A narrative inquiry of rural, low-income, single mothers’ aspirations for their children

Abstract

This narrative inquiry focused on what four low-SES single mothers had to say about their aspirations for and support systems they have for their children. Discussions with the mothers involved a mix of topics. The four stories are unique in their own way yet similar themes emerged relating to the experiences they face being a single mother with children enrolled in and attending school in grades K-6. The theoretical perspective of social capital and the narrative inquiry approach to research provide the foundation for this study. Individual narratives of the four low-SES single mothers’ are shared. The mothers’ provided insightful and critical assessments of their experiences being a single mother of school age children in a society that tends to look at them in a different view.