There comes a point when life asks you to hold everything together—and somehow, you do. My days are a careful choreography: homeschooling three children, making sure they eat, laugh, and learn, while also working full-time. Every second is scheduled, yet there’s always a moment when chaos sneaks in—shoes scattered all over the condo, a math lesson that goes sideways, or a six-year-old announcing, “Mama, look! 6–7!” with a wide grin on her face.
Photo: When In Manila
Some days feel heavy. Other days, they’re quietly joyful. I look at my children, and despite everything I’ve given up—the vacations I can’t take, the nights out I rarely enjoy, the money I wish I had saved—there’s a part of me that wouldn’t trade any of it. Their laughter, their small, ridiculous requests for Takis, Cheetos, or boba tea, the way they call me “Mama,” remind me that life’s worth is measured in moments.
Being a single mom comes with challenges, of course. It’s learning alongside your children, understanding their needs, and balancing their growth with your own. Sometimes it’s asking for help when you need it, leaning on friends, and sometimes, just surviving the day with a cup of coffee in hand and a quiet sigh. And while the path can feel isolating, there are supports in place that make it a little less daunting.
Did you know the government provides support to single moms, too?
The Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act (RA 11861) is one such support. For single mothers and other solo parents, it offers small but meaningful forms of assistance: a monthly cash subsidy for those earning minimum wage or less, seven days of paid parental leave, discounts on child necessities, educational support, access to housing and livelihood programs, and flexible work arrangements.
I haven’t personally used these benefits yet, but knowing they exist is reassuring. It’s nice to know that even if life is busy, you are not entirely alone.
The beauty of single motherhood, I’ve realized, is in the quiet moments of resilience: the bedtime stories read under dim lights, the small victories over science lessons and art projects, and the laughter that fills a home even when schedules are tight. It’s the ability to be resourceful, patient, and sometimes just to allow yourself to breathe.
This Women’s Month, I think of all the single mothers quietly moving through their days, doing the hard work without medals or recognition. The ones who homeschool, work long hours, make sacrifices for their children, and sometimes forget to care for themselves. We are resilient, resourceful, and, despite the challenges, capable of creating moments of joy and love.
Celebrating ourselves doesn’t always mean fanfare. Sometimes it’s the acknowledgment of strength, a soft recognition that the love and care we pour into our children is meaningful. For me, it’s in the laughter, the small sparks of pride, and the knowledge that even on hard days, we are moving forward with love and hope.
Being a single mom doesn’t mean doing everything perfectly. It means continuing carefully, quietly, and with intention, creating a life that balances care for others with care for yourself.
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