There is no right or wrong way to become a single mother.  Sometimes it happens by chance.  Sometimes it happens by choice.  Whatever your situation may be, going at it alone is never easy.  Others may look down on you and at times you may even look down on yourself.  When it comes to finances, raising boys and dating there are many questions…and this book is bound to have an answer for you.

Written by two single moms, Andrea Engber and Leah Klungness, Ph.D., The Complete Single Mother offers first hand tips on how to make your single motherhood journey as smooth as humanly possible.  Throughout the book they answer some of the most complex and difficult questions about single motherhood.  They touch on important issues such as how to handle divorce, creating and maintaining a budget, what to do when your children experience separation anxiety and other issues mothers experience.

One of my favorite sections in the book discusses how to pursue your own goals while managing a household.  This section allowed me to follow my own dream of becoming a writer while raising my then seven year old daughter and two year old son.  There are helpful tips on how to maintain your own personal life without getting lost in the title of “mother.”

Another helpful section focuses on how to deal with household finances.  Chances are you’re not only a single mother, but a working single mother.  With only one income flowing in things tend to get tight…quickly.  This book gives you tips on how to create a budget, cut corners without cutting quality and get the most bang out of your buck.

I found the book helpful.  Life is challenging enough without additional drama.  Many people see single motherhood as unnecessary drama.  They may fault the mother for bringing a child into this world without what they consider to be a stable family.   I know first hand the challenges of being a single mother.   Even if I could, there isn’t a thing I would change about my decision.

While it may be better to some for both parents to be in the household, I feel that it’s the quality of the home that determines the success of ones’ parenting, not the quantity.  Do not feel  shame in being a single mother; you are more appreciated than you know.

You may have become a single mother by chance, by choice or by fate.  We all have underlying insecurities.  After all, “mother” isn’t a title you carry for eighteen years and nine months.  It’s a lifetime commitment.  That in itself is a huge pill to swallow.

The book is encouraging. With a little guidance, some support and the knowledge to back up your decisions you can make your single motherhood journey much more enjoyable.  Now pat yourself on the back!  You’ve done great this far!  Keep going!