Single Parenting Emotions
Is it normal to feel depressed about single parenting?
Going through a divorce and becoming a single parent is a death of dream, and it's a death of lifestyle. Just like death, you go through different cycles. There's like seven different cycles you go through and these are bargaining, depression, sadness, joy, and relief. The other two is that it's very common to be depressed, scared, and insecure going through the whole death process. So you just have to be gentle with yourself and get the help that you need.
How do I cope with depression as a single parent?
It's very common to go through a depression when you become a single parent, and it's important that you do something about it because your child is going to look to you for support, and children telegraph your moods as well, and you don't want your child to be depressed either. So the best thing to do is talk to a therapist, talk to a parent, talk to friends, whoever you can talk to get support. If your depression is pretty severe, then you'll get the help that you need to see, you'll see a therapist and you'll get the help that you need. But it's really important to do something.
Is it normal to feel inadequate about single parenting?
It is normal to feel scared and inadequate about single parenting. We're not used to the idea of getting divorced. You think that you are going to get married and stay married. It is a death of a dream and a life style. The best that you can do is know that you are a team with your child now. You are going to gain strength, and you may even grow to love it. I know a lot of people who love being a single parent. It is empowering. You feel strong and you have a sense of knowingness that you have never had before, and you can handle anything.
How do I become more confident as a single parent?
I think as a single parent, the more you realize that you can handle, then the more secure and confident you're going to get. We don't really know what we can handle until we're given those situations, and the more we're given the stronger we become. To me, being a single parent, it's not like it's the best thing I've ever done, but I've never felt better about anything that I've done it on my own. I have this relationship with my child that I never would normally have had, and we're really strong, and this team and this friendship that we have, I wouldn't trade it for anything.
How do I handle the stress of single parenting?
Single parenting can be so stressful that you need an outlet ,whether it is swimming, whether it is walking. Not just an emotional outlet like a support group, but it's really important to exercise, swim, walk. You go out with whatever it is you do just to get out the stress out of your body. And, it's important even to do things with your child. The thing I used to do with my son is I used to take him on walks. And boys for example, more than girls I think, when they walk they talk! So, it's a good way to get know more about your child by doing activities with them.