Raising a child is a challenging experience. It is even more challenging for a single mother. We see a growing number of problems single mothers face in society: financial struggles, lack of support, emotional battles, realizations and many more. The struggles of being a single mom can hit you pretty bad. So, what can you do to cope with the problems single mothers face in society?
Pew Research on U.S. moms shows that among married moms (68%), a sizable percent (24%) are single moms. The number of children living with a single parent is growing rapidly around the globe. Being a single parent can be quite stressful, both for the parent and the child. Beyond that, today’s parent faces unique parenting challenges: the rise of digital media, bullying, and high-stakes testing in early childhood. So, in this article, I have listed some common problems single mothers face in society along with some suggestions to help you deal with them.
1. Work-Life Challenges
Parenting has never been harder. According to a Pew survey, fifty-nine percent of full-time working mothers say they don’t have enough leisure time. It’s even harder to balance work and parenting for single working moms. A single mom is supposed to take care of the kids and provide for them all by herself. To be able to provide for the children she often has no choice but to put in extra working hours. Therefore, balancing the professional responsibilities and parenting is a major problem faced by single mothers.
Suggestions for Single Mothers: Keep these suggestions in minds to balance your life as a single mom:
- Ask for help.
- Find flexible working hours.
- Work from home (explore ways to make money as a SAHM).
- Set boundaries and goals
2. Guilt, Blame, and Responsibility
Most single mothers are utterly sick of the motherhood and guilt rhetoric —especially working single mothers. They often feel like they’re forever coming up short when it comes to doing enough for their kids. Not to mention their boss and extended family, and yes, of course, their community. As single mothers, they have to do all of these things alone, and it’s not always easy.
Suggestions for Single Mothers: The good news is that with right strategies you can overcome mom guilt and get the other difficult emotions under control.
- Accept that parenting isn’t a competition and there is no right or wrong way to parent.
- Limit your social media usage.
- Learn to live in the moment.
- Spend quality time with your kids.
- Take time for yourself.
- Connect with like-minded moms.
3. Emotional Challenges
Being a single mom means that there is no one there to share the good and bad experiences. She doesn’t have anyone to watch favorite movies with when she can’t find a babysitter. She keeps on juggling between professional and personal lives. As a result, the sense of loneliness and depression starts to creep in.
Suggestions for Single Mothers: In these turbulent times, you have to be resilient. Focus on the positive side of solo parenting and-
- Create a healthy and loving environment for your kid.
- Be thankful that you are able to provide on your own.
- Find others to serve as role models.
- Teach them to play sports or dig for worms or whatever they like to do.
- Remind yourself that no one is perfect, and you are doing great because your kid is happy and thriving.
4. Financial Strain
Lack of financial support is a reality for many single moms. While it’s true that “money can’t buy happiness”, a lack of money can cause stress, anxiety and limited choices. Single moms are more likely to feel guilty of not providing enough for the kids. The situation aggravates when they are left waiting for child support that never arrives, or they have to pay attorneys to pursue what should be paid.
Suggestions for Single Mothers: Here are the five keys to financial success for single moms:
- Become frugal.
- Determine what you owe.
- Find money to pay down debt.
- Use a monthly budget template to track expenses..
- Save for the short- and long-term.
5. Limited Time and Fatigue
The hardest part of being a single mom is prioritizing time and focus on self-care. Most single working mothers feel exhausted trying to hold down jobs and ensure their children attend extra-curricular activities. The very act of taking care of a baby and work responsibilities can be draining on many levels — emotionally, cognitively, and psychologically.
Suggestions for Single Mothers: First understand that taking care of yourself is important. If you don’t take care of yourself, you cannot take care of others. So, how can you recharge your batteries? Take a quick look at these easy energy boosters for ideas!
- Eat more red meat and keep protein-rich snacks while on the go – such as nuts, cheese, and crackers or an energy ball.
- Drink tons of water to keep energy levels high and feel fresh from sunrise to sunset.
- Drink a glass of herbal tea or lemon water in the morning, keep a bottle of water in the handbag or car and ensure you drink whenever you have a meal.
- Spend less time on the phone.
- Take small rest breaks during the day.
- Find time for exercise by incorporating fitness into everyday routines, such as kids play-dates or taking the little ones to school.
- Instead of lying down while the kids play in the rumpus room, take them for a long walk to the park instead.
Despite all of this, single moms often receive criticism in today’s society. Being a single parent takes lots of courage, practice taking deep breaths for a few minutes when you lose your patience.
