I am 22 years old, and my two toddlers—my oldest is 4 and my youngest is 3—mean everything to me. In November 2024, we moved to New York to start a new chapter with my boyfriend. I wasn’t able to work for almost half a year after we arrived, and we quickly found ourselves struggling financially. To make ends meet, we made the difficult decision for my kids to live with my mom temporarily while I searched for a job and tried to save up for a bigger apartment. I hoped this would be a short-term solution, but things didn’t go as planned.

Even after I found work, my weekly pay of $600 barely covered the essentials. I sent half of my check to my mom every week for my kids, and bought them diapers and other necessities. After all that, I was left with nothing, and my boyfriend had to cover my expenses. We ended up living paycheck to paycheck, just trying to survive. Now, it’s been too long—my kids need to be with me, but we don’t have the money to bring them back. I feel like I have no other option than to move with my kids to my mom’s apartment and leave New York, but I’m hoping GoFundMe can help us stay together here.

The funds raised will go toward the deposit and rent for a new apartment (at least 1-2 months), childcare expenses, household costs like groceries and bills, and help me establish daycare for my kids and find a job that matches their schedule. I’d also use some funds for a down payment on a car, which is essential for getting my kids to appointments, especially since my son was diagnosed with autism and will need extra support. Any support means a lot to us. Your help can bring my family together.