Ask Me!

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I have been the only parent for 13 years now and still I am no expert in solo parenting. But with this blog, I am able to enlighten a lot of parents like me. I have received a number of emails from my readers and some of them asked for guidance and advice regarding their situations. 

So, don't be shy dear readers. Ask me via the comment section or via twitter (@TheOnlyParent4U . Our exchanges may be able to help a solo parent in need. 

Thank you very much for the continued patronage. We can do this TOPs!

Much love,

The Only Parent (TOP)

Can I Do It?

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There are days when we question ourselves. Can I do it? Will I survive this? This is one of those days when I am trying to look at me and my daughter's future but all I see is haze. Something is bugging me for a long time now and it involves my daughter's future. How can I say no if it is what she wants. Can I afford it? The answer now is no but should I stop her? Should I try and change her mind? 

I will think about this dilemma for a long time but hopefully, it will all be okay. One thing is for sure, I will do everything in my power to ensure a bright future for her. 

I can do it!

Much love,

The Only Parent (T.O.P.)

Making the Right Decision

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How would you know if you are making the right decision for your child? I know that it is hard to decide if you are the only one weighing the pros and cons of a situation. However, you need not go through it alone. You have family and friends to help you in your decisions. You can even go online, do research and/or read online forums. It is relatively easy if you know where to turn to during these times. 

Let me give you an example. When I was looking for a high school for my daughter, I first checked for proximity. It was very important to me because I wanted to be there immediately for emergencies and other after school activities when school service is not available. Since there are a lot of schools nearby, I narrowed it to three and research the schools online. Of course I also have to take into consideration the tuition since I am the only parent paying for it. Then, I discussed the advantages and disadvantages of each school to other members of the family and some friends. And then, my daughter and I decided which school we wanted.

It was easy right? The important thing to remember when confronted with a situation is not to panic. If ever we make the wrong decision, we just have to move on and learn from it. Being the only parent is not a hindrance to us and our children. We should have the I can attitude and face life head on. 

Much love,

The Only Parent (T.O.P.)

Back to School

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Vacation is over and it's now time for our kids to go back to school. I am pretty sure that by now you are thinking about how you can afford to pay the tuition, transportation and food for your school kids. Me, I shudder at the thought. You see I have been the only one paying for my daughter's school tuition since nursery. She's supposed to graduate High School next year but K to 12 came in the picture. So that is 2 more extra tuition payment for me. The problem is, I live paycheck to paycheck. I don't have those emergency money that I can withdraw from if push comes to shove. I don't have extra cash on hand and I don't have the budget for anything. 

This is the dilemma that most solo parents have. What do we do? Well, we just pray and hope that when the next payment is due, we will have the money to pay for it. I am not here to lecture you about saving for the rainy days. I am here to tell you that these things happen. No matter how much you are willing to save, there will always be something you need to buy. Most articles about saving money is only for those who have money to save. It is not for us who just don't have the extra cash. 

But there is still hope. We can do this. We just have to be more careful in our purchases and if possible, buy only when absolutely needed and if on sale. Good luck and let me know how you get by.

Much love,

The Only Parent (TOP)

We Can Do It!

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I have been the only parent to my now 15 year old daughter for more than 13 years. It was a choice not to pursue my relationship with the dad knowing that it would take us nowhere. With this blog, I want to empower solo parents in their journey to independence. BUT don't get me wrong. I am not advocating divorce, annulment or separation. This blog is all about arming solo parents in their journey to solo parenting. There is no substitute for a "loving 2-parent family", however, we could not ignore the fact that more and more families are on their way to being separated. And The Only Parent is my way of saying - "WE CAN DO IT!"

So from this blog entry onwards, the "WE CAN DO IT" attitude will be front and center in all the articles I will be writing. Feel free to post your questions, problems and queries. I will try to reply the soonest possible time. 

As of today, I only have one social media site. Please follow me on twitter @TheOnlyParent4U

Much Love,

The Only Parent (T.O.P)

Mom's Day!

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It's mother's day this weekend and I want to make a special greeting to all solo moms and dads as well. I noticed that my blog is mostly written for solo moms but most of them also apply to solo dads as well. 

I was out for a month for a vacation with my daughter. We had a great time together and although we don't have much financially, we were able to take this month long vacation with the help of family. I am telling you this because being the only parent, you would need the support of family and friends. Do not shut out people around you. Do not be too proud to think that you can do it alone because you can't. You will need the support of anyone who can help. This is to ensure that you can live an almost normal life without getting stressed out everyday. 

So this Mother's Day weekend, why not do something special for yourself? Go out and enjoy the day with your children. Or if you don't have the budget for it (which happens often - believe me I know the feeling), you can stay home and bond with your kids. Play a board game, cook together or whatever it is you can do to make this day more special. Build memories and enjoy!

Much love,

The Only Parent (T.O.P)