Being a single mother can be tough, but you must know that you are not alone in it. According to the stats, 101.3 million women live as single mums of their kids.
Similarly, being a single father has its own set of challenges. Societal pressure and expectations might differ for both genders, but the pain remains the same.
My heart goes out to you if you are raising your son alone. Here are some key challenges you need to understand to combat the situation better.
Challenges Faced by Single Mothers
Disrupted Work-Life Balance
Managing a house (or daycare if you have toddlers), work, logistics, and the upbringing of kids are tough for single mums. From daily small chores like doing laundry to paying bills and home rent, mothers alone often feel burnt out.
Ignoring Self-Care
Due to excessive work and responsibilities, they neglect their own health and mind. They don’t take optimal rest or go out for themselves, even for a day. The medical appointments and school drop-offs left them with no energy.
Serious Financial Strain
Especially if a single mother is not well-educated or has a low-paying job with additional expenses, it gets challenging to manage a home.
Everything from groceries, bills, and house rent to the baby’s toys and books, she has to bear everything. It causes her stress and anxiety.
Loneliness and Isolation
Isolation slowly creeps into the personality of a single mother seamlessly. Absence of a partner to share parenting burdens or emotional struggles makes her weak.
Small gestures like matching mother-daughter tattoos can become a symbol of strength and connection, especially when romantic relationships or friendships take a backseat due to limited time or opportunity.
Lack of Support From Society
Single mothers often face compounded challenges due to institutional neglect, where essential systems like healthcare, education, and housing fail to address their specific needs.
Challenges Faced by Single Fathers
Even single fathers often face serious challenges in terms of emotional connection, childcare support, and societal acceptance.
Limited Access to Support Systems
There are comparatively fewer support groups for single fathers, as society is not used to seeing men as homemakers.
However, there are still a few community organizations that offer childcare help, financial aid, or emotional support specifically for single fathers.
Logistical Challenges
Fathers find it tough to buy kids’ stuff that only a mom can understand better. Even something as sentimental as choosing matching father-daughter tattoos can feel overwhelming.
On the other hand, societal assumptions that men are less skilled at household tasks can deter offers of help.
Struggle with Dating and Forming New Relationships
Exhaustion from caregiving and work leaves little energy or time for dating. Most of the time, they feel guilty about building a new romantic relationship.
When they start a new life at last, their new partners often face the struggle to adjust to the kids.
Career Sacrifices
Single dads have to make career sacrifices sometimes because their kids need their presence. So, turning down a high-paying job or staying in the same city for a mediocre one becomes their life.
Sometimes they struggle to find jobs that support their busy routines, like school runs or sick days.
Mental Health Struggles
Men already feel ashamed to express their mental health issues. When they handle kids alone, they feel more pressured.
Single fathers have limited resources and mental health programs that help with their emotional needs.
