Single Parenting of Teens - Parenting Without A Partner

Bringing up our children alone, contending with the emotional conflicts of divorce, never-married, separation or widowhood is not a task to be underestimated. Feelings of doubt, regret, guilt, inadequacy prevail. Constant worry about support, financial and other provisional considerations are ever-present in the mind of the single parent. Statistics in the US shows single-mother families increased from 3 million in 1970 to 10 million in 2003, while the number of single-father families grew from less than half a million to 2 million.

The good news is whatever the situational factors or cause of a one-parent family context, you can be successful at single parenting of teens, raising well-adjusted children and having a happy, tranquil home environment and thrive as a competent and self-confident parent. Very important to remember though is that being a single parent does not mean you have to take the place and role of two people It is not about being mother and father. You have to be the best person, parent you can be to your teens who ask for nothing more or less.

Empowering factors for single parents are: optimistic attitudes about themselves and the future, a support network with reliable, caring people to turn to for support and in times of emergencies like friendly neighbors and caring teachers ensuring open two-way channels of communication, what is casually referred to as “me” time or opportunity for self and to relax, agreeable, supportive relationships with family and former partner with special attention to firm rules, consistency in values, standards and agreement on discipline for their children, financial and job security, reliable child care and knowledge about where and a willingness to reach out and go for help when required.

Some cases of outright rebellion and non-acceptance of the new or their unique one-parent family situation might cause teenagers to act out, feel alienated, become unreasonably demanding, defiant, disrespectful and/or disruptive and manipulative – single parents can try to offset the extra stressors that come with a single-parent household by intentionally establishing stability, security and a loving home.