Single parenting is no longer a taboo subject or something to be ashamed of because our society has accepted, and even celebrated, single parents like they are supposed to. Although society has become more supportive of single parents, not enough is being said about respecting them. Here is how you can improve your social etiquette with our list of things you should never say to a single parent.
Where is the father/mother?
If they want you to know where the father of their child is, they will tell you without you having to enquire. Sometimes children are born out of extramarital relationships, rape or parents pass away, and that is not something to be discussed casually around crowds.
Who’s going to marry you with all those kids?
It is the 21st century – an era where both men and women are more sexually liberated – and because of that if you’re going to expect your perfect partner to be without any sexual experience or a child, then you’re in for a long wait. People need to understand that not all single parents want to get married, but they love being parents, and make good parents too. Therefore, if you truly love someone, the number of children they have should not be an issue. It might be a stumbling block, but it definitely won’t hinder their commitment to you.
Why didn’t you use contraceptives?
Firstly, contraceptives are not 100% effective, as many women will tell you. Condoms break, pills are sometimes ineffective and that is the reality of life. If you’re meant to be a parent at a certain point in your life, it will happen no matter what contraceptives you use. Secondly, another human being’s sex life and sexual education shouldn’t be your business, unless you’re their parent.
I feel so sorry for you
Why on earth would you feel sorry for someone blessed with the beautiful experience of being a parent? If they don’t come to you crying every two seconds about their situation, then it probably means they have made peace with it – and enjoy it too. Most people raised by single parents turned out just fine; so to feel sorry for someone because they are unmarried and raising a child is such an outdated thing.
Maybe their acting out because they don’t have a mother/father figure
Children misbehave for a lot of reasons, so assuming a child is acting in a certain way because they only have one parent in their life is just plain narrow-minded and unfair to the parent because it implies that their role as a parent isn’t as substantial.
