Hi all, my name is Tiffany I am 22 years old and have a beautiful 15 month old little girl. I have been a single mom since the day I got pregnat and to this day the father is nowhere in sight (except for the occasional $50 which hes sent twice). I am currently enrolled in a speech class and I chose the topic of single parenting. I can definitly go off my own personal expeirience, but I would love to hear some of the stories from other single parents. Such as.... How long have you been a single parent? Do you have help? Do you find it difficult at times? What does it do to you emotionally? What does it do to your social life? so on and so on. I would greatly appreciate your help on this. My speech is in about 2 weeks so if your willing to help please send your stories as soon as possible. Thank you

I know this is a little late, but hopefully I can be of some assistance. I'm terribly bored right now since the little one is napping.

I found out I was pregnant a few weeks after my ex and I went our separate ways. I felt like it was my responsibility to tell him, even though I was fairly certain I wouldn't keep the baby. We ended up not talking for several months because he thought I had terminated the pregnancy.

Around the fifth month, he and I resumed contact. I held hope for us to rekindle our romantic relationship, even though I knew we really weren't compatable. Being pregnant (and hormonal) and single was really difficult, as you know.

I moved in with him around the seventh month, for financial purposes. He was helping me out so I could quit working, and stay home with the baby for a few months afterward. I had a separate room for the baby and myself.

When the baby was just two weeks old, her father's gambling problem, which I hadn't really been aware of before, got him into financial straits. I immediately retreated to my parents' home, which is more than two hours from where he lives.

She is more than four months old now, and he hasn't been to visit her once, nor have I received any financial support from him whatsoever. He calls, usually, a few times a week. Given that he's not providing any kind of financial assistance, I'd rather he just not call at all.

I had no choice but to apply for some state assistance to get us through this difficult time. I filed the appropriate papers with the child support enforcement section, and they are now going to be deducting funds directly from his pay.

At times during my pregnancy, I doubted my ability to do this on my own. I knew that I was a strong person, but I didn't think I had it in me to take on the responsibility of a whole other life. I could hardly take care of myself most days, so how could that change? But to my great surprise, I have adjusted quite well to life as a single mother. I have enrolled myself in online courses, so that I can do schoolwork & further my education while the little one naps. She has motivated me to get me degree so that I can get a well paying job to support us. I don't ever want to have to depend on her father for anything. As far as I'm concerned, she has enough people in her life who love her.

Sometimes it does get exhausting, and I do admit to be lonely sometimes, but I am lucky enough to have an incredible support team.

Hope that helps..