While I think all parents strive to achieve a sense of balance between work and financial obligations and family life—I think the challenge can be even more acute for single parents. Our kids need us, but we also need to pay attention to our work and “fundraising” efforts too. We already feel the pressure to be providers and we also feel the pressure to be a great parent—how can we achieve balance and make sure we pay plenty of attention to both?
Whoever said “Money isn’t everything” was probably not a single parent. The financial pressures of being a one adult, one income family can be extreme, to say the very least. But, so can the pressures to make sure we give our children plenty of attention and personal time. There are those of us who may work more than one job, or have jobs that require longer hours and travel and this can make the pull between family and finances even tighter.
I can only speak from personal experience, and I know that this is not an easy dilemma to solve. For me, starting my own business and manifesting more flexible work has helped. I also made peace with the fact that my family is a priority. Even if I get grief from my kids about what we don’t have in terms of possessions and acquisitions, I believe that making myself available and keeping the work hours in check is more important. I have faith that the relationships and the attention I have been committed to with my kids will pay off in the long run. But, that was something I had to choose and come to terms with on my own. Another single parent may feel the financial pressures in a different way.
The important thing, I think, is to keep working at achieving that balance of sorts—it isn’t easy, of course, but it is one of the chief challenges of the single parent—we need to provide for our families and “make a living” but we need to be real, involved, loving presences in our kids’ lives as well.
Also: Single Parents and Budgeting–Don’t Give in to Peer Pressure
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