I have written about how we can be advocates, role models and mentors for other single parents and single parent families; and how we can advocate for single parent families in general. But, many of us would love to have a mentor of our own—or at least have some place to go for encouragement and inspiration that we don’t have to conjure up ourselves.
Most of the time, I can pretty much manage things myself, but occasionally, I really need a boost or a blast of inspiration from someone or something else. It has been well-documented that single parents can be prone to isolation and feeling like typical groups and people just don’t get what the life of a single parent family is like. Alas, inspiration and encouragement generally don’t show up on the doorstep so we actually have to go out there and find what we need to keep our energy up and help us continue feeling good about our roles as single parents.
As an avid reader, I can get a great deal of inspiration from books and articles. Sometimes an unrushed trip to the library or the bookstore is just what I need to rekindle my energy and sense of confidence. I have found it helps me to discover new ways of thinking and going about things in order to stay motivated—so I look for new books by new authors, or search the parenting section for things that strike my eye.
A nice chat with a loyal and trusted friend can help, but so can a conversation with a complete stranger. I have been surprised how telling an abbreviated version of my family “story” to a kindly stranger on a bus, waiting on line, or at a party or networking event can open me up to a new person’s insight. Getting out in the world and simply letting yourself relax and interact with people can be a great way to gain inspiration too.
Consider a class, group, joining a committee or board, or even just an evening out at the symphony or some other form of performing arts (not the movies though!)—you might be surprised at all the places inspiration for your life can come from, if only you will let it in!