BellaOnline Forums Family Single Parents Toughest Aspect of Single Parenting

Despite the fact that your youngest will be heading 100 miles away to college, I can almost guarantee you that you will be needed...and for more than just money. It may feel like they are all grown up and I agree that it is scary, especially the part where we, as parents, wonder what our role is now. But there is no doubt in my mind that they will continue, probably even increase, the amount of questions they ask and advice they request in the future. We cannot protect them the way we used to when they were younger, but we can still influence. Your time as a parent is not done yet! (((Hugs)))

For me so far it has been being on duty all the time. My daughter doesn't see her Father at all, his choice. So I am the only one responsible. There have been times when I wish I could have time to repair all on my own. There have been times when I have been sick and only had my daughter to help me. Those are very hard times for me. Thankfully there have not been too many of them. I imagine though how much easier it would be if I had someone to lean on.

As your daughter meets and passes each milestone, remember her success is directly related to the fact YOU were on duty all the time. It's all worth it in the end. If her father is capable of walking away, he's done both of you a favor by doing it sooner rather than later. You are a strong mother. Look at how much you have already overcome.

I raised 3 children by my self, and a grandson. threw the good, the bad, and the ugly times. all single parents need a pat on the back. and i would do it all over agin (single)

I totally agree, she is not missing anything where he is concerned, except alot of heart break, he did us a favor really.

I will never forget one time when my daughter was little. She took her diaper off and smeared poop all over her room, she dismantled her bed, sprayed baby powder all over, I had the baby moniter on but was taking a nap and didn't hear anything. We were both asleep or so I thought. I remember sitting on the couch after I had gotten her out of the room and cleaned her up, that if her Father had been in the house, I would have presented him with his daughter and a tour of the room and walked out for the rest of the day. I just sat on the couch and cried, I was so overwhelmed.

Of course then I had to clean up her room. I found a way to keep her from taking off her diaper, I used a tape gun and put the packing tape on the top of the diaper, over the tabs and made it meet in the back. Once my daughter learned how to get out of the crib, I had to make alot of changes, not the least of which was getting rid of the crib and getting her into a toddler bed.

Luckily the times I feel overwhelmed now don't involve feces on the wall, bed, carpet etc. anymore.

I can relate to the poopy business. I can tell you from my experience, there will come a day when you laugh about even those days. What I see from your description of the event, you must have handled it in a positive manner despite wishing you didn't have to. Had he been there, it quite possibly could have turned out negatively for your daughter. Who knows? I'm afraid to say though, as you go thru the teens there may come a day you wish it was poop you were facing. Regardless, enjoy your journey. It passes faster than it seems!

The hardest thing for me is trying not to panic, not be too forceful, and to always be uplifting.

Currently, I have one. But if they symptoms are correct, that may change...