This isn't sustainable and I am at my wits end trying to figure something out. I became a single parent in January because my 42 year old husband decided he didn't want to be a father anymore. Leaving behind me and our 4 year old daughter. I have never worked before because we got married shortly after my 18th birthday, and I've been a stay at home parent ever since I gave birth. He just couldn't do it anymore, didn't want to be with me, etc. He just caused a lot of damage and really really screwed us both over
I've done everything I can think of. I applied for SNAP and WIC and got approved, but WIC will be over when my daughter turns 5 in a couple of months. I got approved for Medicaid and for the first time in my life, I can get my teeth fixed. I go to food banks, I've used local churches to help, I've signed up for budget billing with my electric company, I had some savings when my husband left, but I am down to practically nothing. I'm panicking. I even reached out to my abusive mother for help, literally BEGGING her for some help, and was told to fuck off basically.
I've taken out child support orders through my local social services office. I've received ONE payment of $80 and $80 is all my ex will have to pay because he has another child that he pays close to $300 a month in child support as well. I haven't received any other payments besides one payment in April My daughter will start kindergarten in August so at least I know she will get free breakfast and lunch. I've applied for so many jobs – daycare, waitressing, cashier, retail, food service. I can't even get a job at mcdonald's or fucking donate plasma because I don't meet their weight requirements. I can't get daycare assistance until I have a job but I have to be employed to receive daycare assistance according to my SNAP case worker. I'm 24 with a high school diploma and no job history so I know it looks sketchy as fuck to employers but I need SOMETHING to go right so I can provide for myself and my daughter
I just don't know what to do. I'm terrified we're going to be evicted. I dont get anywhere near enough sleep between the anxiety, the stomach aches, my daughter having night terrors and wanting her dad back, and I have no one in my corner willing or wanting to help. I don't know how any other single parent does this because I am just struggling and lost and confused on how to do it. This is a nightmare I do not want to live in any longer and I'm to the point where I'm fantasizing about giving my daughter up just to make sure she's given a better life than the one she has now because this is so unfair to her. I genuinely feel like I'm running out of options on how to get us out of this mess my ex put us in