So youve gotten pregnant and you have decided to raise your child on your own or you have recently gotten divorced and you want your child to come live with you. These are admirable things to do because you are assuming responsibility for the child and thats good but it is also a tough situation to be in. This is especially true if your partner is not going to be supporting your child or be there at least a few days a month to assume his or her responsibility.
No doubt, single parenting is tough. It is hard to raise a child as it is without having to do it on your own but single parenting is a reality that we all have to deal with and make the best of. For those who have recently found themselves in the single parenting situation, here are a few things that you must get ready for. This is not meant to scare you off your responsibility or to make you feel upset or depressed; it is meant to make you understand what you are going into so that you will be ready for the challenges ahead.
1. Financial situation
This is perhaps what most single parents are having problems with. Remember that you do not only have to take care of yourself. You have another person to feed and raising children can be pretty expensive. Babies will require milk and special foods and equipment. When they are toddlers, they will need to attend play school and have books that will start off their learning. And if you are basically raising your child alone without any support from your parents or from anyone, you will probably also need babysitters while you which can cost a fortune when you rack all the amounts. Financially, raising a child can be a killer and it is not going to be easy as they grow up.
2. Time
As mentioned before, if you do not have people who can take care of them while you are at work, this can be a problem. You will need to balance your time or check your schedule and find out how you can work around your babys needs. Some mothers stop work altogether to take care of their babies during their first few months but others who cannot afford to lose their job leave them with babysitters. Time can be a problem especially with moms who are working two to three jobs just to make both ends meet.
3. The father or the mother figure
As your child grows, they will also need the influence of another gender. They need a mother or a father figure that they can look up to. If you live with your parents or live with roommates of the opposite sex, this will not be a problem but what if you are living alone? One thing to do is to make it a point to always bring your child in contact with other people. Let them socialize with children and adults.