fact or fiction
Is it fact or merely fiction? Fact or Fiction explores the myths and beliefs we hold about women's health issues, sexism, gender roles, and the female experience.
#SingleMomChronicles:Hey Daddy
Being a single mother means that I am raising my daughters predominately on my own. Each daughter has her own father. I met my oldest daughters father when I was a kid. I was 6 years old and he was the 7 year old neighborhood bad boy. I met him because he stole my little brothers bike. I was gonna get it back. I was prepared to fight if necessary. Our parents (back then and still to this very day) live n the same block. Our relationship lasted 5 years. Our daughter was born when I was 20 (i turned 21 a little over a month later), and he was 22. I knew I had to grow up fast in order to care for this child. I bought a car in January, gave birth in February and signed the lease to my apartment in April. My daughters father wasn't ready to leave the streets. By that, I mean he still wanted to hang out with the homies. While I do not promote terminating pregnancy, I wanted to explore all my options. This was in 2005. I gave her dad a choice. I said to him: "are you sure you want to keep this baby? I don't want to be a single mother." Here we are 17 years later...
By Latoya Giles 4 years ago in Viva
#SingleMomChronicles: Stats
I am a black woman. I have never been married. I have a different father for each of my two children. They are both largely absent, financially and physically. Each of those things alone place me in a certain category of society. Put them all together and I am the epitome of a stereotypical "black mom". Stereotypes are not race or gender specific unfortunately. I am so very tired of the single mom narrative. Y'all know what I'm talking about. Popular opinion suggests that single moms are lazy and just leach off the government. All the blame is always placed on us.Perhaps, had we chosen better men, we wouldn't be single moms. If we can't make ends meet, we need to work more hours or get a higher paying job. Heck, some people have the nerve to say work TWO jobs, instead of depending on the government. I have even heard folks have the audacity to tell a mom that if she couldn't afford children, she shouldn't have had them. Are you freaking kidding me? I cannot speak for anyone but myself, but life happens. It is quite as simple as that. One day I have a good job and life is good, then all of a sudden the whole world is thrust into a pandemic and my mother is in the hospital fighting for her life. She gets better (thank goodness) only for my children to get Covid. Naturally, as their sole caregiver, I got sick too after a while. I lost my job.
By Latoya Giles 4 years ago in Viva
#SingleMomChronicles: Mom Guilt
I have had "mom guilt" many times over the course of my parenting alone. I just never knew it had an actual name. So what exactly is "mom guilt"? Well, the online dictionary defines it as: "the name given to the feelings of guilt women experience in relation to their children. Mom guilt comes from an unrealistic ideal of a perfect mom.". That is a great way to describe it.
By Latoya Giles 4 years ago in Viva
How to Get Success in Medium?
Medium is a platform that provides writers with an opportunity to share their work and connect with readers from around the world. With over 100 million monthly readers, Medium is a great platform to build a following and gain exposure for your writing. Here are some easy tips on how to get success on Medium:
By Sujan Paudel4 years ago in Viva
#SingleMomChronicles: Me Time
Hey mamas! On this episode of #SingleMomChronicles, we are gonna talk about: ME TIME. It is difficult as a parent to get time alone. As a single parent? Alone time is pretty much non-existent. I found myself becoming extremely overwhelmed all of a sudden. As the only adult in the house, everything lands on my shoulders. Whenever my children need anything, they come to me, of course. I have to cook, clean, help with homework, give advice and pep talks, be a listening ear, ect. I have a 17 year old daughter. She has generalized and social anxiety and depression. She has abandonment issues from her father leaving her as a child. She has mixed emotions about him raising his other kids but not being there during her childhood. She talks to me about all of those things. I have to sift through her mental and emotional stuff while attempting to sort through my own. I still gotta work somewhere to make money to live day to day. That is a heck of a lot for one person. I got to the point where I was sitting on the toilet in the bathroom with the door locked at midnight crying my eyes out. I mean ugly crying with the snot and the stuttering sobs. I would cry whenever I was in my car alone as well. That is no way to live. Something had to change, and change soon.
By Latoya Giles 4 years ago in Viva
How to handle a partner's emotional baggage
Emotional baggage refers to unresolved emotional issues that a person carries with them from their past experiences. These unresolved emotions can negatively impact an individual's current relationships, including romantic relationships. When you enter into a romantic relationship, you may find that your partner carries emotional baggage. In this article, we will explore how to handle a partner's emotional baggage and provide tips for supporting your partner and maintaining a healthy relationship.
By Rajveer Digital Marketer4 years ago in Viva
"25 Healthy Habits for a Better Quality of Life"
Healthy Habits for a Better Quality of Life Living a healthy lifestyle is essential for a better quality of life. Adopting healthy habits not only helps in maintaining a good physical and mental state but also reduces the risk of various diseases. Here are some healthy habits that one can adopt to live a better life.
By prabas naidu4 years ago in Viva
