son is 14 and just dropped the bombshell that he wants to move back to Ohio to be with his siblings from his dads side. His dad has been absent for …

Trying to reconnect with my girls after my separation/divorce 
Hi! I'm a father of 3 beautiful, caring and loving women (23, 18, 15). Following the separation from their mother last January, they've slowly drifted …

Child Custody 
Ever since Child Support has been placed, my son's dad wants 50% custody. I am sure he only wants 50% custody so that he can get out of paying for child …

How to handle my12 year old daughter being outright disrespectful and defiant behavior  
My 12 year old daughter (2nd oldest of my 4 children), has always had a “battitude”, but never like this. She raises her eyebrows in a disrespectful way …

How to get started to financial freedom 
I’m at a lost on how to get started my ex is unreliable and I never want to depend on child support which is not much. I need a starting point.

Sex. 
My daughter heard me and my younger boyfriend having sex. She was very angry this morning. How do I deal with this. Nobody knows about my boyfriend because …

Constant requests for playdates and sleepovers 
How much is too much? Sometimes I just get tired of the constant running her around or friends over. I don't have anything against the friends or their …

Clucky Single Mum 
I'm a 24 year old single mother to a beautiful 4 year old girl. For about a year I have been so clucky and really want to have another child so my 4 year …

feeling isolated 
So I've been single about 2 weeks after my son was born. His dad just split and we divorced. I have dated off and on but no keepers and no-one good enough …

What Should I Do?  
Hi , I Am 19 & have a 1 year Old Son and I'm Pregnant. I've known The father Of my kids for over 7 Years. We just split up maybe like 3 months ago. Even …

My son doesn't listen to me 
Hi Sara, I'm a recently single mother of a 7 yr old boy who won't listen to me. He thinks it's funny when I get in to him I tell him to stop doing something …

No Father 
My daughter is 4 and has no clue who her dad is because he was off on drugs and going to jail, well now he is in prison and has never seen her. I haven't …

Is my 4 yr old lonely? 
My 4 yr old boy always wants to be out and about and around other people all the time. After nursery today I had a couple of messages to do but then took …

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Single mom and disrespectful 19 year old son 
Suggestions please...He thinks he is the boss

my daughter and I are too close of friends and if I pull away she feels unloved what do I do? 
I have been a single mom since my daughter was 2yrs. My daughter 13yrs old and I have developed a friendship and at times she tells me too much of her …

My 18 year old daughter is at times awful 
We were at a family lunch recently and I wanted a glass of wine and asked my daughter if she would drive a quarter of a mile home as she was drinking water. …

Inconsistent Father 
My child is two and his father has been very inconsistent his entire life. He will have me a little money a few months then stop, he will see his son once …

how to handle and raise boys as best kid 
Hi, My husband expired in 2010. Even when he was alive, from day one till now I handle all as my son's needs. His father was useless and not honest. …

Inconsistent Father 
Hello. I have a daughter who will be 9 months old November 8th. Her father and I no longer live in the same household nor are we together for about 2 …

Teenage daughters and live in boyfriends 
My ex-fiance' that I am still very close with has a soon-to-be 16 year old daughter that I am very close with also. Her father is basically out of the …

Father has had no contact with now 18 year old daughter for 13 years.  
My daughter has become increasingly apathetic and is getting poor grades, is overweight and has a condition that requires less weight and sugar or her …

Inconsistent Father....Allow him in my daughters life or cut him out completely 
My 8 month old daughter's father has hardly been around since she was born. He has 2 other children, sons, his oldest is 9 and the middle is 18 months. …

Boundaries and respecting me and my home  
I have 2 sons, the eldest is 20 and the youngest just turned 18. We live in Australia so the drinking age is 18!! The boys haven't had contact with their …

Teen crushes 
My daughter, Shea is 15 and for the last 5 months dated a 14 yr old boy who is controlling, who she talks to, who's on her snap chat list, etc. He's flunking …

My daughter is a full-time job. 
I'M A 54 YEAR OLD SINGLE (BY CHOICE) MOM. JUST ME AND MY DAUGHTER. I AM RETIRED FROM THE STATE / AS WELL AS AN ARMY VETERAN. MY DAUGHTER IS MY FULL …

Single mom not coping with life and raisign 15 year old son 
Hi im a new single mom of a 15 year old son, have been in two relationships in the past one for 14 years - son's father (left him because he was cheating …

Moving Teenage Daughter 
Hi Sara, I am a single mom of a 15yr old girl and an 11 yr old boy. I have been dating a man for 5 years. We are buying a hobby farm a little over an …

