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The Five Hardest Parts about Being a Single Mom

By Nottage and Ward on June 20, 2012

One of the most contentious aspects of a divorce involving children is child custody. In some cases, the child will live with both parents throughout the year, while in others, the child will permanently reside with one parent while being granted visitation by the other. Raising a child on your own is no easy task, however, and many single parents find that there are a lot of obstacles that make it harder than it would be with a spouse. To help you be prepared for the toughest parts of being a single mom or dad, CircleofMoms.com has come up with the five toughest parts of single parenting:

1. You Can’t Be the Good Cop. When there is only one parent, that parent is the disciplinarian. There is no good cop/bad cop as no one else is around to take the credit or the fall when things happen in your child’s life, so when something goes wrong, you are always the fall guy. On the upside, however, when things go right, you also get the credit.
2. Dealing with the Financial Strain. Raising a child or children on just one income is no easy task. Oftentimes, single parents find themselves working more than one job in order to support themselves and their children, even with child support from their ex.
3. No Breaks. As a single parent, you can’t let your spouse watch your kids while you take some “me” time. It’s you and the kids, all the time. Even if you have family that can watch the kids while you take a break, that usually takes time to arrange.
4. Being Alone. Even if you and your spouse didn’t get along, you miss having someone by your side. When you are the only parent in the house, you have to play the role of both parents, reminding you that you used to have someone else there with you.
5. Watching Your Child Experience Loss. One of the worst things to experience is watching your child come to terms with his or her father or mother no longer being there. All you can do is try your best to fill their loneliness. Watching your kids miss a parent that doesn’t make an effort to be with them is one of the worst things you can experience.

Being a single parent is difficult, but sometimes it is the best decision for your family. If you are getting a divorce and want to come to the best custody arrangement for your children, contact the compassionate Illinois child custody attorneys at Nottage and Ward for a consultation. Call us today at (312) 332-2915.