Without a partner to share the load, it can seem even harder. The most common problems are about money, time and child-rearing concerns; there's never enough of the first two and too much of the third. But with a good support system, you can overcome many of these problems and build a stronger, happier family.
Reasons for becoming a single parent include divorce, break-up, abandonment, becoming widowed, domestic violence, rape, childbirth by a single person or single-person adoption.
Transitioning to a single-parent household can disrupt a child's routines, education, housing arrangement and family income. It can also intensify the incidence of parental conflict and stress. These changes can be very difficult — and even traumatic — for some children.
Children nurtured by single parent due to multiple reasons most commonly because of divorce, death of the spouse, unintended pregnancies, adoption that consequently leads to many problems such as psychological trauma, mental health and behavioral issue, financial hardship, low performance at school or colleges, low ...
Those basic needs like safety, food, and shelter are the ones we focus on because we don't have a choice. And even if paying the bills is still a challenge after quite some time, this doesn't mean that as a single mom you should continue to keep your eyes on just surviving. It's time to think about thriving.
Single-parent families have been viewed by many professionals as being at high risk for social, behavioral, and emotional problems for its members, especially problems in chil- dren's development.
Types of Single-Parent Families
Divorced parents. Widowed parents. Non-married parents who split up.
Studies report that single mothers are at a higher risk for psychological stress than married mothers.
Divorce or separation. New step-parents or step-brothers and sisters. A parent or relative having mental health problems, disabilities or illness. A parent or relative having alcohol or drug problems.
Finding support as a lone parent
accept help from relatives and friends willing to lend a hand for time out, babysitting and school runs. suggest a "swap" arrangement with another parent, so you take it in turns to look after each other's children. suggest a regular evening's babysitting by a trusted relative or friend.
There is an emotional challenge that single mothers go through, a sense of loneliness and depression when mothers cannot share the good and bad experiences with someone or have a partner to share the work with. Lack of financial support. Single mothers often feel guilty for not providing enough for their kids.
But that thought process is part of the hidden and unique mental load that comes with being a single parent. The mental load – the invisible, emotional labour, of thinking of everything, and then doing everything, entirely on your own. There's no one to tag-team with, or to assume your unrelenting responsibilities.
Children of single parents learn independence, responsibility, and receive undivided love and attention. Financial insecurity, work overload, and loneliness can create stress for single parents, and disciplining children can become difficult. Single parents and children develop close bonds from spending time together.
Research has showed that, while having one child is associated with a gain in happiness, having a second is associated with a drop in happiness for mothers.
Becoming a single parent can be a very overwhelming and stressful time in your life as you face having to raise your children on your own without the support from your partner. Most of us don't plan to bring up children on our own but unfortunately circumstances can change in family life and the inevitable can happen.
Successful single parents manage the family needs well. They strive to be well organized and dependable, and they work hard to coordinate schedules. They take pride in their ability to financially provide for the family, although finances still remain a struggle.
Benefits of single parenthood
And they learn new things along the way, in an argument-free environment. Practitioners think that single parents can have more time with their child and parent how they want, with their own routine and less exposure to conflict.