Overcoming the Challenges of Single Parenthood

By Dorothy Ukome

The book Overcoming the challenges of single parenthood tells us that sole parenting can be rewarding though it is difficult. The parent will play the role of both father and mother to the children. There are also household chores to be done. The parent should have a job or business that provides income for the family, and will be responsible for taking care of the emotional needs of the children. Being a sole parent means that you have to juggle between all the tasks that you have to do at home and at the work place.To overcome this challenge it tells us of the time management skill. This encourages us to manage time effectively to free up time inspite of the busy schedule to take care of ourselves to be strong for the children. It also means stress free and organised life. There will be more time to spend with the children and do things that are important to us. Things like reading and physical exercise. There will still be time to relax.The book advises parents to make effort to understand their children. To know their strengths and weaknesses so that they can help them individually with whatever problems they bring home. We should show love and communicate with the individual child. Listen to them so that they can confide in us. We should answer their questions truthfully according to their age and understanding. The children need to be disciplined in love so that they will be responsible citizens of their countries.We should say no to violence. Those in abusive relationship should seek help even when it means walking out of the marriage untill both parties have been counselled. The first case study is about a lady banker who was advised to walk out of an abusive relationship. She did so and later went back because she wanted to raise their daughter in a two parent household. She was murdered by her husband who later took his life leaving their daughter orphaned. A waste of two lives. It is better to be a single parent than a dead one.The book tells us to create stable enviroment where children will feel safe and happy. A home where their opions will matter and they will know that they are important to us. when the children have been in an abusive household, it is important to take them for psychological treatment to avoid behavioral attitude that sometimes occur in such situations. We also need to go for anger management treatment to avoid illheath that can lead to poverty.One of the biggest challenges of single parents is that of finance. Single parents do not have double income that most two household families have. The book shows how good financial planning can prevent poverty. It tells us that we can prevent poverty by spending wisely, making sure we have adequate income and how to build savings. We can also have good investments where possible.The book encourages us to take take good care and improve ourselves as parents so that the children will know that they can depend on us. We should also be good role model to them because it is easier for them to copy us than to do what we say. In doing so we should realise that we are not supper humans. We should learn to accept help where neccessary. We should seek for and accept support to better cope with the responsibilities and for our emotional well being.It also tells us that we should raise these children with love, patience and understanding to help them be the best they can be for the good of the society they live in, for their contries and the world at large.It tells us to be carefull when looking for life partner. It is important to look before we leap. We should avoid violent people and those who abuse drugs since prevention is better than cure. It is also not easy to change people. We can overcome whatever problem we have when we do not rely on our strength only but believe in the creator of the universe. He will see us through it all.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1480150681
• ISBN13: 9781480150683
• Release Date: January 2013
• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
• Length: 102 Pages
• Weight: 0.46 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.2" x 6.0"