Single parenting is very stressful. As a single parent, you have to handle several tasks and make more than a few decisions.
You may require effective ways to manage the special challenges single parents usually experience, to support and nurture your little one.
Read this out to find what are the problems, the positives and negatives of being a single parent.
Single Parenting Problems
You might have just become a divorcee, a widow or separated from your “better half” for some personal reason. Or you may have been a single parent for many years.
The problems you are facing everyday are not going to vanish magically as some people around you are not ready to change their perspective of you.
This could be some of the things that you might have and might still go through everyday:
- You may feel intense sorrow when your child envies his pals who live with both parents.
- There is no way of getting into a new relationship, as your little one is jealous or suspicious.
- A single parent attaches to his or her children so badly for company and support that makes it difficult for the child to leave the house.
- Raising the kids, doing the housework and earning some income are three of the biggest responsibilities that are causing more stress, fatigue and pressure to the parent.
- The income is small which may give less access to child health care.
Positive Side of Single Parenting
1) That Strong Bond
Spending one-on-one time with your little one creates a unique bond which will be stronger than the one if you were a nuclear parent.
This will make your child’s connection with you continues to grow and evolve even after they are adults.
2) Lack of Parenting Conflict
There will be minimal to no parental conflict, and it eases tension and stress for both the parent and the child. It will be true in the case of the former partner being abusive or the relationship was controversial.
If there are no arguments or conflicts, the child will feel more secure in her living environment.
3) The Best Role Model
Children brought up in single-parent family will realize their importance in their parent’s lives. It is a healthy approach which will help them to prepare for the real world.
Children will feel secure about their ability to negotiate the challenges of future life. They can balance their needs with the needs of the family.
4) Maturity on the Kids
Children will find their parents working hard, and it will force them to collaborate and work along with their parents.
Additionally, the children will also learn to manage their disappointments in life. These experiences will help your children to become an empathetic and caring adult in the future.
5) Responsibilities Shared
Children raised by a single parent will not just have taken a few responsibilities, but their contribution to the complete family system is necessary.
This way, the children will understand the value of their contribution and can take pleasure in their work. You should praise them for doing the house chores and be more specific when you are asking for their help.
Negative Of Single Parenting
1) Single Parenting Financial Struggle
Most single parents work long hours to meet the financial needs of the family. It is necessary to run the household and raise the children.
There may be chances when you have to deny your kids from their requirements, and you may have to juggle repeatedly between financial commitments.
Your child may thus be not able to take the opportunities he always dreamt of due to financial concerns.
2) Loneliness
It is another challenge most single parents face. They will not only be able to share their difficulties with their spouse but also cannot share their joy as well.
If the parent is single because of a spouse’s death or any tragedy, it will be even harder for the parent to bear all sorts of responsibilities.
3) Emotional Problems
Your children are likely to suffer from self-esteem problem. She may crave for affection, which she will not get enough because of your busy schedule.
Thus, she may lose expectations in her relationships later in life. She will take all the blame for her living conditions. It may be difficult for you to stop her from drawing comparisons, but you can help her build her self-regard.
Things like acknowledging him when she has done something good, and posting a card in her room about her worth, will help build her self-esteem.
4) Low Parenting Quality
Your way of parenting may decline when there are many responsibilities added to your everyday life. Your long hours of working may make you miss your child’s important school functions.
You may not be able to afford a babysitter to take out some valuable downtime. You may react more if you see your child being untidy.
You may also disclose your personal, professional or financial issues with your child. But, she will not have the maturity and emotional strength to deal with the situations so as to help you.
5) Child from a Divorced Partner
If the reason for you being a single parent is divorce, your children will also suffer from adjustment issues or may have the feeling of being ashamed.
If your partner stops looking out after your kids as he or she used to do before, your children may badly suffer from resentment.
If you notice your child having trouble sleeping or experiencing problems at school, you should counsel her or take her for counselling. There are also chances she still holds on to bad memories of your divorce.
Raising kids, without the support of your better half, is not an easy thing to do as you have to single-handedly face a fair share of concerns, dilemmas, and other issues.
However, don’t lose heart over any issues! You can cope with the stress thanks to a great amount of planning and with these simple tips:
Taking Care Of Yourself
Your child may observe you being angry, upset or sad when major life issues crop up. It is quite common in all families, be it a single parent or nuclear families. The only thing you should do is to let her know your negative emotions are not because of her, and you love her more than anything else.
If your child is matured enough to understand, share what is affecting you so much with her. When you express your feelings, even she will feel free to express herself more.
Also, do not discuss grown-up issues like financial problems or conflict with the former partner with your child. It can make her anxious. Share such matters only with other adults who can morally comfort you.
Single Parenting Positivity
You may quickly become overwhelmed by the demands and responsibilities of single parenting. You may also suffer the pain of death or divorce of your spouse.
Despite all these, you have to stay positive as your kids may easily get affected by your moods. Exercise regularly, have enough rest and eat a healthy diet to balance your life everyday.
You may share some of the grievances with your kids, but also let them understand they are not the causes of your problems.
Hope our article helps you with single parenting and makes you a better parent than you are.
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