There are times when we would all like to throw our spouse overboard. But no matter how imperfect your spouse is as a parent, most single moms (and dads) would tell you to appreciate the fact that you have help and support in the parenting game. After listening to lots of single parents and the challenges they face, I realize it’s a great privilege to have someone to tag-team with when parenting is overwhelming! Being partners in parenting is actually a wonderful thing.
So here are some things you might have overlooked in your co-parent that you can be thankful for…
1. You can actually leave the house after work/bedtime.
One single mom told me that it’s the little things that you miss when you’re the only adult in the house, like being able to run to the grocery store or Target after the kids go to bed.
2. You have someone to share the anxieties with.
Parenting brings out self-doubt and worry like nothing else. What if you make the wrong decision? How will we pay for college? Is he/she really ready to take on that responsibility? Now imagine that you had no one to share the responsibility of answering all of those questions with, or even to share your fears with.
3. You have help making ends meet.
Most single parents struggle with a double-whammy: one income, and increased expenses for things like childcare and after-school care. Even if you’re a single-career family, having both partners present makes the financial end of parenting work more naturally.
4. You have back-up.
When your child is acting out or rebelling against your authority, it’s a wonderful thing to be able to call in the reinforcements from time to time. {Tweet This} Having two parents who present a united front when it comes to matters of obedience and respect is crucial for kids, and it’s important to your parenting sanity, too. When a single mom makes a rule, she has to be responsible for every ounce of enforcement, as well.
