Being a Single Parent (Being a Parent)

Member Name: starfish2000

Product:	Being a Parent
Date:	14/10/00 (101 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: you can do it all your own way

Disadvantages: it's hard and lonely

The phrase 'Single Parent' usually throws up images of irresponsible teenagers who don't know who the father of their child is and other negative stereotypes, most single parents I know are nothing like that, me included.
I spent the last three years living and working abroad where I had a boyfriend. When I got pregnant I decided to return to England to have the baby, my boyfriend couldn't come with me, so although we're still together, we're not together, so technically right now I'm a single mum.
When I was deciding whether or not to come back to England and go through the pregnancy, birth and raising a small baby alone I thought about all the practical kinds of things, could I afford it? Where would I live? What would I need to buy? Could i give the baby all it needed? Could I cope with a baby alone? Those were the easy things, what I didn't realise is how hard it would be emotionally.

Going through a pregnancy, birth and having a small baby alone can be a very lonely time. The waiting room at the hospital is full of pregnant couples, antenatal classes are full of couples, all the books talk about the role of the father. It was so hard going through such an emotional time with noone to share the happy or sad moments with, knowing that there was noone else there who could put their hand on my bump and feel the same way I did when the baby kicked. After 18 hours of labour there was no man to hold my hand and tell me he loved me, to share that magical moment and love that baby as much as I do.
I can give my baby all that she wants and needs and I have more than enough love for her. Practically, bringing up a baby alone is not that difficult, it gets frustrating when you have no husband to get up for a change during the night or to answer the door while you're bathing the baby but those aren't the hard things, it's how lonely it makes you feel that's hard, surrounded by happy couples, with a be
autiful baby but noone to share it with.

Appreciate your partner, go now and give him or her a big kiss and a hug and say thankyou, because however much of a pain in the arse he or she may be at times, be grateful you have someone to share your children with and there's someone else who loves tham as much as you do.

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