As a hypothetical situation, Jane Doe is a single mom (or John Doe is a single dad). They have two children from a previous marriage. They get along ok with their ex, but they aren’t friends. It’s the middle of winter in North Dakota, so it’s pretty dang cold. They get their heating bill for this month and it is outrageous. There is no way they can afford to pay it. What should s/he do? Another situation would be it’s the holidays and Jane or John Doe don’t have money to get presents for their children. If they do nothing, it looks like this could be their worst Christmas ever. What should s/he do? Jane or John Doe’s child’s school is closed for a snow day. Their boss tells them they have to come into work, or they will lose their job. They don’t have any day care, because they usually work while their child is in school. What are they going to do?
All of these situations are situations that can and have happened to single parents before, and they can and will happen again. Are some of them extreme? Sure, but what do they all have in common? John or Jane Doe need help. The question is, what will they do. Most single parents are proud, very proud. A lot of them are afraid to ask for help. Some of them wouldn’t know where to go if they needed help. Some just don’t realize that they truly do need help. Whatever the case may be, a lot of single parents don’t ask for help.
You are not a super hero, no one is. We, as single parents, need to learn that it’s not only ok to ask for help, but there are people and places out there who are in existence solely to help. It’s good to be proud. It’s good that you can and do handle things on your own most of the time. You do have to ask for help sometimes though. Everyone does. If you don’t ask for help for the smaller things that you need help with, it will make it that much harder for you to ask for help with the larger things that you truly need help with. Don’t make an awkward situation even more so for yourself. Start asking for help when you need it. Be prepared for the day you may actually need help, and look for and accept it when offered.
Practical Ways To Help a Single Parent Family
Five Situations in which Single Parents SHOULD Ask for Help
Tips for Reaching out for Help