I'm 23 and my daughter is six (will be seven in 2 mos). I had her when I was sixteen. I graduated from highschool on time and was the president of my class. I have graduted from college and am pursuing my graduate degree. I work full-time and take advantage of the afterschool program for my daughter during work hours. I have been doing this alone for most of the six years. I have friends but none of them understand where I am coming from. Is there anyone out there like me????

I might not be quite as ambitious as you, but I do understand where you're coming from to a point. I'm 23 and a single mom of an 18-month-old. I graduated in the top 5% of my class, worked like heck until the day before I had my son, and now I'm a year and a half from my bachelor's degree in journalism. I work on the school paper, go to classes, and spend every spare moment with my son. So I definitely admire what you've done!

You should be very proud of yourself, you've accommplished alot. I definitely understand where you're coming from. I graduated from school with a degree in nursing before my children were born and now I've returned to get a degree in business. I'm very lucky that my profession has very flexible schedules and I work full time only two days a week (sat and sun) and I'm able to be with my children all week long as well as attend classes online. I too, don't have any single friends that understand my situation. We are two strong women doing what we have to do to make a better life for our children. That's what's most important!

How do you find the time to be so active in school? That is what I want--to be able to interact with college level people. I don't need to party, I don't need a date. I want to go to interest meetings and Graduate events. Her father is supposed to pick her up on Wednesdays, but he doesn't even do that. I think I should stop my post here, because the more I think about it the angrier I get. I wanted to go out of state for undergrad, but he guilt tripped me into staying in Tallahassee. Then, I wanted to relocate after graduation and he did it again--only this time, we went to court and I got a lawyer to set up visistation schedule so that when I get ready to leave, I have documentation to bring before the same hearing officer that he has chances to see her and he squanders them... Okay, I'll stop here, I'm seeing red.

How did you find the time to balance all that and make enough money to live on?

I hear you all! I finished my Bachelor's degree in December after taking 6 years off to have my daughter and work to support us. I worked full-time, went to school full-time and participated in clubs. For the clubs, I brought my daughter with me. They are social clubs and feel no obligation to not let her tag along. Luckily she's not a brat and with the proper stimulation, she will be quiet when she needs to be.

My job was also very wonderful in letting me have a flexible schedule and playing with my lunch hours and the like, so I was lucky there.

I am now going to law school in the fall and will be quitting my job in order to go full time. It's scary because I've always worked and now I will be on a VERY tight budget. However, I feel as though I will have more time for my daughter in the evenings and still be able to dedicate time to my studies.

Her father has now decided that he wants to be a part of her life and is taking her for the summer so I can concentrate on moving and getting settled. He is also thinking about moving to Columbus, which is where I am moving to, in order to help. God has been good to me this year as there were many obstacles in me getting here, but I am here and haven't been happier.

The sad thing is that I am in teh process of cutting off a lot of my childhood friends. Misery loves company and now that I'm moving on and doing otehr things, they do not understand me. They also look at me as if I think that I am better than them. So they ostracize me. I don't have the time to deal with that so I just don't bother. I know that I will meet new friends when I start school and my true friends are still here. So hang in there. Things will get better.