Seven Things I've Learned about Single Parenting

1. It's a good idea to be friends with other parents who are married. I started on this journey thinking I should link up with other single moms who shared the same challenges I do. Wrong. I want my little family of 2 to feel as normal as possible. I don't want to be relegated to only a certain group. I want my daughter to see that it's not normal for fathers to not stick around. I want her to see other men who treat women well. It's also true that married women face many of the same challenges we do.
2. Find a man, be it a relative or friend, who you can discuss parenting issues with. There's a reason that God gave children a father and a mother. Men think very differently than women, but they have a lot to bring to the table. Getting another perspective to mull over when you're making decisions will bring about a balance of thought processes and will make you feel less alone.
3. If you have the chance to go to school, seize it immediately. You might think it'd be wiser to take classes when your child is older, but it only gets more complicated. For one thing, a teenager becomes more self-conscious about appearing poor. If you ARE poor there's not much you can do about that. Better to get school out of the way and have that much longer to not worry about money. 
4. Write it down - you will not remember the funny things your kids say and do. This is pretty much true for any mom whether married or not. You think you'll always remember because it was so precious, but unfortunately you won't unless something reminds you of it. Also, along the same lines, write letters to your child. Lydia found her baby book with the letters I wrote her first couple of years, and she loved them. It was so rewarding because when I wrote them I hoped that someday she'd see them and love them.
5. Creativity is your friend. I believe everyone is designed be creative in some area or maybe several areas, and when you find what it is, it'll elevate your standard of living. If you can sew, do it at night and list some stuff on Etsy. If you can write, spend some time learning about freelance journalism. If you don't feel you can do anything creative, start experimenting and see what happens. You might be surprised.
6. The library is free and has a lot to offer. Maybe you can't put your child through ballet lessons or into a summer soccer camp, but you can raise a child that's well read. You can raise a child who can discuss literature and history, and part of that is educating yourself as well. If you have a child that hates to read, the library oftentimes offers free programs like a family movie night, story time, etc. I'm so glad my parents and I started reading to Lydia at a young age. It's made a huge difference.
7. Don't get pushed around. Certain people will sense vulnerability in you and will question your decisions. I remember going to a doctors office when Lydia was a baby and being treated like I knew nothing. I remember a couple who tried to persuade me (while I was pregnant) to give my baby up to them for adoption. I remember my parents scoffing when I told them I didn't want Lydia riding on my dad's golf cart alongside a busy road. You know what's best for your child. You have the instincts that nobody else has. This is something you'll encounter throughout life so learn to sift through other people's opinions to see if there's any truth there, and then throw the rest out.