I'm not a single parent, but I have dated a few and seen, first hand, what they deal with.
While not a parent myself I have been involved with these women's kids and learned quite a bit over the years.
From what I can tell is boys are more difficult in younger years due to being more active naturally. Making it harder for the single parent to allow them to burn through their energy. While girls become more difficult closer to the teens years as they tend to start having emotional turmoil as hormones increase, making them more difficult to interact with or understand.
But, as usual, this is a general rule and may not be the case 100% of the time.
I see one of the most common problems with single parents, and it's not always their fault, is lacking time for themselves.
This causes burn out, frustration, short tempers and an overall sense of feeling incomplete as a person. The whole "I'm a mommy 24/7 and nothing else" wears on them because they feel inside they are a multifaceted woman with varying needs that never get met.
And the small break from kids bedtime to their bedtime isn't enough or may he used to do housework.
So if you have options or can find a way to take breaks, go out with friends, etc... take them. Don't neglect yourself. You can't be the best parent possible 24/7 with no breaks. It's not possible.
Anyways not sure if that helped or not but it's something I always encouraged my ex's to do.[/QUOTE
Excellent advice and great perspective. You pegged it.
SavedBG, you're young and he's right. Take time for you on a regular basis. Even if it's just finding quiet time.
I was 25 wit first and going through divorce and 42 with my second. They are like night and day. My 6 year old can run circles all day long and if I dont send her to stay with her sister for a night every now and then...I would lose it. Lol...whatever you do, don't make the mistake to ask God to teach you to have more patience...I found out that's a really hard lesson on top of an already stressful situation!
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