Everyone knows that being a single parent is difficult. You lack support from a partner and have to make all the decisions. The responsibility can be overwhelming. In spite of the difficulties or maybe because of the difficulties, it is important to embrace the advantages of being a single parent. It is not all bad.
1. You get to make all of the decisions! As a single parent, you do not need to compromise with a partner. You get to decide what’s for dinner and whether to stay in or go out. You get to decorate your home as you choose. You don’t need to discuss it with anyone before you respond to your children’s requests.
2. You get breaks. Although this is not true for all single parents, many single parents send their children to their other parent’s house for visitation from time to time, usually on a somewhat regular basis. While they are gone, you can bask in the freedom of having your house to yourself.
3. You have an excuse when things aren’t perfect. If your kids are looking extra messy when you go out one day, who cares? You are a single parent and don’t have a lot of help or time to worry about perfection. The house is a mess. You are too busy as a single parent to clean up. Pizza for dinner last night and hotdogs tonight, as a single parent fancy cuisine just isn’t a priority.
4. You can bond with your kids without interference. If you want to spend all evening playing with your kids, your partner can’t complain that he was looking forward to quality alone time with you.
5. You will develop more confidence in yourself. As you learn to make decisions on your own and solve problems, you will develop confidence that you don’t need to rely on anyone else to get you through life. If you financially support yourself and your kids, that is another boost to your self-esteem.
6. You have more control in your child rearing. Although your kids might spend time with their other parent on occasion, you are the one there day in and day out influencing them. You don’t have to continually try to counteract bad parenting patterns. Your model and techniques will be what most influences your offspring.
7. Your home may be less stressful that two parent homes. Single parent homes typically have less arguing and are often less stressful than two parent homes especially for the children.
8. You don’t have to care for another adult. We all know that most relationships aren’t equal. As the only adult in the household, you may have to do all the childcare yourself, but at least you won’t be caring for another adult. You won’t have to wash their clothes or clean up their messes or baby them when they are sick.
9. Your kids will have more opportunities to develop responsibility. Although no one wants their kids to grow up before it is time, as part of a single parent family it will be easier for your kids to feel like full partners in the family as opposed to “just the kids.” They will have more opportunities to contribute and grow into responsible adults.
10. You and your kids will learn resiliency. Resiliency, the ability to “bounce back” when negative things happen, is one of the most valuable skills one needs to survive in this world. Facing some of the difficulties of a single parent household, you and your children will have numerous opportunities to practice resiliency. Face difficult situations with a positive attitude and hope, and learn to look outside the box when seeking solutions. You will develop a skill that can get you through the toughest of times together!
