Denea Jackson

I am fortunate to have support, I know many do not have the type of support that I am fortunate to have and it can be difficult. My children are 15 and 9 years old. During the pandemic I have been blessed, My mother and grandmother have been involved with helping me since my kids were born. Living in a multifamily with my grandmother for the last six years has been a great help.

The hardest part of single parenting is feeling like everything is on my shoulders.

I am an only child and my mother was an only child as well. Being an only child means that everything falls on me as my mother and grandmother age, they really rely on me. I started a new job during the pandemic and was considered an essential employee. Covid didn't have a harsh impact on me but if my kids were younger it would’ve been harder. Of course the back and forth of in person schooling versus remote was stressful, I was able to be home 1 to 2 days a week with my kids.

I am so fortunate to have support, I know that many do not have the support system that I have. If I knew then what I know now I would’ve done things differently with my son, stressing different work ethic and practices with him. I would have chosen to be married to avoid doing this alone. I got married this summer and also bought a house. Life balance is so important, I try to stay positive and safe.