All parents experienced extremely difficult conditions during the COVID-19 epidemic. Many white-collar workers are now working in remote areas, while schools and daycares have been shut down. People working in critical occupations such as healthcare, retail sales and factories are unable to leave their homes and are looking for childcare.
Single parents are often dealt a tough hand. They often have to look for someone to watch their children while working, if they don’t have daycare or school. They may find it difficult to give their full attention to their work if they have the opportunity to work remotely. Single parents who are essential workers may have a harder time finding someone to take care of their children.
Marioli Sterling, is a social worker who explains how single parents have survived the COVID-19 pandemic. She also offers some tips and hints for parents who are struggling to navigate these new circumstances.
Single Parenthood: The Pressures
Before the coronavirus pandemic, being a single parent was difficult. Parents who are single provide the sole support for their children’s education, comfort, and discipline. Although they may have friends and family who visit occasionally to help, the majority of responsibility for their children lies with them. Single parents felt overwhelmed and stressed even before COVID.
Single parents aren’t able to rely on others to ease the daily pressure. Each night’s wake-up call, every meal and every school day are the responsibility of one parent. Many parents will say they are more financially secure than they were during their marriages. However, many parents agree that their children could benefit from more support.
Lockdown
Many single parents knew that the coronavirus lockdowns would end in March 2020. Within weeks or months, the country would reopen and parents would be able send their children to school or daycare so that they could return to work. It became clearer that the end to the pandemic was possible even sooner than one year. Many single parents felt discouraged and wondered how they would manage their normal daily lives.
Single parents often had to work remotely for 8 hours per day while caring for their children in lockdown. While some employers were more accommodating than others to workers’ needs, many were open to the idea of single parents needing to take some time off.
Remote Learning
Many school districts switched to remote learning when schools closed in 2020’s late winter. Parents of all ages, including single parents, faced many difficulties when learning remotely. Every school-aged child needs an Internet-connected device, such as a laptop. Single parents could not afford the devices so they had to borrow money.
It was essential that children were taught how to use Zoom and other online platforms such as Google Classroom. Single parents found it difficult to help a child learn remotely.
Hybrid Education
Single parents felt relieved when school started again in fall 2020. Many school districts implemented hybrid learning strategies, which allowed students to attend school on a few days per week, and then continue their remote learning during the rest of the week. Single parents did not have to put much pressure on this.
What do Single Parents Do?
A single parent’s position seems impossible considering the circumstances surrounding coronavirus pandemic. Marioli Sterling, a social worker, has some tips and hints that can help single parents navigate the difficult terrain.
Tips to Success as a Single Parent during COVID
1. Acceptance is the first step
Single parents must be able accept that they will not be able cope with the stress of the COVID pandemic. Some of the pressure can be relieved by letting go of certain circumstances.
2. Plan Ahead
Single parents should avoid pessimism. It is possible to plan finances, save money, and consider childcare options. Parents who are single should review their monthly budget to see where they can cut their expenses. A single parent should also ensure that they have enough savings to cover themselves against job losses caused by coronavirus.
3. View Life through the eyes of your child
Single parents can be stressed and overwhelmed. However, it is important to be present in the parenting. Spending as much time as possible with your children and playing with them can strengthen the parent-child relationship and increase their cognitive abilities. Being with your children can be a great distraction or stress reliever.
4. Take time for yourself
Everybody is different in how they approach self-care. A single parent should walk the neighborhood, drink a cup of tea, and read a book. These methods will help them manage anxiety.
5. Get professional help
Professional help may be needed if parents feel depressed, anxious, and hopeless. Unhappy parents can lead to emotional problems in their children. It is important to address this issue as soon as possible. Telehealth visits are offered by many psychiatrists and therapists to reduce the chance of the pandemic spreading.
Hope for Single Parent
It will end, no matter how severe the pandemic is. Life will return to normal one day. Single parents must understand that their children are only young once, and should focus their attention on their parenting.
Marioli Sterling reminds single parents to reach out for support if they need it. Single parents should not suffer in silence. This will make it more difficult for them and their children.
