Single Mom Stories – Danielle

Divorce. The word alone conjures up many negative images and feelings:  abandonment, fear, frustration, anger, sadness, and in my case, isolation. All the people I relied on for support and understanding during my transition to single parenthood were back on the East coast. I quickly realized I would need to find my own path out of the darkness. Like so many others, I began my search on the Internet. As soon as I clicked on the link to Single Mother Outreach, my world and my life began to change.

During my first talk with SMO, I kept bursting into tears. I was an emotional mess and completely overwhelmed with the daunting task of not only supporting myself, but my two children as well. Of course, my biggest fear and concern was, “How are my kids and I going to survive this?” That was quickly followed by, “How am I ever going to afford this?” That’s where SMO stepped in. They listened—not just with their ears, but also with their hearts. They understood what I was feeling and assured me that I was not alone and that help was available. That type of compassion and kindness was just what I needed.

I walked out of the office that day armed with a packet of resources. It included information on housing, food banks, shelters, support groups, and so much more. I didn’t realize how many people and organizations were available to assist a single-parent family. But the best thing I found in that packet was hope. The fear that had consumed me was replaced with strength of mind. They say that knowledge is power, and the knowledge I gained that day empowered me to focus on the present and tackle one issue at a time. And I didn’t have to do it alone.

I am currently working on one of my biggest challenges: gaining control of my money so that it doesn’t control me. SMO has coordinated a class entitled Financial Peace University. It has already made a huge impact on the way I manage money and plan for my future financial security. By far, the best part of the class is the group interaction. Being able to share ideas and learn about new resources has enabled me to make better choices. I am certain that I will soon be living debt-free and building wealth.

Sure, being a single parent can be plenty difficult. There are many challenges to face, but I know help is always available through a phone call or a click of the mouse. Single Mother Outreach can always help me find what I need to empower myself.