Hang in there, my friend – a poem to the single parent

Hang in there, my friend.

The days are long

The years are short.

You can get through it all you know you can because you have to,

You’re the strong one, you’re the support.

Some days you feel sad because you think you’re a shit parent.

That’s it – you’re bad…

But NO you aren’t at all, stand up stand tall!

Hang in there, my friend.

When your child succeeds you get to experience the joy all for you,

You did this you got them through!

They are happy,

They are clean,

They are fed.

And yes, lets not lie we count the time, the minutes and the hours til we can get them to bed!

Bed time gets stretched out for quite a while as they plead in denial about their sleepy heads.

Hang in there, my friend.

You didn’t plan on being a single parent but you have to deal with the cards you are dealt the best way you can.

See the positive – you have your very own clan!

You see the eyes of pity, perhaps a tinge of sadness the moment you mention “I’m a single parent”

Why should this be when just because you’re a single parent doesn’t mean you can’t be a success.

Ok, kids aren’t easy, they can be a stress.

In the end, you’re the only one who can give your children a happy parent who loves life!

A life without fear, worry or strife.

Hang in there my friend.

Parents, single or not, put a lot of pressure on themselves trying to balance it all.

It’s never going to be 100% balanced, the sooner you know this, the sooner you can relieve some of the pressure you put on yourself, no matter how small.

As they say “Being a single parent is twice the work, twice the stress and twice the tears but also twice the hugs, twice the love and twice the pride.”

You’ve got this just take it in your stride.

A single parent tries when things are hard and they never give up.

Because that’s the job for their little cub/s!

A single parent believes in their family, even when things are tough and they know that above all things… Love is more than enough. 

Hang in there my friend.

Parents don’t always know what to do or how to do it but are never willing to give up when times get rough.

Remember – with shelter, food and clothes you have more than enough.

Remember – that beauty of having your own children isn’t in the perfect photos we show the world,

Remember – the beauty is in the folds and creases of our lives – of your lives – whether it’s bent or curled.

The tantrums, time outs and tears and throw ups.

The firsts, the lessons, the doctors check ups.

Parenting has no rules and it’s a tough job, and even when they’re grown you’ll be a parent til the end.

Hang in there my friend.