You really can't go it alone.

When I first left my husband I took my kids and moved back in with my parents. My goodness, that was a mess, but we managed to get through it. Truth be told, I needed them in that transition period. For two years, I'd been a mother who did everything for my children- my ex worked 14 hours days and when he was home he disappeared into the basement to play on his computer.

I was exhausted, and I thought that was how life was supposed to be for all mothers. I thought that I was somehow supposed to magically do it all on my own.

Living with my parents for the first few months changed that view. With their support, I was finally able to get some sleep, enroll in college, and have just enough 'me' time to get out and meet some other women. Now- yes- their relationship with me was a very different dynamic then that of a marriage, but it made me realize that anyone who truly cared about my children would want to spend time with them; and it also made me realize that I couldn't go it alone.

When my parents moved, I stayed in their house and am now renting it. I found a wonderful lady who is a grandmother herself to rent a room on the lower floor of the home. Not only does it provide me with the ability to pay the mortgage, but she's also become very close to the children. I know that if I have a middle of the night emergency she will be there to watch the kids. I also worry less about security having another adult in the home.

In addition, I've been blessed with a wonderful support group of women from my church. They are all married, but they respect me as a single mother instead of putting me down for it. Most of them have children slightly older than mine, but that hasn't stopped them from arranging play dates with me, and they have always been there when I couldn't find help elsewhere.

Unfortunately, I'm not the type who makes friends easily. I'm outgoing and have no trouble talking to someone for the first time, but I always feel uncomfortable with following up.

This is once again a time where I had to just suck it up and step up. My children are little; and thus not yet in school. They need other kids to play with that are their age, and they are not going to just magically appear.

I decided that I needed to be bold, so every time I have a nice conversation with a mother at the park who has children in a similar age range I  offer her my number. In a way, it sort of feels like dating. Since you can never be sure if a person really likes you, so it's easier to just give your number and wait for them to call.

Fortunately, a number of them have. I've been able to do numerous play dates, and while the kids are having fun, I'm establishing a relationship with a mother that will hopefully call on me in a trouble situation, and vice versa. (It helps that I'm a nursing student- what mom doesn't want a friend who is a nurse?)

It's been a life lesson. Ya, I don't need a man, but that doesn't mean that I don't need anyone.