One day, I decided that I wanted to build the life I dream of. Against all odds and statistics, I believed I had the willingness and power—it was just a matter of gaining the knowledge and practicing it along the way. About what exactly? I didn’t know until I started walking through it.
Becoming a Single Mother
In 2018, I became a single Hispanic mother living in the U.S. I had always been resourceful, but I had never walked this space before—the space where parts of the world whisper that women like me, or children like mine, won’t have a chance because of marital status or the color of our skin. I told those statistics to kiss my Puerto Rican butt. I had a mission: I wanted to be different, and I wanted other women to know they could be different too.
As I spent time in moms’ Facebook groups, I saw heartbreaking posts from women asking how to escape bad relationships, how to recover after abandonment, and how to make it financially, emotionally, and professionally. I felt every one of those posts deeply—because I had been there myself. My faith in God and my love for my children became my fuel, but even with that strength, I needed a starting point. I needed a map—or at least some kind of instructions—to guide me.
Choosing Peace as the Goal
One of my biggest goals was to find peace and create a space full of love, joy, and calm for my family. So I began by identifying what was blocking my peace. These obstacles may not have been the most urgent issues, but they drained my energy and occupied too much of my mental space—precious energy I needed for healing trauma and building a new life.
Two things rose to the top of my list:
- My oldest son, who was five at the time, needed to learn how to shower by himself.
- I needed to learn how to manage my finances.
Both were small steps that represented bigger shifts. After about a week, my son was bathing independently while I supervised to make sure the soap touched every body part. Around the same time, I took my first terrifying step toward learning about money. Growing up, I had never been taught about finances, and in marriage, my husband had always handled them. Have you heard that story before? Too many of us have.
Facing Financial Reality
Even though I am pro-marriage, I also live in reality. Today, 50–60% of marriages don’t make it, and in the majority of those cases, women end up being the primary custodians of children. Many receive little to no child support. That’s the truth. But here’s the greater truth: we cannot wait on the government, an ex-partner, or anyone else to do the right thing in order for us to create stability and wealth. Those things are out of our control.
What is in our control? Our time. Our talents. Our energy. Our mindset. Our spending. Our saving. Our motivation. Our hustle.
I grabbed hold of what I could control and got to work. Eight years later, I’ve studied countless financial methods and programs and even became a certified Financial Coach. Am I rich? Not yet. But I am at peace. I own my home. I have a rental property. I take vacations several times a year. When hard financial seasons come, I’m covered by an emergency fund. I get to spend time doing things I love, even the ones that don’t pay me. I attend every school event, chaperone every field trip, cheer at every game, and I still have time to rest. Because let’s be real—being a single mom is a LOT of work.
Living Content and Building Forward
Today, I am content. I am happy with my present. And I want the same for you. That’s the heart of Simple and Candor. What took me eight years to learn and build, I want to translate into words and tools that help you thrive faster. This is a space where single moms, women of all walks, and anyone seeking peace can find guidance, encouragement, and community.
It’s not about perfection—it’s about progress. It’s about creating a life of peace, joy, and abundance no matter where you started. This space belongs to both of us. A space where we can cut through the chaos, simplify what we can, and walk in truth with honesty and heart.
So whether you are here for financial strategies, personal growth, or just a reminder that you matter, you are in the right place. Simple and Candor is about living authentically and building boldly—because your life matters, your dreams matter, and your future matters.
See you soon, my friend.
Con amor,
Dharma
Simple & Candor 