Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you have custody and child support worked out through the courts? Do that now so that you don't have to worry about it in the future.

Other than that, go easy on yourself. Do the best you can, and realize that you and your child will be just fine. It's hard to be a single parent (my child is 7 now, I've been single since he was 10mo), but it gets easier as they become more independent. I'm not sure what to expect of the teen years, but I'm sure we'll be just fine.

This is important. Even if you don't think your ex will ever pay any support, it is easier to get paternity settled now rather than later (he may move and you may not be able to find him. Some people will say not to list him anywhere and not to establish paternity (so that he can have any visitation). However, whether paternity is established now or at a later date, he will get some visitation if he asks for it in court. It is very easy for him to establish paternity at a later date. I would go ahead that get that out of the way. Get the state to file for the child support enforcement. Even if you think you don't need the money, put it in a savings account for college or something. Better yet, use that child support money to treat yourself to babysitters now and then so you don't get burnt out.