Abstract:
The aim of this study was to explore the parenting related lived experiences of
homeless street mothers in Jimma City. Constructivism paradigm and hermeneutic
phenomenological research method were employed. I used Judgmental/ purposive sampling
to select 11 participants of the study. Data was collected through in-depth interview and
supplemented by non-participant observation to explore the lived experience of mothers
within their complex setting. The data analysis technique was a thematic analysis. The ethical
issues in this study include confidentiality, anonymity, refraining from committing harm on
participants and requiring the consent of participants. The findings of this study demonstrate
that factors that drive mothers to the street include divorce, death of significant others, health
complications, and economic problems; and mothers after they have gone out to the street,
they experience loneliness, uncertainty about the future, resentment towards God, people and
their own fortune. The finding also showed that mothers struggle to balance their
responsibility of caring and disciplining their children .Finally, the finding showed that,
mothers cope up with their parenting related challenges through utilizing their resources such
as their social support and their faith in God. In conclusion, recommendations based on the
findings of this study were forwarded and implications to social work policy, education,
practice and research were indicated.