Teens and Cell Phones 
Sara, These days it seems more convenient for teens to have cell phones and it costs about the same as having a house phone. When a teen needs a ride, …

HEALING- putting pieces back together  
Hi Sara, I am a single mother of a 24 y.o. daughter and a 9 y.o. son. I have a 2.5 year old grandson. In 2012, I (FINALLY) completed school with a Doctorate …

recently single mother to 3 and 5 year olds. 
Hey I'm recently a single mother with a 3 year old and a 5 year old. Me and their dad are still friends and I'm not completely alone. He has the kids once …

how to raise a 9 year old daughter? 
I am a single mum. How do I raise my 9 year old daughter? I have tried 2 different relationships and it isn't working on my side. I know am hurting her …

My 5yr old son's sudden misbehavior at home and now at school 
Hello, My name is Vanessa I have a 5 yr old son we've been living with my parents being as I'm a single parent and my late mother was ill and needed taking …

how to handle a dating 16 years od boy 
Happy New Year's Sara, Now Sara, I have been a single mother indeed for 16 years now, & my boy has started dating a 15/14 years old gal, on 22/12 he asked …

18 year old son  
My 18 year old son only finished matric. He will go out with his friends.. comes home when he likes.. sleeps over at friends when he wants to and comes …

Ten Year old Anger 
I left my husband when my two boys were 5 and ten months. Now they are ten and five. We've always had a friendly, fun relationship, despite the fact they …

Teenage son  
Hi. I'm a single mum to 2. I'm at my wits end. My 16 year old boy waa fantastic until his now 22 year old sister moved back home. He does not listen …

My best friends 19 year old daughter move out last night with her(daughters) 21 year old boyfriend. 
What kind of advice can I give my friend? Her 19 year old daughter moved out last night with her 21 year old boyfriend of 18 months. He lives 2 hours away …

how do I juggle working and putting a preschooler in school? 
I live in Milwaukee and have a job as a school bus driver. I'm trying to decide if I should move on my own or stay with my mother. I have a three year …

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My 11 year old son is out of control 
I'm a single mom with two kids. My son will be 12 in December and his behavior is out of control. He is already so far behind in school because he refuses …

Will I ever trusted a man in my life again?  
My daughter's father and I never had a relationship. He was a one night stand. I was a single mum till she was three years old. I found a boyfriend who …

my 12 year old daughter  
She's shutting me out and we use to be so close she's having a hard time dealing with the murder of her teacher and guidance teacher she doesn't want to …

17 year old daughter with history of self injury refusing to attend school 
Hi Sara, I am a single mom of a 17 year old daughter. Her father was killed in an accident when she turned 13, and she has received a ton of counseling …

My 2-1/2 Year Old Won't Listen 
Hi, I have a son who is 2 and a half. He doesn't listen to a word I say anymore. I can't cope with it anymore. All I do is just cry because I don't know …

Belittling and not caring  
Hi Sara Firstly thank you so much for providing such an insightful web page. I feel I am not alone in the endeavour of being single and trying to raise …

Single Mother of two and now pregnant 
I was dating a man who used to be my boss for 8 years. He left his wife when we started dating. She came home one day and never left. He stayed living …

"the TALK" 
I am a single mum with a 15year old boy...I can see he is busy changing, his voice more deeper, pimples, notice hair under the arms...what age does boys …

My daughter is a single mom and is partying to much 
I am worried about my daughter. She recently became a single mom with a 16 yr old son. She is partying too much and my grandson is skipping class and getting …

My daughter's father is very inconsistent should I not allow my daughter to see him? 
Hi all single moms! Background: My dad died when I was 3 and I grew up with a second dad who was pretty harsh. Fast forward to today. My daughter …

inappropriate lap sitting 
My 6 yr old daughter was sitting on my husband's lap, when she got up he had a rock hard erection. Furthermore, he didn't try to conceal it after she got …

My son is asking about his Father 
How do you tell your 4 year old son that his father is not apart of his life by choice?

I'm a single mom raising my sassy 7 year old daughter 
I am a single mom and my 7 year old daughter has a sassy attitude and blurts out disrespectful things sometimes and tries to always get attention. I've …

Needing support for being a single parent of 18 year old girl 
I have been widowed 5 years and have an 18 year old daughter. She is wonderful in many ways but also very very challenging...always been her nature. We …

Single mom moving closer to kids' dad for kids 
Hi. I moved away from my kids dad 5 years ago due to a breakup. At the time, my daughter was 1 and my son was 4. Now they are 6 and 10. They visit …

Need advice and help! What do I do? 
My oldest daughter doesn't like my youngest daughter's father because of what he put me through. I feel like I should give him a chance to be in her life …

How to Organize and Plan Meals  
Hi Sara, can you repost how to organize and clean your home suggestions and how to plan meals. I remember a while back you had that listed on your site. …

Do I Have a Daddy? How to Answer the Question 
I'm a single mom of 2,5 yr old son. My ex-husband left us when my son was 2 months old. So he never knew about his daddy. How do I explain about daddy's …

controlling a 16 yr old boy, that can be violent. 
My son is addicted to the computer, does not mind any rules, including cleaning after himself, and can be violent. What do I do?

