HW11: Effects on Parents

When you are a mother, you are never really alone in your thoughts. A mother always has to think twice, once for herself and once for her child.
- Sophia Loren


The effects of single parent families are usually termed negatively. Single parent has become a bad word in many contexts and most people often don't understand what leads the situation to be that way - being a single parent family. Sometimes, they don't even have this sympathy of what a single parent is going through raising her child. Regardless of being on a single parent family, single parent should be able to do their best for the child even though they are doing many responsibilities at a time that should be shared by two people. However, being strong for your child sometimes difficult to do because of the effects of single parenthood on you as a parent.

According to an article I have read entitled Effects of Single Parenting: It Can Be Positive, a single mother will face many effects - negative or positive of being on the situation.

1. Loneliness
It states on the article that loneliness happens to all of us. We just have to learn in dealing with it properly. Therefore, a single mother should focus more on the good things happening to her life instead of focusing on the bad things. For instance, a single mother will look for some ways just to relieve their loneliness. She is more focused on dating and looking for someone who can help her overcome her loneliness. With her eagerness in finding that someone, she might forgot that things shouldn't be rushed. If she rushed things and marry a wrong guy again for the sake of just being with someone, that would only make her more miserable.

2.  Being Strong
The article also states that a single mother should be thankful of the difficulties she might experiences because that could definitely make her a stronger person. A single parent will not rely to other people for there emotional well-being. She will also learn to deal with the problems that she had never dealt before. Moreover, she would also be more understanding to people and may also help them in overcoming emotional difficulties they might also experiencing.

3. Overcompensating
According to the article, a single mother may feel guilty that she is the one who puts her child on that situation that may result in spoiling the child. It says there that a single mother should never spoil her child fro it will not replace the missing part on the child. It is better to show love and provide quality time for her child. Moreover, she should learn to say no sometimes because you are a parent to make the decisions for your child whether he/she likes it or not. Though the child might blame you and took advantage of the situation just to get what he/she wants, a single mother should not always give it for you both are in it together and should work as a team. Always remember that you are not less worthy if you are single. Furthermore, she should learn to have a self management. Balancing of time between work and the child might be tough, but she should give quality time for her child to avoid the misconceptions like the feeling of being neglected of the child to her.

Single parents should be responsible for doing everything. Though it may be hard at first, it would be really better if they should learn to take challenges on themselves because even they have supportive parents and friends there have times that no one can help them in overcoming these struggles.

As a conclusion, single parents should always think positively and keep sound attitude. They should also think of the betterment of their child in the near future. They must learn  from the challenges they are encountering so, it will be more easy for them to face the challenges they will be encountering more along their way.