Chances are, if you are a single parent with more than one child, you often feel the reality of being out-numbered. With one child, you at least often have the 1:1 ration to contend with, but the minute a single parent has more than one, he or she is the minority. And this can take some strength, stubbornness and flexibility…
My three children are pros at “ganging up on mom”—whether it is in an attempt to get me to an order a pizza or a boycott or riot for some other reason—it is seldom, if ever that someone takes my side so that we can have a fair 2:2 battle. Instead, I am the enemy to be taken down, manipulated, or griped at when things are not going the way they would like. The fact of life for a single parent is that we are often the lone benevolent dictator and no, no one is going to take our side!
By now, I am quite used to being the Lone Parent Ranger in my house—every once in a while, when I’m already a bit battered and beaten down by the details of a hard-lived day, I can get weary. I confess, there has also been a time or two that three kids ganging up on me has reduced me to exasperated tears. I’m not proud of it, and I didn’t give in to whatever they were trying to get, but I did break down into an emotional puddle. I don’t care where you live or what the circumstances; three against one just isn’t fair! Don’t even get me started on what happens all those times they are able to suck their father in and get him on their side—oh my.
But we single parents know this—we get how the numbers don’t always work in our favor, that doesn’t mean that we cannot maintain control and learn to be somewhat impervious to the lack of teammates. If we focus on what is best for our kids and our families, and become our own thick-skinned supporter—we can usually stand up to them (no matter how relentless they might get!)
Also: Stubbornness can be Both Good and Bad
Don’t Let Teachers and Administrators Intimidate You