Tag Archives: loneliness

Facing a Marriage Crisis

In a previous article I wrote about how alone I’ve felt lately. It’s to the point where I’m asking, “What’s the point of this relationship? Mostly he’s good to me, yes –when he’s available. And once in a while he does incredibly thoughtful things like how he did when he welcomed my mom. But the job is all-consuming anymore and he rarely has time for me. Not even when it’s serious stuff like it has been with my mom. And I don’t know if it really has to be that way, or if he’s using work as an excuse to … Continue reading →

TV’s in Children’s Bedrooms (2)

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I observed firsthand the problems of having TV’s in children’s bedrooms back when my daughter was in elementary school. One of the girls in her Year 4 class had one in her bedroom and she was the envy of her peers. Naturally this girl boasted about her new-found televisual independence and I’m sure there were cries of “I want one, too!” in more than our household. When I found out this girl’s older sister in Year 8 also had her own TV, as well as her younger brother in Year 3, it became almost like a scientific experiment for me. … Continue reading →

When You Miss Your Kids

We often talk about how to cope with the demands of all the time constraints and responsibilities of single parenthood, but for many of us there are those times when our children are not with us. Whether we have to let them go for a weekend, a week or several months, dealing with the ache of missing our kids can be incredibly tough for a single parent… When I was first divorced, I found being away from my kids for more than a day to be extremely hard. I had spent so much time as the primary parent and my … Continue reading →

You Don’t Have to Stay Busy All the Time to Keep From Feeling Alone

While some of us single parents have a hard time getting the confidence and energy to go out and get involved in the world; to pursue interests and activities on our own—there are others of us who stay super busy; we have to keep every night and every moment full so we won’t have to feel alone. I cannot help but think that if you are staying so busy you never get to feel and be alone, you are missing out on one of the great personal growth opportunities of single parenthood. Learning how to feel comfortable in one’s own … Continue reading →

Update: 8th Grader Who Shot Himself Dies

A sad ending to an earlier blog concerning the 8th grader who shot himself in the head on Monday. Unfortunately, he died at the hospital Tuesday where he had been on life support in the pediatric intensive care unit. His suicide came as a shock to his family, friends and teachers. Everyone described him as being easy going and happy-go-lucky. However, he obviously had planned to kill himself because he left a message on his myspace.com site. An avid sportsman, he played baseball, basketball and football. He came from a close and loving family, which is why the family is … Continue reading →

8th Grader Attempts Suicide

I sit writing this blog with tears in my eyes. When I turned on the TV to watch the local mid-day news the main story was about a 13-year-old boy who attempted to kill himself this morning. His parents had just dropped him off at school and had no idea he was suffering from the type of depression that would make him take a gun and try to blow his brains out. He was found in a seated position behind the school’s gym with a small handgun resting beside him. As of this writing, he’s in critical condition. Two years … Continue reading →

Reassuring a Suicidal Person

In our continuing series on suicide, we look today at how to give reassurance, information, and hope to a person at risk of suicide. Suicide claims the lives of tens of thousands of Americans each year, and victims are of both genders, and come from a multitude of backgrounds. Certainly success and money are no insurance against the depression and anxiety that predates suicidal thoughts and actions. Once the crisis point has passed, (see links below for how to help a suicidal person), it is important to provide ongoing support for your friend or family member who has expressed suicidal … Continue reading →

Talking to a Suicidal Person

Dealing with a person who is having suicidal thoughts is thankfully not something we have to deal with every day. Consequently few of us are prepared should such a situation arise. In How to Help a Suicidal Person (1) and (2), we looked at ways to address the immediate situation of dealing with an at-risk person. Today we look at further themes in helping a distressed person. Listen non-judgmentally In dealing with a potentially suicidal person, respect is paramount. To reach a point of thinking about ending one’s own life, the person has lost respect for themselves, so they most … Continue reading →

Let’s Talk About Loneliness

One of the main reasons single parents get in such a hurry to date is that we have to contend with loneliness. We think that if we find someone to partner with, we won’t have to face those lonely nights or make big decisions all by ourselves. Someone once told me that loneliness isn’t really a longing for someone else, but a longing to get in touch with one’s own self. Single parenthood can offer us the opportunity to do that–and learn all sorts of amazing things about ourselves while we are at it. I am one of those people … Continue reading →

Trouble for Tenors

I am not much of an opera fan. That is to say, I am not an opera fan at all, but I can appreciate a great voice. One of those great voices just passed away and there are speculations that another one is seriously ill. World class tenor Jerry Hadley died today, a week after he attempted suicide. He was found unconscious last week in his Clinton Corners home after shooting himself with a air rifle. The 55-year-old had been on life support, but was removed from it two days ago. Hadley had a reputation for taking on demanding work, … Continue reading →