I was having a "discussion" with someone about single parenting..
Now I am a single parent. My son is 13.. I raised him on my own with no help from his father. I worked full time.. 2 jobs at one point.. even had one job where I was able to take him with me to work.. came home, cleaned, fed him.. etc..
Now, this person I was discussing things with, seemed to think that single parents dont have it near as hard as they say. With child support they are "living the life" so they think.
I was like HELLO!!! I am court ordered to recieve 157 dollars a month in child support. I might see 50 of it.. if I am lucky. Enforcing that order gets me the "you should be happy with that, its not what he owes or what he's supposed to pay, or even on time, but at least you get it".
Now, yes.. single parents make that choice for thier children, I would hope its for their kids... they choose to raise their children, not pawn them off on others.. they work, they come home to put in another 5 or 6 hours of work at home and if they are lucky they get 20 minutes of peace in the shower without the "mom/dad can I*..
Single parenting is not all peaches and cream, and I am NOT by far whining. I chose this life, and I dont regret it. What I do regret is the misconception of MANY that its easy and we just let others raise our kids. Im not saying some dont..
Single parents, male or female, often dont have that time alone needed for "regrouping".. they often dont have the support systems for themselves or their children. But they plug along in the hopes that one day, they have raised a productive human being for society.. respectful, hardworking and appreciative of the smaller things in life...that is their goal, and reward in the end..
Now dont misunderstand, some two parent households may as well be single parent households and Im sure that two parent households have their dilemas too.. but the thing with a two parent households that single parents miss out on is that "honey i NEED 10 minutes to myself".. often times we dont get that 10 minutes for weeks..
I guess my point to all this is.. dont assume that single parents live a life of ease because they dont have that partner there to contradict discipline or choices..or they live a life of ease because they get child support..
That would be like us single parents assuming that two parent households have it sooooooo much easier than anyone cause they always have that person there to give them their 10 minutes..
Parenting whether single or two parent households can be trying even for the strongest of people..
