Single Parenting: The Struggle Is Real

People become parents for some different reasons, though those reasons are mainly the result of a) divorce or b) death. And sometimes, after a divorce, your ex-partner can be so distant or uninvolved that it makes co-parenting nearly impossible. How many times can you disappoint a child by telling him or her that the absentee parent didn’t show up for yet another visitation appointment? It is stressful being a parent on a good day, let alone a bad one. You need to have time to yourself, whether it’s to blow off some steam with a good movie and a glass of wine, or get some housework done, so you stop looking at the same messes day in and day out. While it can be tempting to be SuperMom and get all the glory of doing everything on your own, the phrase “it takes a village to raise a child” didn’t come from nowhere. When you need help, ask.

One of the things single parents tend to worry about the most is being able to provide their children with a sense of security. The best way to establish this is to create a routine and stick to it. Many single parents tend to rely too heavily on their children, treating them almost as equals. They share their financial burdens with their children, as well as the struggles they go through both as a single parent and, if applicable, with their former spouses.

Being a parent sometimes requires us to ask for things we’d never ask for, and do things we’d never have done.