When you are a single parent, taking care of your child can be challenging. The journey of a single mom can be an exhausting and frustrating because it involves many stressful factors like coping with fatigue, finding suitable and affordable daycare centers, meeting the child’s basic needs, societal pressures, and paying bills on time. Here are some effective tips and grants for single mothers.

Ways to face challenges strategically

There are no set rules, which instructs a woman towards how to be a single mom. Most women are doubtful and worried if they are able to fulfill their child’s requirements and if they can be a good parent. However, all it requires is believing in yourself and sticking to some basic guidelines as discussed below:

• Don’t be negative
  Single mothers can sometimes ponder over their past and regret few decisions. But you should remember that the past cannot be undone and what is important is to proceed towards your current goals guilt-free and with renewed energy. Don’t play the victim; instead, take things in your stride with magnanimity.
• Build yourself
  Stay positive and start doing new courses, sharpen your skills, and make yourself self-sufficient. Stay updated and know what is happening around you and build a good professional network. Even if you fail initially, you shouldn’t be disheartened but rather, focus on improving yourself and building a strong career.
• Make time
  Try some freelancing options or opting for flexible shifts so that you can spend some quality time with your kids. Plan a surprise for your kids and take time out some time so that you can pamper yourself or go out shopping or hang out with your friends.
• Build a strong support system
  Sometimes you might need your family, friends or neighbors to help you out while handling your kids. Therefore, build good relations and keep a close connection with your immediate family. Moreover, it will help you and your child’s overall well-being.
• Be practical
  Feeling constantly competitive with yourself and others can affect your self-esteem. So, you must take things in your stride and give time for situations to settle down.

Recommended Read: 5 Things You Shouldn’t Say To Your Child

Single mom grants

The Federal and State governments have many welfare programs for the benefit of single moms and their children. Single moms can also avail state-funded training programs and education grants to get good jobs. Some of the recommended grants for a single mom include:

• Temporary Aid for Needy Families (TANF):
  This program provides temporary financial assistance for single mothers and offers monthly cash grant for two years. The Department of Health and Human Services requires a single parent with children under six years to spend 20 hours and a single parent with children over six years must work 30 hours a week on work or job training.
• MEDICAID :
  This program provides free or low-cost health coverage for children. However, low-income pregnant women can also receive medical coverage for prenatal care and childbirth.
  Food Stamps and WIC: The Supplement Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) offers food vouchers for people who have low-incomes. The vouchers received under Food Stamps can be used to buy any type of food while those received under WIC are dairy products, peanut butter, and cereal for pregnant women, nursing mothers and children under five years.
• Housing:
  The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides assistance to a single mom in the form of Housing Choice Voucher Program. A single mom can choose to live either in public dwellings or private rental properties.  Apart from these, there are also other programs like Aid for Heating and Cooling Bills, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) , Child Care Assistance (CCAP), Child Care Development Fund (CCDF), and Rent Assistance.

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It takes a lot of stress, energy, and courage to be a single mom – these tips and grants can make your parenting journey easier.

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