Raising children is the most difficult job a person can ever have, and that’s when you have a strong support system in place. Some people, however, have no one to help them and must raise their children on their own. Single mom Clarissa Walker recently shared her story on TikTok, detailing the heartbreaking reality of having to give up her child to keep her job.
In an emotional video, Walker explains that she escaped an abusive relationship with her daughter’s father. She then had to raise their child on her own. Because she’s the sole provider, she is unable to leave work every time her daughter needs her.
Recently, the Department of Children and Families called and reportedly told her if she didn’t go pick up her child from school, the department would have to take custody of her.
“I cannot go get her. If I go get her, I am going to lose my job,” Walker says through tears in the video. “I have left my job too many times. I am on a final written notice because I have left too many times for her.”
She goes on to say that she loves her daughter, but as a working mom, she can’t do it all alone. Walker, who works at Target, explains that she doesn’t make enough money to support herself and her daughter. Even though she’s had multiple promotion opportunities, management deemed her “unreliable because of my child.”
Walker makes it clear that none of this is her daughter’s fault, but she has no idea how to handle all of this on her own. She has no family to help, so it’s all on her shoulders.
@byoma_makeupartistry_mua I don’t even know what to do anymore… DCF wants to take my daughter because I can’t leave work to go get her from school. If I leave, I lose my job. If I stay, I lose my kid. The only “alternative” was staying in an abusive relationship. And he knew this would happen. He moved two hours away on purpose — so now he gets exactly what he wanted: custody of our daughter. I feel like I’m being punished for trying to do the right thing. 💔 #SingleMom #DCF #MomStruggles #Truth #Survivor ♬ original sound – Clarissa Walker
“I’m losing my kid because if I leave my job of two years, I’m going to get fired,” she says. “Whereas if I just worked my a— off and get promoted, but I can’t ever f—ing not have a day where I have to go to the school or I have to pick up Delilah early or whatever.”
It’s a terribly sad situation, but it’s one that’s very real for many people. Even though many mothers across the country face similar realities, some of the people in Walker’s comments were less than empathetic.
“Ummmmmm you would rather lose your kid than a job?????? Lol,” someone wrote.
Others condemned Walker for even thinking about letting the state take custody of her child.
“Jobs come and go you can afford to lose your job but you can’t afford to lose your kid that’s an easy decision no dilemma,” one comment reads. “Can always draw unemployment if you lose that job but it’s going to be hella hard to get your kid back if it goes into state’s custody. this is a no-brainer.”
@byoma_makeupartistry_mua So I just got off my Zoom court hearing. I temporarily lost custody. Delilah’s with foster parents right now. I talked to them and my lawyer—it’s not as bad as it seems, but it’s definitely not good either. What blows my mind is finding out foster parents get paid to take care of kids. Like… why isn’t there financial help like that for the actual parent trying to do right? It’s wild. Anyway, I’m about to clock in at Target and push this truck—1,800 pieces—just to disassociate for the next five, six hours and figure out my next move. But I do know the plan: TikTok, Shop, and Byoma. If you want to help, you don’t even have to buy anything. Just go to my TikTok Shop showcase, add a few things to your cart for a bit so the algorithm pushes it to others, or share my story. Go back through my Byoma posts—see what I’m trying to build. I just want my daughter back, and I’m going to fight for her the same way I’ve fought for everything else.#SingleMom #DCF #MomStruggles #domesticabuseawareness ♬ original sound – Clarissa Walker
One commenter didn’t pull any punches, hoping Walker would listen to the advice.
“You can pick up YOUR child is insane! I dont care about the the circumstances at all! You’re a mother, we figure it out! Get it together… quit making it everyone else’s issue that you have a child with a deadbeat… you picked him,” the commenter wrote.
Still, some gave Walker the benefit of the doubt and shared kindness instead of judgment.
That’s the view one person shared, writing, “This is so sad. I will never think for a second that we were brought into this world to struggle like this. idk if you’re religious at all but I’ll pray for you and sending good wishes your way.”
In a follow-up, Walker admitted she lost custody of her daughter and now must fight to get her back. We can’t imagine this pain and wish nothing but a positive outcome for all involved.