Teen Pregnancy 
Is it weird that I want to get pregnant at 15?

Communication 
Is it OK to have a personal life when raising a teen? If so, how do I balance that when my kids get mad if I give time to anyone else..

Pregnant. & single  
Hey Sara I just found out I'm pregnant but I'm single. I don't know what to do. I'm so stressed out and sad I don't know if I should keep it Please …

Feeling judged by my friends when dating  
I am having a hard time discussing my dating triumphs and woes with my mostly married friends. I feel like a lot of them judge me pretty harshly. I have …

16 yr old daughter dating 25 yr old boy 
How do I get through to my daughter that dating a boy that much older than her at her age is not a good thing. I just cannot seem to get through to her. …

How to keep the house 
I can't keep up on the housework around here and I feel like it's all caving in on me! I've always been housework challenged. I don't focus on one …

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17 year old son heard me in bed with my boyfriend  
I am 52 years old. My 17 year old son and I have a close relationship. I am 5 years divorced and I have barley been with any new guys since. I brought …

Ex husband's new girlfriend 
I don't want the girl my ex is dating around my daughter. I learned some things about her: 1. He was apparently dating her sister she decided even …

son with anger 
Well I have a 7 year old son. That has anger or no self control. I'm a single mother and he is the only child. He gets into trouble everyday at school …

Work Struggles/Considering Foster Care 
My daughter is 18 months old. Her father has never acknowledged her, especially since we weren't in a relationship when she was conceived. I don't receive …

unhealthy relationship 
My son (17) left home 4 days ago. His mom's girlfriend pick him up and he is living with her family. I am very worried..what can I do? I wouldn't like …

Teen daughter wants to live with Dad 
Hi, I've been divorced 11 years. My daughter is 14 and about a year ago started saying she wants to love with her Dad. He is remarried with a step daughter …

Housing  
Hi Sara! My question is how do I find information about housing for myself and my son. I'm at my wits end with friends and the kids and I sleep on the …

My son is soon to be fourteen years old 
Hi, I am a single mom to a son that will be fourteen next month - he has just started at high school this year. He was always a loving,kind child and …

Babies father is an emotional abuser. 
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 …

Struggling with my teenage son  
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. …

Hw Can a Single Mother Train Her Son to Become Great in Life 
How can a single mother train her son to become great in life and make him excel in all his endeavors?

An Unhappy Son 
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, …

Am I Really an Abusive Mom? 
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 …

Bad behavior and nothing seems to work 
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 …

how long should a punishment last 
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 …

Child in hospital 
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. …

single mom crisis: recent biochem grad can't find work and more 
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. …

Death of a father  
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 …

When to tell a man you have kids 
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 …

I don't feel I am loved but just to be needed and be used  
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?

How do I handle the transition? 
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 …

Should I Stay or Should I Go 
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 …

Please read and answer this asap!  
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 …

A father that is no longer in the picture 
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 …

She won't get herself organised 
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 …

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Good kid - Bad kid 
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 …

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

Is this the right decision 
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 …

How to get time to yourself ? 
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 …

Reviewing movies, books tv 
Do you recommend a website for reviewing things our kids read or watch?

Becoming a single mom 
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 …

Patience 
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 …

hello 
Hello, I am a single mom. My son is 6 months old. I need find a home for me and my son but I can't find that in Kendal because I work here, but that's …

Disciplining a 5 yr old 
My five year to me seems so out of control. She does any and everything she wants to do when I tell her not to, she constantly gets into everything that …

Raising three kids while struggling financially 
I am a single mother of three kids. I take care of two by myself. What I want to know is it ok to break down sometimes when you can't afford to take care …

Young Single Mom Stuck in a Hole 
I am 24. I left my son's father 3 years ago. He is now 5. I've never had my license, I live with my parents, I don't work, his father doesn't pay child …

tips on goverment assistance and the process in state of Texas 
My job has just been down sized, I have three children and their Dad does not pay child support. What kind of programs or assistance is out there, other …

Starting over 
I became a single mom once I decided to leave my abusive partner, and once I left I found out I was pregnant again with twins. Now I'm carrying the two …

stressed from no help 
How do I deal with my stress of raising my son and always doing everything for his father since he won't do ANYTHING himself? I'm becoming overwelmed with …

Child support issues 
Single mom, child support order granted, father refuses to pay child support & quickly typed up Affidavit for son to sign stating he wants to live with …

Housing! 
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!!!

