Tips for single moms Shelah Grashen of Waukegan has a lot of family around to help her raise her 13-year-old son. She works as an administrative services assistant at United Way of Lake County in Gurnee, and she says she feels blessed to have a great network of friends, too. But as a single mom, she still tries to utilize different resources such as the Boys and Girls Clubs of America and the Waukegan to College organizations to give her son even more outlets and role models. “Being a single mom of a son is a challenge,” Grashen says. “You don’t want to overstep the aspect of him and his male needs. I make sure he has proper exposure to positive men
6 Molly Kraft has some fun with her daughter, Izzy, 3, at a playground near their home in Hainesville.
and that they are available for him to answer his questions.” One of the toughest times she had raising her son alone took place when he was very young and had hearing difficulties. Using sign language became necessary. “The most challenging thing is finding the time to do all the things you need to do,” Grashen says. “You have to be responsible for yourself and for another life.” Her best tip for young single moms is to keep their children active and involved. Grashen even helped build a home with Habitat for Humanity. Her son was too young to be at the building site, but he would help with mailings and other volunteer efforts for the organization. “The more you deposit into your children, the better they will be,
and the more they can offer their communities,” she says. Kraft also has some thoughts for moms who have to do it alone: • Take a little time for yourself. If you are working, drop your kids off at a day care or a friend’s home and take a sick day. Get a pedicure or go read somewhere. “Otherwise, you will go crazy,” Kraft says. • Don’t say anything negative about your ex-husband or the father of the child. • Stay positive and healthy. • Talk with others you trust about your situation and share any stresses you are feeling.
Help For Single Mothers In Lake County Single moms in need can turn to these local resources and others for assistance. Maristella — Ministry of Service to Homeless Women and Mothers with Children Libertyville 847-367-5360 www.maristella.org Catholic Charities Family SelfSufficiency Program Waukegan 847-782-4150 www.catholiccharities.net A Safe Place Women’s Shelter 847-249-4450 www.asafeplaceforhelp.org NICASA (behavioral health services) 847-546-6450 www.nicasa.org Northern Illinois Food Bank 630-443-6910 solvehungertoday.org lc
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