“It Hasn’t Been Easy”: Ruth Matete Opens Up On The Cost And Emotional Weight Of Single Parenting In Canada

Gospel singer Ruth Matete has given fans a rare, unfiltered glimpse into her new life in Canada, opening up about the financial and emotional hurdles of raising her daughter alone in a foreign country.

In a candid Facebook post, the singer broke down her daily routine, detailing the steep costs of childcare and the heavy reliance on a tight shift schedule to make ends meet.

The High Cost of Childcare

With schools currently on holiday, Matete revealed that her usual routine has been thrown into disarray, forcing her to cough up significant money for babysitters. She broke down her childcare expenses based on her work shifts:

• Afternoon Shifts (2:00 PM – 10:00 PM): This is currently her heaviest financial burden. “Today I will pay 75 dollars ($75) for childcare,” she shared.

• Night Shifts (10:00 PM – 6:00 AM): These are comparatively cheaper, costing her about 10 dollars ($10).

• Morning Shifts: These remain her preferred option during the school year, as her daughter is safely in class and Matete can easily pick her up from the school bus right after clocking out.

Yearning for Family Support

The moment that resonated most deeply with her followers was when Matete emotionally reflected on the absence of a maternal support system, wishing her late mother were still around to help.

“Ningekua na mum, I’d have left my child with her then akuje akiwa kitu ten ama 11 years (If I had a mum, I’d have left my child with her until she was about 10 or 11 years old),” she wrote.

Despite the grueling schedule and the loneliness of navigating a new country as a single mother, Matete concluded her post on a note of resilience and faith. “Still, I thank God for this far ameniwezesha. Haijawa rahisi (He has enabled me this far. It hasn’t been easy).”