Single mothers living in a small northern community: their stories and their experiences

This study acknowledges the stories and experiences of five single mothers living in a small rural community in northern British Columbia. Single motherhood was explored through the use of narrative inquiry in order to gain a subjective understanding that expressed each mother's trials and tribulations, efforts and accomplishments, joys and sorrows. The study identifies and explores six common themes present across the mother's narratives. These themes are new single motherhood, social support, finances, mental health, legal issues and the joy of motherhood. This study may be of interest to single parents, social services, counsellors, medical practitioners and community program decision makers. --Leaf ii.