At the age of twenty-seven Nisha was a vice president in a multinational company. She was very pleased with her career graph and was content with her professional success but somewhere inside her there seemed to be a void. She loved having children but didn’t believe in the institution of marriage. Since she was financially well settled she decided to try adopting a baby. After a year of legal formalities and patient waiting she could finally adopt Tia, her four year old baby.
Samara and her husband had a two year old boy, Vivaan. After his birth Samara could see her husband’s disinterest towards them, increasing with each passing day. She had heard of his alleged affair with his office colleague but had brushed it off as a rumor. After all, theirs was a love marriage and she was still deeply in love with him. But one day she received a divorce notice from her husband and that was when reality struck her.
Single parenting is quite a challenge. In India, a woman as a single parent is not a status easily accepted by society. But when life puts you to it, it is better to prepare yourself, than to be overwhelmed by the enormity of the situation.
Here are a few pointers on how to be a successful single parent:
Grieve/Accept And Move On:
Like any unplanned situation in life, give yourself a little time to get a grip of your position. Do not blame yourself, or your child for the situation. Try talking to your confidante, or write it down in your personal diary. This helps in the healing process and brings you to get to the threshold of ‘moving on’.
Be Available To Your Children:
Depending on the age of your kids, try communicating and reassuring them that everything will be fine, and that you are there for them. Children need to feel secure, loved and protected. You should be strong and confident enough to convince your child of giving her/him that nurturing environment all by yourself.
Analyze Your Financial Status:
This is a very crucial step in the process of settling down in the new situation. Prepare a monthly budget, plan for an emergency fund, and set aside a small amount as savings. Having financial independence is a big boost in this situation.
