Supermum cartoons

Single Parenting is My Super Power for #FamilySuperPowers

3rd February 2017

Since hearing about npower’s new #FamilySuperPowers campaign to celebrate superpowers parents can have, it’s got me thinking about whether I have any.

#familysuperpowers

Peter Andre has been travelling the country to find out about the many superpowers so many parents possess; From getting twins to feed and sleep at the same time to getting fussy eaters to have a balanced diet.

Many parents are quite humble and would say those things are ‘just what us parents do’ but this has highlighted to me that actually we need to start blowing our own trumpets as this stuff isn’t as easy as it looks!

I spend way too much time focusing on what I get wrong with my parenting that I forget I do get some things right. Sadly I don’t think I’m the only parent that does this.

Being a single parent immediately gives me a negative stigma which I try so hard to disprove because I think single parents are actually incredible.

Single parents have a huge list of superpowers, and I know this because I’ve seen so many people who parent with their partners experience a week without their partner and they’re suddenly full of respect for what I do.

So single parenting is my super power.

I make all of the rules and I have to enforce them alone.

I looked after him alone when he was a baby and a toddler, meaning no breaks to even pee or shower in peace, and I’m still here to tell the tale.

I had no lone time until he went to sleep, and that was spent working instead of resting.

For the first three years of his life I parented him alone with no support from his father practically, emotionally or financially. In fact during the first year I managed to do it alone whilst battling depression and anxiety triggered by his father leaving to take drugs and putting us at risk in many ways.

I’ve managed to maintain our home, pay the mortgage, make sure he is clothed, fed and even had holidays all by myself. Strangely I’ve even managed to do all this at times where I’ve had months of not managing to find any work at all because nobody else can do it for me.

I’ve taught him to walk, talk, eat and toilet independently, which is amazing considering you don’t get told how to do any of this when you have a child.

#familysuperpowers

I was there holding him as he was put to sleep at two years old for serious heart surgery, and I was there to hold his hand when he woke up.

I’ve never given up on him even when times have got so tough and I’ve felt unable to cope. I may want to quit sometimes but I never do.

It was me who found him a nursery and school and echoed their routines and education at home.

I role model ways he should (and shouldn’t) deal with situations. I’ve even worked hard to integrate his father back into his life and dealt with a lot of the emotional guilt and stress during times he hasn’t been in his life – I owned it because I knew he wasn’t stable enough to be in his life, and I put those boundaries in until he had spent enough time living independently without drugs and alcohol to show me he was ready to try parenting.

It was a risk, knowing I could be hated for that time Chunk didn’t get to see his dad, but for his protection it had to be done and they have a bond like he was always there now which is all that matters.

And despite all of the stereotypes of what he could be and how he could act due to being from a ‘broken home’ he doesn’t display any of it. He’s bright, excelled all of his developmental milestones at every stage, is confident and is growing the empathy I hoped he would.

So yes, rather than be hard on myself I am going to instead celebrate what I have achieved. Yes I still have a lot to learn and I still get lots wrong, but that doesn’t take away the good things I have achieved, all by myself.

You can share your own super powers via www.familysuperpowers.com or on Twitter using #familysuperpowers, and be in with a chance of winning one of three amazing UK theme park resort breaks.

                                                                     

I am a member of the Mumsnet Bloggers Panel, a group of parent bloggers who have volunteered to review products, services, events and brands for Mumsnet. I have not paid for the product or to attend an event. I have editorial control and retain full editorial integrity.

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Prev Post Next Post