There are many women in this world who happen to live as a single parent. I use to be one of those women. I was 24 years old when I had two children. My oldest was 3 years old and my youngest son was one. Although they have different fathers and neither one of them was helping with their responsibilities I continued to be strong and take care of them the best way I could. I will admit it was a struggle but I couldn't give up. I had to build up enough courage to say "I can do this". I never had doubts about myself because I had already enhanced the skills of parenting from when I helped take care of my two younger siblings. I didn't think I would be able to do it alone but my faith in a higher being is what showed me the way!
One of the things I had to do is learn how let go of my childhood past in order for me to avoid repeating it towards my children. I had to face my problems and fears because I didn't want to continue with the same negative pattern my mother set before me. She only did what was done to her which only made her weak. She wasn't strong enough to treat me and my siblings any differently but I made a choice to make a difference. I learned how to do better and when you know better you do better! I brushed off all the negativity from those who looked down upon me and I made my children my priority. More importantly I built a relationship with God so that I could have the proper guidance towards the strength I needed because I knew I was walking this journey alone and I was prepared for it!
Every human being is different. Noone is perfect and everybody makes mistakes. You can't let the mistakes you made get you down. Experience is a good teacher and eventually you learn from your mistakes. The best advice I can give to a woman whose feeling down as a single parent is to be strong. You might ask yourself "how can I be strong"? Think about your child and how you can make them welcomed in this world. Don't worry about the person who left you behind just be prepared to play both roles. Your main concentration should be how you and your child is going to survive. Making sacrifices is the most important thing but you must be willing to make that sacrifice. Surround yourself with positive parenting role models and remember that being a parent is not just about being a provider. Being a strong parent is also about being a leader, role model, teacher, spiritual guider and provider!
Not everyone has someone they can look up to as a parent but if you believe in God he will assure you take the right road. He will put people in your life to help guide you, the right people! People around you may make you feel that it's impossible but as long as you have confidence in yourself anything is possible!
This article was originally written by Tamara M. Anderson November 27, 1999!
No comments:
Post a Comment