single parenting

Question and Answer

I am a single mom who is struggling to survive. Of all the things that frustrate me, I am bothered most by having to send my kids to visit their dad for three weeks in the summer. That will happen next month, and I'm already uptight about putting them on the plane. Can you help me accept what I'm about to go through?

Maybe it will help to know that many other single parents have similar feelings. One of these mothers expressed her frustration this way:

I stand in the terminal and I watch the kids' airplane disappear into the clouds. I feel an incredible sense of loss. The loneliness immediately starts to set in. I worry constantly about their safety, but I resist the urge to call every hour to see how they're doing. And when they do call me to tell me how much fun they're having, I grieve over the fact that they're living a life completely separate from my own. My only consolation is knowing that they're returning soon. But I'm haunted by the fear that they won't want to come home with me.

If the anxieties of that mother represent your own feelings, let me offer some suggestions for how you might make the most of your days alone. Instead of seeing the next three weeks as a period of isolation, view them as an opportunity to recharge your batteries and reinvigorate the spirit. Single parenting is an exhausting responsibility that can cause burnout if it knows no relief. Take this time to enjoy some relaxed evenings with your friends. Read an inspirational book, or return to a hobby that you've set aside. Fill your day with things that are impossible amidst the pressures of child care, recognizing that your children will benefit from your rehabilitation. They'll return to a reenergized parent, instead of one coming off three weeks of depression.

Background Information

On Your Own
A lot changes after a divorce occur, most notably, the demands of parenting.

Questions and Answers

What encouragement can you offer to those of us who are single parents?
Answer

Review Frequently Asked Questions

Stories

Let go of the Reins
Teaching your children independence starts earlier than you think.

Accepting a New Identity
Unexpectedly widowed, a woman has trouble accepting her role as single parent.

My Mother, My Hero
My mother sacrificed her life to give her kids the best she could — and to help us be our best.

If you've been through a experience related to this topic, we invite you to share your story with others.
Share Your Story

Other Things to Consider

Where is God in the Midst of All My Troubles?
So many cry out to Him in times of need, but is God really listening? And, more important, does He care?

RelationshipsBlended Families, Parents and Adult Children

TransitionsPreparing for Adolescence, Empty Nest