Being a Single Parent

Parenting is undoubtedly a huge responsibility especially when one of the two missing. A single parent; either by separation, divorce or death of a spouse, has to deal with responsibilities additional to stresses and strains. But there are ways to assume this responsibility by overcoming difficulties.

Although the final responsibility is always yours, you should take some refreshing breaks from the routine without feeling guilty. Remember that you are not only father but also a human being, it is important to look after your own needs and have a healthy social life.

A father / single mother has to take the place of the absent parent as far as possible, and never let your bitterness, bad experiences, disgust and anger, infecting the psyche of your child. Make the child understand the importance of friendships and lasting human relationships.

Give your child the proper preparation for you to deal with uncomfortable questions from his friends, and tell the child to never hide the fact that he or she has only one parent. Otherwise you run the risk that the child becomes hypersensitive. Attitudes living situation is all, if the child does not see you with bouts of self-pity and depression, the fact of belonging to a single parent does not disturb your child.

Parents and Sibling Fights

Fights between siblings are necessary steps to achieve social and emotional maturity; however parents should be aware when it are too aggressive and violent, and when occur for inadequate reason.
Parents should always watch carefully the fights among their children, they should actively participate in all altercation occur. Not to separate them, appease them or direct them continuously. It is important that they can solve their own problems without intermediaries. 

They should not ignore disputes and pretending that they did not hear, children should know that their parents care for them but also hope that parents have the maturity to not intervene.

If it is always the same child who start fighting, this indicates that this fight is a help call. Aggression is a wake up call. In principle, parents should consider whether the violence at home is just "kid stuff" or not; and do not forget that children are a mirror of their parents.
 
After that and instead of responding violently, you should talk with the violent child. Never give mixed messages, confusing, derogatory or authoritarian. You should not hit or challenge him, there must be a dialogue.

Through questions, reflections and anecdotes, parents should try to understand the child and help him. If in spite of tolerance and dialogue approach; the child's behavior does not change, then it is advisable to seek for professional guidance so that together, the family and the specialist will assist the child to overcome violence.