“Once you accept your situation, you can get help and move forward.”
“My financial problems were overwhelming. They were all I thought about, and they became an incredible source of stress. I told myself that things weren’t so bad, but deep down, I was ashamed.
Eventually, I accepted my situation and asked for help. Although it was the right thing to do, reaching out for help was very difficult. A program for single mothers at a Centraide agency helped us move into a new subsidized apartment. The effect on my family was almost immediate. Hide it as much as you want: If Mom isn’t happy, the kids aren’t either.
Once I felt better, I saw a change in my kids’ behaviour. They were much more joyful every day. I hadn’t even realized how much of an impact I had on them.
The move also reignited my passion for my former job in esthetics and massage therapy. I dreamt of opening my own salon, a dream that is coming true, thanks to the money I’m saving on rent and the support I get from the agency.
I want other single mothers going through the same thing to not worry about what other people think. You may be afraid of how others will judge you, or you may not think you’re good enough. You feel like a failure. But you have to find a way to rise above all that. Once you accept your situation, you can get help and move forward.”
— Mélanie