Struggles of a single mom – it’s never easy but it’s definitely worth it. If you’re raising a child by yourself, you can definitely relate to this story shared by one of our TAP moms.
What can you read in this article?
- The struggles of a single mom
- The hardest part about being a single parent
When a father is not in the picture, the mom, or grandparent often ends up trying to fill the gap in a girl’s life with varying levels of success. That said, being a fatherless daughter doesn’t necessarily mean your child will not gain success in the future.
I am a mother of an 11-year-old child who has been abandoned at an early age. At first, I didn’t have a job and I was merely living my life with my parents.
They were the ones who supported us when her father left. And since our relationship didn’t end up too well, I manage to take care of her by myself. It was hard along the way, thinking about the challenges that I’ve been through.
Struggles of a single mom – leaving my child so we could live
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There was a time when I needed to decide whether to leave and work so I could give her a good future, or stay with her knowing I can’t provide for her needs.
It was heartbreaking, but it was my only chance to prove to the world that I can make everything happen when it comes to my daughter.
So I had to sacrifice. I worked while she was left in the care of her grandparents. In the few months that we were apart, all I did was cry.
Being a single parent is a tough job because you have to do the work of two people. The thought of leaving her is really painful. I usually think of many things while at work, such as how she’s eating, sleeping, and playing.
The worst part is not being present when she’s sick, and missing important milestones like her first day of school. The pains and struggles of not seeing her go to school, watching her learn for the first time, and also looking after her needs would be the saddest of it.
Losing my partner in raising her
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When I was away, I called my child every day to check on her if she’s doing well. It broke my heart to hear her crying every time I called. The one who was on her side to ease her sadness was her grandmother.
So as much as I tried to avoid it, the thought kept creeping up. Why does it have to be my mom who would take all the responsibilities when I know that my child has a father?
If we had his support, it would have been me who is beside her, lifting her up. Leaving my daughter at the early age of 2 was really heartbreaking.
Then the worst thing happened – my mom passed away. It was such a disastrous day for me. Losing her was losing a part of me as well.
With my mom gone, I had decided whether to get my daughter back and let her live with me. It wasn’t an easy decision to make as things were so complicated at that moment.
How could I keep her with me when I am working? How could I continue my job when I know no one will take care of my child? Thinking of those things gave me such despair.
At times like these, I also ask myself, wouldn’t it be nice to have to have someone in my life who will share the pains and the struggles of being a parent, or is it enough that I have her?
Single, but never alone
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There are so many challenges that a mother would encounter, but what is important is to have that faith and courage to live. Because of the struggles I’ve faced as a single mom, I’ve learned to know God in my own way.
It was not an easy path for me to walk, but I remained steadfast on him. I know that God has a reason for everything and that he will not forsake me.
I believe that I am a survivor of life’s challenges. Furthermore, I’m proud of who I am – a single mom who works too hard, and who loves her kid too much to ever stop.
Being a single mom is not a life full of struggles, but a journey for the strong. Who would have thought that I have those superpowers?