How Can Single Moms Cope?
April 6, 2000 (Atlanta) — It’s an age-old story. Single moms put themselves last. And very often, their emotional and physical health suffers. Even professional women who are single by choice find the path an arduous one. And the difficulties can be deadly. A newly released Swedish study has found that single mothers have a higher risk of dying early than mothers with partners, particularly from suicide, violence, and alcohol-related causes. At age 25, Michelle Goggins, of Jonesboro, Ga., is a single mom with two boys under age 7. She also is 6 months pregnant. She spent the past four years working her way up from a “little temp job” where the pay was bad. “But I knew it was what I had to do,” she tells WebMD. “I wanted something more positive for my kids. “I’m one of the lucky ones,” she says. “I have a job, I have insurance, I can take sick days and quality time for myself while my boys are in school and day care.” She also has parents who don’t mind helping when she needs baby-sitt