This work aims to bring closer the challenges that single mothers face in their everyday life and the ways in which they can be overcomed more easily. The historical part includes the position of single mothers in the past and how it has changed until today - with an emphasis on the circular status of deserving and undeserving. A comparison of the position of single mothers with married mothers describes the differential factors that determine the differences between them – the most important are the lack of second salary and support. Risk and protective factors describe the interaction of personal, family and social factors that will facilitate or complicate current challenge. The emphasis is on the fine line between risk and protective factors and it is the context that determines the attribute of the factors. In the light of marginalization, social exclusion and stigma an important fact is that single mothers are not a monolithic group and a single answer is not possible. The challenge that single mothers most often face is work family conflict, and the way they respond to this conflict will depend on the internalized ideals of motherhood and the workplace flexibility. Single mothers are at a high risk of poverty - the explanation for this can be analyzed through personal factors, the labor market, the economic performance of the state and social policy measures. Social policy measures are crucial in easing life challenges for single mothers, the most significant of which are family policy measures.