Stage Two, when you realize you never knew scared before. Spawn turns 16. You’re shell-shocked at the car and car insurance expenses (especially for male Spawn). I don't know about you, but my parents paid less in mortgage payments than I pay in car insurance.

But, money aside, they’re out there, driving. That alone is enough to drive a single mother insane. They’re your entire life. Your baby. Your every decision. And now they’re on the road in a machine weighed in tons with other teens in machines weighed in tons. Now, add to that worry, the fact that college is coming. How the hell are you going to pay for a car, car insurance AND college? Not to mention all the wrecks and lawsuits that are bound to come from your teenager driving in public? Oh, you almost forgot about getting through the Senior year of high school first, with its yearbooks, its caps and gowns, its graduation gifts, its spring break trips, its college applications, and its trips to colleges. How, HOw, HOW!??!?!?

Believe it or not, this isn’t really what makes you anxious. You worried for years about losing your kid at the mall only to lose him at the DMV. They snap the picture, hand him the license to leave you, and you're lucky to run into him in the halls at home. You are home alone with fewer and fewer Spawn-related duties and no clue what to do and lots of time to think (and worry). The ironic part? Spawn hasn't been this happy since when Santa used to come. You can't poo-poo on that, so you have to pretend to be excited for him and his independent new life, which leads straight into Stage Three of PSM: Confusion.

Symptom  List
Wandering around the house
Wondering where the baby pictures are
Lots of time for movie watching - the longer, the better
Lots of spreadsheet creation for the new budget - the gas, the oil, the insurance and payment
More and more "little" cash flying out of your hands ("Can I have $10 for pizza?")
Should you get a part-time job?
Shouldn't Spawn get a part-time job?

Early Warning Signs
Another car in the driveway
Higher phone bill - and not more usage by you
Groceries in the house last longer
Your car can practically drive itself to the ATM

Therapy
You may be not be at a Stage yet to have the energy for a part-time job, but I recommend just gently leaning into the idea of it. You haven't had the freedom or time to do this in 16 years, but this would 1) take your mind off your empty house troubles and 2) provide a financial cushion for all the new 16th year bills. 

Recommended therapy (besides talking to us, of course) still involves the library for things to watch or read at home. Your mind hasn't caught up to your reality yet, so you have no thoughts of making friends or calling the ones you may be lucky enough to still have through single motherhood yet. Plus, you're the beginning of broke anyway. Window shopping at Amazon and Netflix are the best ways to find what you like. You're not in the cab-fare situation of Stage One, so you can watch long, complicated movies or TV series. They'll take your mind off things, too. I particularly enjoyed things about other people in faraway places or leading completely different lives.

And, as always, Tom Jones and babies and puppies videos on You Tube.