Doubt can be a common feeling or emotion regardless of whether you are a single parent or not—but I do think it can be especially challenging for those of us who are single parents. Having lived through some trials and trauma and being forced to cope with some pretty precarious situations can make doubt one of those realities of life that tends to settle in and threaten to stay for the duration. When it comes to sharing and expressing our doubt to our children, however, I think it is healthier for us to learn how to manage it on our own—and not expect our children to be our sounding boards.
There is really nothing wrong with doubt—self-doubt or worrying about what might happen or what has already happened. Of course, we can get paralyzed with too much doubt but it can be quite common for a single parent to have some ordinary doubts. Expecting our children to provide understanding and support for those doubts is not good parenting, however. Our job as parents is to learn how to manage our own insecurities and doubts so that we can be a strong, secure, stabilizing, anchor for our children. Even if we do have worries and doubts, we do not have to share and show that to our kids.
Talk over your doubts and worries and concerns with a trusted friend or family member, write them out in a journal, or consider working with a therapist or counselor to help work through your cares and concerns—whatever you can do to handle your doubts can help you keep from dumping or sharing them with your children and causing added insecurities and worries for them. Chances are, they have plenty of doubts of their own and they need you to help them learn how to release and manage their doubts.