“Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear.”

Single parents carry an incredible burden. Only those who have been a single parent can truly understand just how heavy that burden is. For a period of ten years I was a single mother myself, trying to raise my two children who were around 2 and 5 years old when I got divorced. When I first got remarried my husband turned to me one night and said, “I cannot believe you handled everything in your life by yourself for ten years!“ Every single parent reading this knows exactly what he meant by that statement…

I cannot tell you the respect that I have for all single parents.  It brings a lot of emotions to the surface just reflecting on that time in own my life and the incredible burden that single parents carry each day.  They have the weight and responsibility of financially caring for their children, and then it’s also up to them to drive the kids to the places they need to be, clean the house, do the laundry, do the homework, cook the meals, pack the lunches, find time to have fun with their kids, and somehow still find a way to have a life of their own and take care of themselves in all of it.  Most single parents sacrifice almost everything else in their life other than caring for their kids because they don’t have the help of a spouse or partner.  Now I am not suggesting that married people don’t have difficulties in their lives as well, but I will very frankly say that I have been on both sides of the parenting fence as a single mom and now a married mom and there is no problem as difficult to handle when you have the benefit of a spouse to help you get through it.  All the stresses in my married life pale in comparison to my prior stresses as a single mom trying to do it alone.

Reflecting on my time as a single parent today reminded me of how lucky I feel to have the help of a good husband in my life and it also renewed the absolute respect and admiration I have for every single parent trying to make it on their own.  I commend each of you – truly.  You are amazing people and you deserve to be told how great you are.  Being a single parent you many times don’t have someone there to tell you that you are doing a fantastic job, that you are an amazing person who deserves to have every good thing in your life, that your willingness to sacrifice for your children makes you a hero…at least in my eyes, and for sure in God’s eyes. You are heroes for putting aside your fears and showing courage as you raise your kids alone. You are amazing!   Thank you to all the single parents who are handling life on their own and making their children’s life better for doing so.  You are incredible people.

I have a great quote on the wall in my office that I really clinged to when I was single and trying to do it all on my own.  It says:

It will all be okay in the end.

If it’s not okay, it’s not the end.

That quote helped me hang in there at times I felt I couldn’t do it all on my own anymore.  It brought hope when I was discouraged.  And ultimately, it got me through to a place where it finally was okay for me…so I hope it can provide that same comfort and hope to any of you who need it.

Have a really good day.

~Amy

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