How to provide a real family for your child or children as a single parent

“I used to meditate all the time in bed. That was when I was raising my daughter, and I'd get her up and off to school, and then I would go back to bed and meditate. And then I would do the same in the evening, and that was very good for that period because I had so many things to juggle as a single mother.”- Alice Walker

“I eat excellent bread, clean meat, good crisp veggies, organic fruits and nice wine and cheese. It is one of the things I am truly grateful for. I’m not kidding. You can’t ask a single mother of three working two jobs for minimum wage to eat that way, I am lucky.” – Rachael Taylor

A single parent is a parent who is not living with a spouse or partner, and is responsible for raising the child or children on a daily basis. Usually considered the primary caregiver as the child or children resides with them. The tag ‘Single parent’ could have result from separation, death, or divorce with children, or a parent that never married.

The question arises if a single parent could provide a real family for his/her child or children?

The problems often associated with children who grow up in one-parent families are poverty, failure in school, juvenile delinquency, they are more likely to live in disadvantaged neighborhoods and to associate with peers who have negative attitudes toward school, they are also more likely to change residences, which disrupts their lives even further, since it usually means going to a new school and losing contact with old friends, another disadvantages faced by children in single-parent families is inadequate attention and guidance from the parent,  also children who live in single-parent families lack the community resources that other children frequently have but this problems actually cannot be attributed to single parenthood alone. Though I was not raised by a single parent as I had the privilege of having both my mum and dad, But I know lots of single parents whose child/children are doing very well. Bellow are what I noticed they put in place to achieve success at parenting.

How to provide a real family for your child or children as a single parent:

Children need more than just economic security to thrive; they require parents who have the time to help them with their homework, read to them, and listen to how their day went in school. They also need parents who can supervise their activities outside of school. One parent alone does not have the time to do these things, but with more effort one parent can. Although single parenthood hurts, relatively speaking. Some Single parents (especially single mums) have to cope with loneliness, guilt, and sometimes other people's judgments. Real Single parents do it all with no help.

Accept Responsibility: To be a Successful single parent, you need to accept the responsibilities and challenges of single parenting.  Acknowledge the difficulties such as a lack of personal time, a restricted social life, sole responsibility for meeting multiple needs, and financial stress without self-pity or bitterness. Instead of minimizing or exaggerating the problems seek for solutions.

Communication: Encourage clear and open expression of thoughts and feelings with your child or children in order to develop honest and trusting relationships between you and your child or children and others.

Home Management: To be a successful single parent you’ll need to manage your child or children's needs well. Strive to be well organized and dependable, and work hard to coordinate schedules. Take pride in your ability to financially provide for your child or children, although finances may still remain a struggle.

Be Committed: Make your child or children your highest priority. Focus on being the best possible single parent, which often means putting the needs of your child or children first. Genuinely like and enjoy your child or children, sacrifice time, money, and energy for your child or children’s sake. They try to be very supportive, patient and help your child or children cope.

Communication: Encourage clear and open expression of thoughts and feelings with your child or children in order to develop honest and trusting relationships between you and your child or children and others.

Home Management: To be a successful single parent you’ll need to manage your child or children’s needs well. Strive to be well organized and dependable, and work hard to coordinate schedules. Take pride in your ability to financially provide for your child or children, although finances may still remain a struggle.

Care for you: To be a successful single parent you’ll need to take care of you. Irrespective of lack of time, recognize that caring for you is important. Be connected to others whom you can call on for practical and emotional support. If you managed a home-based business find time to get away on a vacation occasionally or go out with friends.

Maintain Traditions and Relationships: A tradition is any event with special meaning to a family. When a family has been disrupted, maintaining traditions becomes a stabilizing force. Maintain traditions, whether bedtime rituals, special family times together, or holiday celebrations.

Have a Positive Outlook on Challenges: Have a positive attitude towards parenting and life in general. See positive aspects in stressful situation and have the mind that you’ll succeed despite many doubts.

“I was raised by a single mother who made a way for me. She used to scrub floors as a domestic worker, put a cleaning rag in her pocketbook and ride the subways in Brooklyn so I would have food on the table. But she taught me as I walked her to the subway that life is about not where you start, but where you’re going. That’s family values.” - Reverend Al Sharpton.