Mothers needing to find a way to support their family can find themselves with several major hurdles to overcome. Many times this has to be done by women who are not adequately trained for good jobs and have very little family support to draw upon. With children depending on her ability to provide for their needs, moms are forced to confront the challenges to restart their careers.
The first decision to be made is what direction to go. With an open field in front of her, this choice has to be based on practical concepts. If money is an immediate concern, the amount of time needed to complete the training necessary will be a big deal.
The fact that she is seeking a new career path implies that her current earnings potential is too small for her family's needs. This means that it is unlikely that she can support herself through school for an extended time. So, a short term solution would be something like a few weeks training to become a nurse's aide. This would let her increase her earnings level enough to consider a longer term educational option.
Without sounding too crass, her learning ability is important when facing additional education. For many women of average or above intelligence who do not have a learning problems like math anxiety, this is not a genuine concern. For others, it may present a real barrier to how far she can go educationally.
Many states have programs for single mothers to help them get their career on track. These programs will help with educational expenses, child care, and living needs during the rehabilitation period. While the standard of living from these programs is not high, it is also only a temporary condition on the way to better times.
Child care can be a big problem. Not just the day-to-day needs, but those special times when the little one is ill. She can be left without anyone to assist her. Many daycare centers do not want sick children. Schools do not want sick children. This means someone has to be available to take care of the child until he or she is able to return to a normal lifestyle.
For the mother just getting started in a new job in a new field, this can cause almost insurmountable setbacks. Losing her job will take a toll on employment possibilities, her financial position, and her self-esteem. Finding an answer to this child care dilemma is a high priority for a single mother. It may require moving nearer to friends and family to find the necessary backup support.
Restarting a career may also mean multiple jobs. Even in a potentially lucrative field, entry level salaries can be low. This means that she may need to work 1 1/2 or 2 jobs to keep a roof over the family's head and food on the table. Even with child support, finances can be difficult. Working more hours means a greater need for child care. Evening or night child care services are hard to find. She now may find herself relying on family favors that are already stretched thin.
The longer hours can bring guilt because she feels that she is neglecting her children. It may even bring custody battles as the children's father sees an opportunity to prove he is the more stable parent. The guilt will make it hard for her to maintain the extra hours needed for work. It can become a bit of a vicious cycle. If her children are reaching the teen years, she may find them becoming a little unguided in their choice of activities and friends. This only complicates an already hard situation.
The good news is that with hard work and helpful friends and family, it is something that many mothers have accomplished. The result is a good income for her and her family. It also can help establish an educational and career path for her children when they see that their mom has made it. They will feel that they can too.
