Divorce & the negatives of Single Parenting

Living with one parent is the inevitable fallout for children of divorced parents. Life can be stressful in a single-parent household, both for adults and children. The single parent typically faces a change in living conditions, reduction in total family income, loneliness, and insecurity about bringing up the child alone without help.

Studies show that kids who live with both their parents tend to fare better emotionally and academically than children living with one parent.

Read : The 7 tips to becoming a Successful Single Parent

Struggles a single parent faces can be related to:

Employment

Single parents who had not been employed prior to the divorce can face many problems when seeking employment, including lack of skills, stigmatization by employers, and the strain of handling work-life commitments.

Handling misbehaviour of children

The single parent is the one who has to handle the day-to-day care of the child apart from being the only 'disciplinarian.' This can make the single parent the 'bad parent' and the child is likely to misbehave with the 'bad parent' than the one who lives separately.

Exercising parental authority also is not easy for many single dads and moms who might be afraid of losing their child's affections. Single parents can also be too tired to play enforcer after a hectic day's work, leading to behavioural problems in kids.

Making all the decisions

Single parents often struggle with making all the tough decisions related to the child alone. These decisions can range from the school the child goes to or when the child can be given a new responsibility or privilege. The emotional burden of having to make all the decisions can be exhausting for the parent.

No time

The demands of child-raising, earning income, and housework can leave little time for single parents to look after themselves. A lonely parent can also cling to the child for emotional support, making it difficult for the child to become independent.

Children can face numerous issues as well when their parents divorce and they have to live with one parent. Studies show divorce itself can have a long-term negative impact on children in all areas of their lives ranging from poor academic performance, lower-paying jobs, and trouble maintaining relationships. When single parents involve their kids in their marital conflicts, it can add to the child's stress.

While being a single parent is emotionally and financially challenging, there are ways to turn it into a positive experience. Making time for self-care, communicating honestly with kids, delegating responsibilities are some ways to overcome the negative impact of single parenting. Specialist divorce lawyers guide single parents on making their divorce as amicable as possible while protecting the parent's and their children's interests.