Do you really need to know the reasons single parents are unheralded heroes? It’s pretty obvious, but let’s talk about it nontheless.
“When you’ve been a parent for 11 years and you’ve done it alone, you don’t have romantic ideals, because you have a practical understanding that you can do it by yourself.”
Michelle Williams
Michelle Williams is a multi-awarded actress and one of the most admirable single parents in show business. She is best known for her role as Alma Del Mar in Brokeback Mountain. She met Heath Ledger on the set of the said film in 2004. In 2005, they welcomed their daughter Matilda Rose.
However, Heath developed an addiction and the two broke up in 2007. Heath died of an accidental prescription drug overdose five months after the split.
In 2018, Michelle tells Vanity Fair, “When you’re a single parent, and that element of provider and protection is missing, it’s scary.”
You most probably can relate to Michelle. You most probably find it scary raising your child without a partner. Yet you do it and it’s one of the most rewarding things you’ve done in your life.
From the moment you wake up until the moment your head hits the pillow at night, you see magazines and online articles telling you, “The Surprising Secret to Raising a Well-Behaved Kid” or “Here’s how to feed your kids right.” And you immediately doubt your parenting skills.
Parents are bombarded with unrealistic advice about how to raise their kids. The media seem to expect you to be perfect. So let’s prove them wrong and think about what makes you a superhero instead.
Why Single Parents Are Unheralded Heroes
1. You have numerous superpowers.
You juggle a lot of tasks. And to get them done, you have come to master numerous critical skills. Some of them are:
- Your positive attitude. You focus on what you can do instead of the things you have no control over.
- Your money-making skills. Some single parents have been taking care of their kids alone from the get-go. Some went from a two-income household to one. You may be getting help from your ex-partner or the government, but you earn enough money to provide for your child’s basic needs.
- Your budgeting skills. Earning money is important, but knowing how to budget is just as crucial. As a single parent, there are times when finances are tight. Since you’re earning the money, managing the household, and paying for everything your family needs, you can make smart choices about where your hard-earned cash goes.
- Your time-management skills. As a single parent, your kids rely on you for everything. You probably do the cooking, cleaning, laundry, and childcare on top of keeping a day job. You have mastered budgeting your time just as you’re great at budgeting your money.
Read Next: Money-Saving Tips for Single Parents
2. You are brave.
You probably didn’t plan to raise your kids alone. Let’s admit it, it’s a rather scary endeavour. Loving someone as much as you love your child opens you up to vulnerability. But you’re doing it anyway. You had to be brave and you continue to be brave for your child.
3. You inspire a lot of people.
Many parents who have a husband, wife, or partner to share the responsibilities of raising kids are in awe of you. Parenting is the most difficult job in the world, whether you are single or have a partner. You are in charge of moulding and taking care of a fragile being. But it’s even more daunting and tougher if you’re at it alone.
Married parents sometimes worry about losing their partners. Sometimes they wonder what they will do if their partner loses their job? What if the wife gets sick? Those are just a few of their fears. And then they look at you. And they know they can handle it too, because you show them it’s not easy, but it’s doable.
These are just a few reasons why single parents are unheralded heroes. There are many more, for sure. So, keep your head high. And take some comfort and pride in knowing that you are strong and you are an inspiration to many people.
