No degree or amount of planning can prepare either parents for the emotional, psychological and financial toll that raising a child in different households brings. Single Dad Kenny talks about the unexpected challenges of co-parenting and starting anew.
At the age of twenty-four he became a father to an amazing little girl. He was not truly prepared for how expensive raising a child can be. Post-split the tightest rope to walk on is finding a balance between nurturing a fulfilling life and balancing expenses.
As a father, the story that is not typically touched on, is the challenges of paying child support and establishing a new life. “At the time I was single, my biggest hurdle was staying afloat financially. This was especially difficult while battling with excessive amounts of child support as well as regular living expenses.” The balance of creating a life and world worthy of himself while sharing that value with his child is extremely challenging. Like the rest of us, he would like to give her all the wonderful things from his childhood “as well as some of the things I wasn’t as fortunate to have."
That desire to not only provide financially, but create a harmonious and joyous environment led to questionable financial decisions. He’s not alone in taking questionable steps with the best of intentions.
Newly married, he credits the help of his wife in changing the way he thinks about money and how to manage it better. “I used to be terrible with money and kind of still am.” Overtime with the help of his wife he’s made major strides. “Thanks to her and my current job I am in a much better place financially.”
In his new alliance, he follows his wife’s advice “to the letter.” For Kenny that means, creating a budget/plan for the month, designating funds from every check to be put towards bills/recurring expenses, money to be set aside for savings, and then money to be used for leisure. In that order.
Starting anew has made his financial journey more manageable. In doing so, he’s more conscious of his actions and will “save, save, save” and not spend money he doesn’t actually have. Most importantly, he’s instilling those actions in his daughter now. That’s one of the major keys to his newfound happiness.
Comments