Single Parenting Support Group
Today being raised by a single parent is not uncommon. About three in ten children live in a single parent home. The most common type of single parent home is one with only a mother. However, single father homes are the fastest growing type of family situation; 60% growth in the last ten years alone.
I recently began dating a wonderful man. He and his son were spending quite a bit of time at my home with me and my three children. We were planning on moving in together. My middle daughter and his son got into an argument and it got out of control, some hitting, and then my daughter pinched and bit his son. She is 11, he is 16. His son took off and went to his grandmother's house. His dad and I weren't at home at the time... after we sorted out where the boy had gone and what had happened we talked to the kids, spent some time talking ourselves, and decided to separate for a little while to let things settle down. My daughter has been having issues at school with insubordination and disrespect and she has been misbehaving at home as well. His son has his own issues as every kid does... I know things are never going to be like the Brady Bunch... but I don't think us separating was a good choice, I'm beginning to think that we are running from our problem rather than facing it head on. Initially I thought that it was the thing to do, putting our kids first and dealing with their issues (getting some counseling, rethinking some of the poor parenting choices we've made, and making changes as needed) but now I'm thinking that we are teaching our kids that running away from a problem is a way to deal with it. And we don't appear as a united front, setting the principle that it is totally ok for people to split up the minute something unsettling happens... and making it easy for them to put wedges in our relationship in the future... I was able to share a little of my thoughts with my boyfriend but haven't gotten a chance to really get into it with him. Any one got any insight to share on this???
-
My day...today...misplaced my debit card...didn't realize it until I got to the register after shopping to a full cart. Used a different debit card and pulled apart everything looking for missing debit card before I left parking lot. Got home, dropped keys. So now I have a missing debit card, missing keys. A full cartload to unload and put away. I got everything put away.Dumped purse for a...
-
I don't really know how to label this but I having a rough week and I can't say it's one thing.... I have a lot on my plate which is nothing new and I try to cope in many positive ways and do but I still have my moments.My kids more so my daughters talk to me about everything which I know it's cause of comfort and we are close.... however I really struggle with the venting about their dad which...
As for the boyfriend... his son decided it would be cool to skip five days of school. His dad has to leave before he gets on the bus... I haven't heard anymore about what has come of the incident, but I surely hope he gets it taken care of...
As for our "relationship"... I'm l feeling a bit abandoned and rejected. We texted a bit yesterday. I had asked him if his offer to fix my car was still good because I purchased the part I needed. He said he was going to be very busy at work all week and his back was bothering him again... I haven't heard from him since and I deleted his number from my phone to avoid the temptation of contacting him. I want to just let things be for now, even though I feel a loss for his attention. I'm sitting back and letting him sort out his end...
I finally got a handle on my run away emotions and have intensively begun renovating the ways I parent my children. I don't want to change everything all at once... It would be nearly impossible... but I am working on choosing words that discipline with out damaging... and making sure after I have corrected behavior, they understand what they did wrong and why it was wrong. Saying NO and meaning it, walking away from the one vying for negative attention... I'll either get things straight or end up in the nut farm trying...