Dating means hope.

Tinder makes it obvious that I'm not alone in being single and that there are plenty of single parents looking for a partner. A date not having the potential I'd hoped for is no longer a tragedy, and suddenly dating is fun again. I no longer feel pressured. I trust that someone, eventually, will like me for me.

Keeping the magic alive can be as simple as going to the mall to sit on Santa's lap or reading special stories on Christmas Eve.

Dating as a single parent is tricky. My kids are usually seen less as a 'bonus' and more as a 'situation.'

Dating as a single parent is tricky. My kids are usually seen less as a 'bonus' and more as a 'situation.'

When I saw the letter of acceptance for Snap - the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, popularly known as food stamps - it was a moment of gratitude, and brief catharsis and relief. Still, I knew it wasn't a socially acceptable means to feed my family with. I saw the memes friends posted, chastising people on welfare.

As a mother living in poverty, I don't expect my parenting choices to be respected by default.