A divorce can be devastating as it can touch almost every aspect of your life. For single mothers, the challenges may prove insurmountable as many will become destined to live at or under the national poverty line.

A study previously conducted by the University of Illinois stated that single mothers will likely earn approximately two-thirds less than their former partner and even with control variables such as employment options, number of hours worked, level of education and social capital, the income variation did not decrease significantly.

Researchers also reported at the time of the study that 28 percent of all children living within the United States lived in single parent home and, from that percentage point, 4.24 million single mothers were functioning below the poverty line in stark contrast to the 404,000 single fathers functioning at that level.

As per the latest data provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. divorce rate is approximately 3.2 per 1,000 with 45 states and the District of Columbia reporting. Further statistical data reports that for those families navigating through divorce, the aftermath significantly increases the number of single parent households. Currently, single-parent homes headed by women encompasses almost 10 million while single parent homes run by men accounts for a little over two million households.

Although as the divorce rate appears somewhat optimistic in theory, two-thirds of all marriages will ultimately end in divorce. For the parent who has been awarded full custody or will be accepting the bulk of the parenting life, post-divorce may prove challenging.The following suggestions may assist new single parents with settling into a new reality:

Seek Emotional Support