| Single mother's face numerous challenges. Career, child | | | | days taken when child cannot go to child care |
| care and even dating are among them. In order for a | | | | providers. Even pestering fellow employee's with |
| single mother to have a career that pays decent | | | | school fund raising programs is a concern with |
| money, more often than not, it involves specialized | | | | employers. |
| training and overtime. This in turn produces a whole | | | | The single mother, without knowing it, has the deck |
| host of problems that must be addressed. | | | | stacked against her, even before the interview. I feel |
| Child care is the most important of these factors. | | | | that employers miss the fact that single mothers are |
| Especially with all the horror stories you here now | | | | the most dedicated, loyal and hardworking individuals in |
| days. If a single mother does not have a family | | | | the work force today. |
| member that can help out in this respect she must | | | | Another challenge that single mothers face is dating. |
| filter through for child care providers. This is a tough | | | | Besides overcoming the problem of finding a significant |
| job. | | | | other, the child or children will, no doubt, make this |
| Four critical factors that should be checked when | | | | aspect of a single mother's life, very hard. |
| searching for providers are; verifiable references, ratio | | | | A single mother needs to be very careful on the dating |
| of children under care, ability to talk personally to | | | | scene. She needs to keep in mind, not only her own |
| current provider clients, and cost. | | | | safety, but the safety of her child or children. There |
| First, an overview of your cities home page can often | | | | are some real sick puppies out there. Also, the single |
| provide the necessary information, which can easily be | | | | mother must find someone who is not put off by her |
| verified through the site. | | | | "baggage". Men often refer to a single mother as |
| Second, there are state laws that mandate how many | | | | having "baggage". They are interested in free and |
| children can be provided for under one adult's | | | | easy fun, not a ready made family. |
| supervision. Check with local laws for this information. | | | | If a single mother does manage to find someone who |
| Third, if the provider cannot arrange for you to speak | | | | does not shy away from her "baggage" then after a |
| personally with at least two of their current clients, then | | | | certain length of time, she must consider introducing |
| look elsewhere. | | | | her child or children. This is a critical moment for the |
| Fourth, is the cost. Though money is normally tight for | | | | single mother. It can make or break a relationship. Even |
| a single mother, this factor should have the least | | | | though he is aware that you have a child or children, |
| importance. Quality care is not cheap. | | | | seeing is believing. |
| Employment and career choices are another challenge | | | | Will they hit it off? Will your child or children be on their |
| for single mothers. Even though most employers state | | | | best behavior? Was this a good decision? The single |
| that they do not discriminate, it is often a giant red flag | | | | mother also has to recognize that, even if the initial |
| when an applicant is a single mother. The employer | | | | meeting went well, now is not the time to relax. The |
| often assumes the hiring of a single mother can | | | | future will pose more obstacles and stress that she will |
| adversely affect the company. | | | | need to deal with. But there is always hope on the |
| Examples: loss of time on the job from problems with | | | | horizon. After all, there is no other individual among us |
| child care. Calls received during working hours. Loss of | | | | that is as strong and deserving of happiness as is the |
| concentration on the job when the child is ill and sick | | | | single mother. Did I mention, I'm a single mother. |