“I demolish my bridges behind me… then there is no choice but to move forward.”– Fridtjof Nansen
Browsing through my Facebook page where many of my friends have joined in with a shared intent of making each day count. My eyes filter out most of the news and negative thoughts shared casually by a few users. I firmly believe that good feelings lead to goodness and vice versa. However something caught my eyes today, one of my friends posted, “trying to juggle with kids and their studies, it’s exhausting! Someday I can’t stop lamenting about the fact that it is unfair that the other parent doesn’t have to do a thing to help raise these children. He isn’t even made to support in the regular financial demands or the household chores, or driving them to classes or even back me up when the children are disrespectful. Children were not meant to be raised by one person!”
I was thinking about the challenges faced by single parents. Around 17.4 million kids are raised by single parents. Reasons are many, marriages are falling out of favor, divorces are rising and the list is endless. Single parenting has many hardships but single parenting is better than unhappy cohabitation.
My friend Donna who has successfully raised 2 of her own children single-handedly says, “It is like living twice, Bob, twice the struggle, twice the fear but also twice the gratification and love.” If you just accept the situation and are willing to push your boundaries you will be amazed at the reward that is waiting for you at the end of the spectrum. Kids become more independent and can take on whatever comes in life. They are ready for challenges. You grow along with your kids. The problem is when we keep staring at the closed door hoping for it to open, we often ignore the windows that are sending in warm sun beams that is enough to sustain you throughout the journey.
It is during this journey I realized that each and every relationship matters and it is not worth depending or counting on your spouse alone for existence. Your proximity becomes your power. So connect with every friend and family member. They know how to give unconditional support. You’ll be surprised.
Desensitize yourself and face whatever come your way with inner strength and let the magic of providence flow towards you. Stay in a state of ecstasy and love and rest will be taken care of and when you find yourself in a dark tunnel keep hoping and moving on because there surely is a way out of it.
Have Faith! God Speed! More courage and love to you!
Cheers! Happy Powerful Single Parents’ Day!
