Single Parent

The concept of 'single parenting' has undergone a lot of stereotypical judgment, and has the tendency to conjure up debates among people. According to a survey based upon the Demographic Statistics of India, a constant rise in the number of single parent families has been observed over the years, with majority being female led. The aspect of being a single parent can turn out to be a challenge for not only the parent but also for their child. It creates a void in their life that needs to be filled with love, care and attention especially if the parent is working. There are a number of reasons that result in single-parent households, with death of the other parent being the most common. Some of its other sources are: divorced parents, children born out of wedlock whose parents refused to marry, parental separation, as well as children adopted by a single woman or man.
The challenges faced by single parents are:

• Coping with the loss of a partner
• Explaining the absence of a parent to the child
• Guilt
• Playing two roles at a time
• Financial Stress
• Decreased self-care
• Professional- Parent Balance

Some tips that might help a single parent overcome all the aforementioned obstacles faced are:

• Talking to other single parents
• Address your child's questions about a missing parent.
• Form a routine
• Having a support system helps- Reaching out to family and friends who can baby sit/ take care of children in case of extreme emergencies and also provide support in times of crisis helps to draw strength in unfavorable circumstances
• Budget your expenses
• Take care of self
• Accept and Believe in yourself