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Being a single parent can be hard. In this day and age, there are so many reasons to be afraid. You may be scared of finances, if your doing the right thing, how your child will be raised, and more. Some single parents chose to become a single parent, some did not. In any case, there are things you should know to help you along the way. And always know that you are not alone.

Some single parents fear that the child will resent themselves for the other parent not being in their life. It is true, some children may feel that, but some also won’t. Explain to the child early on, that it is not the child’s fault or either parent's fault, and the situation was beyond the control of anyone.

Let your child know that even though there is only one parent now, that doesn’t mean that responsibility has lessened. The child may need more comfort than before but he also needs to know that there are rules that still need to be followed.

Single parents, may find in the beginning, that suddenly they have no time for anything! They may find that the house isn’t being cleaned, or that they haven’t been able to do all the work, or finish homework, or even go shopping for food. This is normal! You are taking on the role of a job that another parent would share. Don’t be afraid to ask for a little help from friends or family every now and then. They will understand!

Through this time, your child should interact with children more and be able to open up with friends. Do NOT take an overly possessive role in his life. Its not fair to the child for you to use your emotional feelings on them. It could cause them to feel overwhelmed themselves and would make dealing with the circumstances more difficult in time.

While being an only parent to one or more children, and having to upkeep a place to live and a job, you may tend to forget about someone important: yourself. If your feeling overwhelmed or stressed, ask someone to take the kids for the night to help you relax and enjoy a night out for yourself!

Don’t forget, being a single parent is tough! It takes a lot for one person to manage kids, a job, and household responsibilities. So give yourself credit and admire yourself for the fact that you can do it, and that your children will admire you and love you either way! There are also many other single parents, just like you! Support groups may be offered in your community and if you don’t feel comfortable, there are a lot of sites online that can help you with the support you need.