Raising a child is a pretty stressful task. Above that, if you are a single parent the pressure can be real. It is important to identify the challenges, work out the solutions, and find the balance between taking care of yourself and nurturing your child by raising a child alone.
What are some of the common challenges faced by single parents?
- As we discussed, raising a child is a difficult and challenging task. When you do not have a partner, the stakes become higher. If you are a single parent, you have full responsibility for all the day-to-day aspects of your childcare.
- Single parenting can result in additional pressure, stress, and fatigue. If and when you are too worn out with the tasks and trying to take care of your child, or you are distracted and emotionally unavailable to discipline your child, behavioral problems can take place.
- Single-parent families also have comparatively lower incomes and less access to proper healthcare facilities. Juggling between your child’s priorities and your work can be pretty stressful and may lead to financial problems along with social isolation. You might also be worried about the lack of a male or female parental role model in your child’s life.
The positive strategies
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Shower your child with love.
Remember to make the most out of the limited time you have with your child. Praise your little one for all her achievements, and push her to do bigger and better things in life. Teach her the importance of doing good to others and also teach her to take care of her own self. Charity begins at home so you must make your child learn the importance of love. Give her all the unconditional love. You need to be your child’s biggest cheerleader. She needs to know that you have her back always, through thick and thin. Support her in all her aspirations, dreams, and choices. Make sure to take time to play with her, read to her, or just simply sit with your child and watch TV
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Create a routine
Routines and schedules are always very important. You should always have a proper routine for your child. This makes them disciplined and also helps them in the future. Making a routine for your child forms the initial steps of teaching them time management skills. Make a structure for your child that they can follow even while you are at work. Fix a defined time for scheduled meals and bedtime routines. This helps your child understand what needs to happen and when. It helps them in expecting things and also trains them to behave in a certain manner and handle things while you are not around.
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Quality child care is important.
If you are a working parent then childcare comes into the picture. It is important to find good quality childcare that looks after your kid’s needs and requirements while you are away from her. You need to look for and hire a qualified childcare provider and caregiver who can provide stimulation in a safe and sound environment. Do not rely on your or any other older child as your child’s sole caregiver. Also, be careful while asking a new friend or partner to look after your child. The safety of your child is beyond anything and everything else.
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You are not supposed to feel guilty.
You might often catch your child in positions where you don’t want them to. They might speak disrespectfully with a teacher at school or simply get into a fight with their peers. This is not your fault. You do not have to beat yourself up and feel guilty about it. At the same time, it is also not good to spoil your child for being a single parent. You need to take care of yourself and look out for yourself. Include physical exercise in your daily routine, go on walks, eat healthily, and get a good night’s sleep. Find and arrange activities that you like with your friends or alone. Give yourself some self-care time raising a child alone.
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Positivity is the key.
You and your child might not always get along very well. You will have fights and your child might throw tantrums at you as well. It is okay, to be honest with your child if and when you are having a difficult time in your life. But also remind yourself and your child that things will get better sooner or later. Along with this, give your child an age-appropriate level of responsibility that keeps them engaged and disciplined. Do not simply expect your child to ‘behave like an adult.’ A sense of humor is also important in dealing with the day-to-day challenges of raising a child alone.
