The Struggles of Single Parenting
Nobody said parenting was easy, and doing it alone is more taxing. Single-parent households are higher in the United States than anywhere else in the world — nearly a quarter (23%) of children in the U.S. live with one parent. The prevalence of single dads and moms should mean that support is widespread, but unfortunately, that’s not always the case.
Acknowledging the hard parts of single parenting is the first step. If you know the areas you’re struggling with, you can ask for help or find another way to alleviate some of your single parenting stress.
Balancing work and parenting duties
One of the challenges many single parents face is balancing work and their role as parents. Juggling a full-time job and being a primary caregiver can be draining and can lead to parental burnout. Learning to successfully switch roles from employee to parent can leave little room for downtime, rest, and relaxation. Over time, trying to be successful in both areas of your life can lead to single-dad or single-mom burnout.
Financial stress and responsibility
Single parents frequently bear the total weight of financial responsibility for their household. It can be stressful when you don’t have a partner to help you manage expenses, budget, and contribute to the economic stability of the home. The pressure to provide for your family is enough to cause single-father or single-mother burnout.
Custody arrangements
When you add the stress and anxiety of custody arrangements to single parents, things can get tricky quickly. Much research suggests that finding a healthy way to co-parenting successfully is better for everyone, though, especially the children. In fact, studies found that shared custody is linked to socioemotional, psychological, and physical well-being.
Lack of personal time and space
You love your children and want to be with them, but you still need some “me-time.” Too often, personal hobbies, relaxation, and basic self care practices take a backseat as you care for everyone else in your family. A lack of personal time and space can lead to feelings of resentment, frustration, and single-parent burnout.
Emotional and mental load
Being the only one responsible in your home can create a heavy mental load. You worry about your children’s well-being, education, future, daily needs, and more. Every decision is on you, and that pressure can lead to parental anxiety.
Social stigma and judgment
Unfortunately, society still places an unfair stigma on single parents, and it can be isolating. Facing criticism or being misunderstood exacerbates the single parenting stress and emotional burden you likely already feel. Feeling judged for trying to do it on your own can lead to parental guilt, making the job even more challenging.
Social isolation and limited support
It’s common to feel socially isolated as a parent, even if you have a partner. Isolation becomes even worse if you don’t have a strong support system to lean on and nobody to share the brunt of the responsibilities with.
Health and wellness neglect
It can be easy to forget about your health as a single parent. You’re so busy making sure the kids have everything they need that it can feel impossible to do simple things to keep yourself healthy, like get regular exercise, eat well, get enough sleep, or prioritize your routine medical checkups — but failing to care for yourself will eventually take a physical and mental toll.
