What would really help single parents out?
When a family breaks up, it’s so hard to put together the pieces. Expenses go through the roof, because you’re suddenly paying for two of them. Two homes, two sets of clothes and furniture and toys. If you’re a single mother with a disappearing dad on your hands, you lose the partnership of having someone else who will care for your child some portion of the week. You lose your safety net.
A friend of mine is thinking about putting together a non-profit for single parents, and I’m wondering what concrete services it could offer to help single parents make ends meet. From a social networking standpoint, it could be a great resource. One of the hardest things about my life is my schedule. I would love to share a house with another single parent, create a new little family structure that offers the support, safety and resources of a two parent household, without having to deal with spouses and all the issues that that might cause. A dues-paying membership would offer networking on a need-specific basis, just like other associations cater to their membership. Babysitting co-ops, roommates, nanny shares, job resources, group vacations? Sounds like an organization I’d join.
Single parents also often find themselves stuck putting their children in daycare ten to twelve hours a day. One of the little girls in my son’s class gets dropped off at a sitter’s at four in the morning. There’s really no choice: if you work part time to be there for your kids after school, you run the risk of losing benefits like paid leave and health insurance. Perhaps the non-profit could find a way to offer health insurance to its members at less than COBRA rates. Wouldn’t that be something?
Seminars on financial planning, saving for college, fixing credit, buying a house, writing a will. Grant resources. Counseling. Information about getting a degree as an adult student.
What would really help a single mother out? What do single parents need, when the happily ever after gets ripped out of the book, and the ending is a big, worrisome blank?
Let me know if you have any ideas or know of an organization like this.
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7 opinions for What would really help single parents out?
Leslie
Mar 14, 2007 at 3:21 pm
I love the vacation idea, we were struggling with that one-luckily the family all wanted to do a trip.
Having a group for companionship, swapping favors etc is definitely a great resource, as well as “handyman” kind of services. On one income there’s just not a budget or time for all those fun home emergencies!
Solo Mother - I’m looking for some answers…
Mar 15, 2007 at 8:34 pm
[…] A friend of mine is thinking of setting up a non-profit for single parents, and he wants to know what would help us out most. […]
Krystal
Mar 16, 2007 at 2:43 pm
Wow - a non-profit for single parenthood! As a single mom, there are two things that would help immensly 1) daycare assistance and 2)scholarship funds for working single parents. I know these are available through other venues, but I think these are valuable resources.
christina
Mar 18, 2007 at 8:02 am
krystal, daycare is so crucial. I’d be up the creek if our schools didn’t have a three year old program. I haven’t even begun to figure out scholarships for working single parents. If you figure it out before I do, let me know!
Nice to see you here. Thanks for visiting!
christina
Mar 18, 2007 at 8:03 am
Leslie, I really hope I can get a vacation group together this summer. Go somewhere nice, with a group of single parents who more or less raise their kids the same way. I think that would be crucial for success.
A lot of my married friends have offered to loan out their husbands for handyman and manly man duties around the house. It’s a comfort.
angel
Mar 19, 2007 at 9:35 am
i think thats a fantastic idea- all of it! i wish i lived closer so i could join it too!
luckily for me i live round the corner from my parents and siblings… but i would love a group of parents to “join” that has nothing to do with dating (maybe i’m looking in the wrong place, but thats all i seem to find, LOL)!
christina
Mar 19, 2007 at 9:33 pm
I don’t know what I’d do without my parents. I’m glad you have yours nearby, too, Angel!
I hope our little single parent group becomes a strong resource for doubling up on the parental stuff. it would be nice to have a tribe.
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