A Letter To The Single Parent
Dear Single Parents,
What a privilege and honor for you to be a parent to a child, who is full of innocence, curiosity, joy and most of all unconditional love for you. Raising children on your own can result in added pressure, stress and fatigue. Single parenting is faced with delight and challenges; 5 a.m. alarms and midnight bedtimes; home-cooked meals and fast food drive-thru; smiling faces and tearful eyes; hugs and kisses to “leave me alone”. Rest assured through all these different emotions you are in good company if you are raising a child on your own. Single parent families are more common than ever.
As you embark on this journey, I would like to share a few strategies to sustain your navigation on your single-parenting course:
Show Love-Unconditional love and support. It is important that you remember to praise your child, set aside time no matter how long or short to play, read or simply chill.
Create Routine- Structure- such as regularly scheduled meals and bedtimes. It helps your child to know what to expect.
Set Limits- Rules and expectations teach children self-discipline and help them learn how to make healthy choices. Also remember consistency when enforcing the expectations
Guilt Free Zone- Never blame yourself or overcompensate for being a single parent by spoiling your child.
Take Care of Yourself- Self Care is a MUST. If you don’t take time for you (doing activities you enjoy). You will not be any good for your kids, which can lead to bad habits and resentment.
Stay Positive- YOU ARE HUMAN! Communicate openly and honestly with your child its okay to say you’re having a difficult time but reassure them that things will get better. During those difficult times don’t expect your child to behave like a “little adult” instead give the age-appropriate level responsibilities. Lastly be sure to keep a sense of humor when faced with everyday challenges.
As we continue on this single parent journey always remember keeping balance is important because you are only one person. Your resilience, strength and determination can provide your child with more examples that last for life than any two-parent home. You show your child that you keep going, even when things are difficult.
“Being A Single Parent Is Not A Life Full Of Struggles But A Journey For The Strong”
Meg Lowrey
Hi! My name is Ntaka Wellington. I am the Early Childhood Director at Capital City Public Charter School. I spend most of days exploring the minds of young people by engaging them in meaningful conversations that they lead. I believe children are at their best when we allow them to explore and wonder.
Contact-ntakawellington@gmail.com
Although I am not “technically” a single parent, I somewhat operate like one. My boyfriend (my son’s father)and I do not currently live together. We are working on coming together under one household, but until then we try to share responsibilities like those that co-parent. As a result, I found this to be very insightful. It highlighted a lot of things that I’ve come to learn over the last 19 months. Ex. How important self care, structure, consistency, praising your child, etc. can be. Also, I’ve definitely become very reliant businesses that cater to the convenience element of everyday living.… Read more »