Beautiful Lessons You Learn From Single Parenthood

Whenever you see content discussing single parenthood, it’s most often from people who haven’t actually gone through that experience. As such, many people seem to think it’s one of the hardest and most fraught responsibilities anyone could undertake. Of course, there is some truth in trying to run a household on your own, while perhaps also working at the same time.

But there’s also a great deal of love, beauty, enjoyment, and incredible experiences that come along with it. Just because you’re on your own as a parent doesn’t mean you’re getting a diluted form of family life, far from it, you get to experience every single element of it.

So – instead of viewing yourself as someone who might need to be pitied, excused, or make apologies, let’s take a post to discuss some of the beautiful lessons you learn from single parenthood, how it can shape you for the better, and how despite all of the difficulties that may be present, you can and will still achieve an amazing job for your childen and family. They’ll never forget it, either.

1. Romance no longer remains an intensive, tiresome pursuit.

When you’re a single parent, it’s often because you chose to move on from a relationship that may not have been serving you, but you came away with a number of the most precious gifts, your children.

For this reason, your ‘love bandwidth’ is absolutely fulfilled by caring for those you adore, and taking time for them. As such, some single parents wait for a few years before re-entering the dating game, while some choose not to do so at all. Of course, you are free to make that decision using your best judgement and desire.

The benefit here is that because you have the family unit, and because you care for some of the most precious people you have ever met, the end-goal of a relationship has already been achieved. Now, letting someone into your life means letting someone into your children’s lives too – so if you go on a date and the person doesn’t meet your standards, you don’t have to lower them.

In other words, you become much more sure in your romantic life and its overwhelming value. You no longer feel that you have to prove anything to anyone, or seek to be validated by them. Because ultimately, the only people who really matter are those at home, and what their opinion of you might be.

However, if you do find the right person, it’s because they ‘get it,’ so to speak. This shows qualities of patience, appreciation, and often a lack of tiresome ego. It means the mutual support you might share with someone becomes much more honest and open as opposed to the ritual dance of mystery you may have played before when enjoying the dating scene. For those who enjoy being forthright and knowing where they stand, there’s no better feeling than this.

2. Single Parenthood Is Often A Blessing

Sure, a connected, happy, mutually supportive marriage is probably the ideal, but it’s not the only way you can live live with amazing satisfaction. On top of that, being married doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re happy together, that you make a nice home environment, or that your children have a great time when you’re around one another.

Many children can, unfortunately, remember times when their parents were arguing, and those who have to experience a long, protracted divorce may have difficult memories of such an issue. So – single parenthood is often a choice made to spare the children from all of that, allowing you to move forward with care and positive self-regard, just as you deserve to. 

Is it better for children to have a constantly on-again, off-again relationship to you and their other parent, constantly having to deal with turmoil? Or stability, even if it means being on your own, a better alternative? We’d consider the latter.

3. People Are There For You, And More Than You Know

It’s important to recognize that people are there for you, and you’ll know this most of all when you have children to take care of alone. From your parents helping out or taking the children while you have an odd night out with friends to blow off some steam, to teachers and learning assistants who help you understand your child’s development, it still takes a village to raise a child as they say, even if you’re the one in the driver’s seat.

The depth of friendships and the bonds you make can be tremendously valuable at this time, and you may realize that you’re never alone, in fact, many others are in the exact same boat and are worth taking inspiration from. It’s also important not to be afraid to rely on someone, from instant online loans providers in a pinch to dual-carpooling on off days with your neighbor to relieve the school run a little, mutual co-operation like this can make a profound difference in all the right ways.

4. You Learn More About Yourself

Adversity breeds wisdom they say, but this quote is often accompanied with war footage or footage of scientists figuring out the latest rocket trajectory, it’s rarely applied to single mothers or fathers getting their children ready for school after staying up all night with a sick baby.

But it applies, no less. Sure, the challenges can be tough, but as you mount them, ask for help when you need it, take a break when you can, and use any free time you may have to care for yourself and to connect with your friends, you begin to develop a fantastic strength, reliability, dependability, sense of duty and goodwill. You also learn to manage your energy, look to the future with optimism, and deeply enjoy the process of seeing your little ones grow up each year on year.

Single parents often report that days feel longer than weeks, and before long your children will be maturing into their teenage years and beyond, and then it will be time for them to fly the nest. After that entire experience you will look back and see just how much you learned and how temperate, capable, and determined you became. It’s quite something to see that growth and to have incredible memories alongside it.

5. You Never Miss A Thing

Most people pine to be with their children but may not be able to, be that they have a job that causes them to leave for several months a year, and many other life arrangements that may take place. Single parenthood may of course share custody with another parent, but not always. In any case, those who are single parent tend to orbit their lives around the duties of parenthood and work where they can, or balance both with care.

This means that parents rarely miss a thing as their children grow up and develop. They see everything. Birthdays, get-togethers, events, small celebrations, school recitals. You get more time on average than most. You know everything about your children. It’s hard not to see that as a kind of blessing in the best possible sense.

6. People Really Do Understand

We don’t mean to dismiss the difficulties of single parenthood, because they do exist and most who have been through it know what they are. But single parenthood is hardly something only you have been through. 

In fact, we’re willing to bet there are probably a fair number of single parents around you. As such, recognizing that people really do understand what you’re going through and the tasks you have from day to day. Making friends with these people can help you share your victories and losses, your difficulties and lessons. Or you can use sites like ours as a platform to discuss and read interesting insight to keep you going. Perhaps you can share some of this insight yourself, as single parenthood for us may not be the same as for you, and it’s healthy to find those natural differences so we can learn from one another.

7. Your Children Will Never Forget What You Did For Them

Children will always look back and remember that you never gave up on them despite the challenges you went through. They’ll never forget it. It will be, unless someone saves thier life in some kind of heroic fashion, the best thing anyone ever did for them, and arguably better thanks to the sustained effort it took.

Many single parents worry if they’re enough. They may ask themselves if they really did give their all, if they planned correctly, if they made the home as comfortable as it could be, and taught the lessons that needed to be taught.

You did. It’s as simple as that. You’re most likely continuing to do so. Being present and caring gets you most of the way there, and staying committed allows you to benefit in the long run. Single parents rarely get enough credit for what they do, and they certainly never give themselves enough credit. So let us give that to you now.

With this advice, we hope you can continue to see the beautiful lessons you learn, and continue to learn, from single parenthood and all it encompasses.