Single parents are among some of the hardest working and dedicated people in the world. Not only do they have to care for one or more children, they also need to perfectly balance their work life and personal relationships. Single parents often don’t have time for anything but the essentials, and it’s a challenging lifestyle that demands a lot of attention and care.
However, with enough work and dedication, it can also be a fulfilling one. Not many people can say they’ve been through the challenges that a single parent has, and not many people can look back on their life and be content that they raised a family on their own. However depressing your situation might seem, keep in mind that you’re not alone on your path and there is help out there if you need it. But to give you an idea of what it’s like to be a single mum, then here are a couple of the most gruelling struggles.
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Pressure On Your Wallet
The most common problem for single mothers is their lack of funds. When you raise a child, you can expect to spend a lot on their health care, entertainment and other essentials such as food. However, the costs can add up when you need to also consider yourself. Most couples have dual incomes meaning it’s much easier to handle all of life’s necessary expenses along with raising your child, but as a single parent your income is essentially cut in half and it can be daunting trying to provide on your own.
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Fatigue and Illness
When you’re alone looking after a child, you tend to spend a lot more time with them in order to care for them and make sure they’re feeling well. Sadly, most mothers take this to an extreme and fail to look after themselves first, resulting in many different health-related issues. It’s important that no matter what your situation is, that you’re always looking after yourself and putting as much priority on your health as you do for your child. With the coupled stress of being a single parent, you’ll be susceptible to many conditions, some of which could be fatal. If you’re experiencing issues, see a specialist such as a gynaecologist or a psychologist while the symptoms are still mild enough to be treated. In short, don’t neglect your health!
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The Feeling of Guilt
As a single mum, you’ll be in control of everything. Be it the groceries you buy, the type of clothes you get for your child or even the school they attend, everything is under your control. As a result, if something goes wrong and you aren’t able to fix it or provide a solution, you might feel an overwhelming sense of guilt that manifests into stress. Single mums need to learn to take responsibility, but they also need to know when to move on and deal with their problems in a calm and collected manner that won’t leave them feeling guilty or powerless. Don’t worry about the guilt or the anger—as long as you do your best to provide for your child, you can live a life free of regret.
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