Totally Selfish Teenager 
I have just recently moved countries so as my daughter can go to a very good private school to do her A levels. Her father and I are divorced(ten years)and …

They want it their way. 
How do I keep from feeling guilty when my children try to guilt trip me into giving in to their demands? I want them to be happy, but there must be boundaries. …

21 year old with a 1 1/2 year old amazing son and possibly pregnant with another child...need advice to jumpstart the great life I know I am capable of providing for us! 
My name is Alex and I'm 21 years old with an amazing 1 1/2 year old son. The father has never been in our lives. I haven't talked to him since I was 8 …

My daughters inappropriate behavior! 
I am a single father and I am looking for a woman's opinion or advice. My 17 y/o daughter has recently (within the last month)started appearing around …

I Want Another Baby 
My son Jose is 9 yrs old on April 29th, and he's been asking for another baby but I don't have the partner figure at the moment. I also want to have a …

Tantrums 
My four year old son dislikes the word no and if it is said he just throws himself in the floor and throws himself around the house. Some days I feel …

My Teen 
Sara, my teen girl is smoking weed, I just found what should I do? I am against that. She is very good at school, only A at school, I want her to have …

Early Bird Child Care 
What do single moms do when they start work at 5am? I do get off of work early as well 1 pm, but I need someone at my house from 4:30am for when he wakes …

Dating 
I'm a 22 year old single mom and I have a 2 year old daughter. Her father and I were together for only 3 months when I got pregnant and it was basically …

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7 year old throwing away papers... 
I was just notified by my daughter's teacher that she found 3 crumpled up tests with low scores in the trashcan at school. I definitely push my daughter …

Friends in middle school 
Hi Sara, I am a divorced mom of a beautiful girl. We live in a suburban area, where it looks like everyone is married and both me and my daughter are …

Single Mom Wants another baby 
Hi Sara, I am a single mom of one wonderful 2 1/2 year old boy. He is my whole world. However I find myself wanting another baby. And that isn't a sudden …

I don't know what to do about my daughters father  
My daughter's dad was there there for her whenever he could be and he tried to be there as much as he could. Now he's in jail. He calls me and writes me …

How to Manage 
I am a single mother of 3 ages 12 months, 2, and 7. I find it hard to manage the house work, raising the children, and going to college full time. I often …

Abusive Mom 
Ok here it is.. First my mom never hits me, I want to be clear on that. Me and my bother got into a fight at McDonald's and we threw ketchup on each other. …

Teen Daughter Dating 
I am a single parent of a 17 yr old daughter. We live in a 3 bedroom home. When my daughter has her boyfriend over, there is no place for them to have …

My Son's Father is Bisexual..... 
I found out my children's father is bisexual, I also knew for a while he was sexually abused when he was younger. I don't feel comfortable leaving my …

Morning Routine 
Morning Routine What should I do with my one year old son while I take a shower?

Sleeping 
My son is 2.5 years old. He used to sleep in his gripp before, alone. We bought him his bed, and he doesn't want to sleep there, but rather with mom. …

Choosing to be a single mom or not 
I'm not a mom yet but I am 3 months pregnant. The father left me and decided to not be a part of the baby's life. I'm 21 years old. I'm just scared to …

Going to School 
I see you went to school as a single mom. I have two young kids, ages 6 and 9. Can you give me any pointers on managing work, school, and kids? …

Crying Baby! 
HELP! My 2 month old baby won’t stop crying! I have had so little sleep I am beginning to hallucinate! Everyone says it will pass...but when!?! Sara …

My Ex is setting a bad example! 
I am a dad with disabilities. My kids’ mom is a “cool mom”; the life of the party. I want my daughter to go to college, but she is getting conflicting …

Television Watching 
How do I decrease the amount of TV my kids are watching? Sara says... This is a huge issue! We all know the hazards of too much of TV, …

Planning meals 
Sara, I need more information on planning meals. I LOVE the suggestions you give for one week. How about a few more??? I get stuck in the same old routine …

When should new love interests be introduced to the kids? 
What is an appropriate amount of time for me, or my Ex, to introduce our children to a new love interest? What type of interactions would be best? Is …

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