4 ways single moms are thriving

By Samantha Gregory, author of Rich Single Momma

{This post is part of the Moms Who Work series.}

Too often we hear about single moms who are having nervous breakdowns, exploiting their situation or children, and behaving badly. The media has a way of blowing things out of proportion and highlighting the worst cases. The truth is more single moms are thriving than those who aren’t.

I want to share four ways I and numerous other single moms are thriving and embracing life.

1. We are embracing our individuality rather than be stuffed into a pre-defined mold. We are snatching off society’s negative labels and customizing pretty ones of our own.

Being a carbon copy of other single mothers is rather boring so I embrace my unique personality, skill set, and talents to redefine what it means to be a solo mother.

2. We are pursuing more/better education to lift ourselves up out of the lower class. It may be okay to start there but it’s not okay to remain there.

I decided to return to college 10 years and two children later. It was tough but my drive to make a better life for myself and my kids made every challenge worth it. That focus made it possible for me to graduate with honors and go on to work for a well-known government agency.

3. We are seeking well-rounded life experiences individually and with our children. Broadening our horizons through art, travel, film, and music is more attractive than rotting way in front of a television. Being narrow-minded is not an option.

Just this year I got memberships to the science and art museums. The kids and I love watching classic and the latest film then we talk about the themes or just the really funny parts. We have a high level of music appreciation beyond the latest popular tunes and rap music. It’s not uncommon to hear classical, jazz, and inspirational music coming from our speakers.

4. We are starting our own businesses to stretch our resources rather than suffer the fate of financial destitution. We refuse to settle for handouts and government assistance. If starting a business is not our thing, we make a few extra dollars with our hobbies.

I started my first business when my daughter was two years old. Since that time I’ve done freelance resume, technical, and copy writing to make extra money.

Being a single parent is not all bad and, case by case, you will find single moms who do a really good job and others who struggle terribly. Whether they are never married, divorced, or widowed moms, they have so much to offer the world. The point is they have very real choices and the ability to thrive no matter what the circumstances are.

Bio: Samantha Gregory is a single mom blogger over at RichSingleMomma.com. Stop by and pick up a copy of the Single Mom Success and Survival Kit to manage the journey and learn how to make extra cash too. Follow her on Twitter @richsinglemomma too!

For further reading in this series:

• All moms work hard
• How to be a stay-at-home mom without losing your marbles
• Mom on a wire: finding balance and sanity in a home with two working parents
• Readers speak up about the best and worst of... being a working mom
• How I became a pediatrician turned stay-at-home mom
• The pros and cons of being a work-from-home mom
• From home to work or work to home: speaking up about the transition process
• Back to work: How to prepare for the transition after maternity leave
• Are SAHMs 1950-ish? {readers speak up about the best and worst}

Dear mommy-friends, are you a single mom? What are some of the ways you thrive as a mom? Are there any misconceptions that you feel people have about single moms that you'd like to address? What is the most difficult--and the best--thing about being a single mom? What can other moms do to best support you as a single parent? 

always glad to see women thriving,

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adriel booker | the mommyhood memos | 2010 
do not reproduce without written permission