21/03/2025
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18RppAXXG7/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Today is for you.
For the parent who wakes up in the dark, before the world stirs, before anyone sees the quiet strength it takes to rise and do it all over again. The one who moves through the day like clockwork, juggling breakfast and school runs, work calls and washing piles, tantrums and homework, feeling the weight of it all but carrying it anyway because there is no one else to share the load. The one who wonders if anyone truly sees them, if anyone realises how much they do, how much they give, how much of themselves they have poured into this life. Today, know this. We see you. We know. And what you do every single day is nothing short of extraordinary.
For the parent who never expected this journey, who thought they’d have a partner by their side, a team, someone to lean on when the weight got too heavy. The one who had to adjust to empty spaces at the dinner table, to signing birthday cards alone, to being the only one in the audience at school plays, clapping that little bit louder to make up for it. The one who has had to hold it all together when they wanted to fall apart, to be strong even when their heart ached, to push forward even when every part of them wanted to stop. And yet, here you are, still standing, still showing up, still giving your child a love so fierce that nothing—not loss, not change, not hardship—could ever take it away. That is strength. That is love. That is you.
For the parent who left, who walked away not because they wanted to, but because they had to. The one who made a choice that felt impossible, but knew deep down that staying was no longer an option. The one who has lain awake at night questioning if they did the right thing, if their child will understand, if the road ahead will ever feel less lonely. Look at how far you have come. Look at the life you are building. Look at the peace that has replaced the pain, the freedom that has replaced the fear. You did what so many could not. You put your child first. You chose a future where they could grow without walking on eggshells, where they could laugh without hesitation, where they could see a parent who is not just surviving, but thriving. And if you are not quite thriving yet, if you are still finding your way, still picking up the pieces, know that you are moving in the right direction. Step by step, day by day, you are getting there. And one day soon, you will look back and realise that the hardest thing you ever did was also the most powerful.
For the one who co-parents, balancing a world of handovers and compromises, of messages that need to be carefully worded, of schedules that never quite align. The one who waves their child off, keeping a smile fixed in place until they are out of sight, before closing the door on the quiet, on the stillness, on the ache that never fully goes away. The one who makes the most of the moments they do have, cramming a week’s worth of love into a weekend, holding onto bedtime stories and long hugs, because every second counts. The one who sometimes feels like half a parent, like they are missing out, like they are not enough. You are not half of anything. You are whole. You are everything your child needs you to be. The time you have with them is not measured in days or hours, but in love. And that love, your love, is what will stay with them, always.
For the one who chose this, who knew deep in their heart that they had more than enough love to give on their own. The one who sat in waiting rooms, filled out forms, stood strong in the face of those who questioned, who doubted, who didn’t understand. The one who faced every challenge alone, but never let their child feel it. The one who proves, every single day, that family is not about numbers, but about love, about commitment, about the unwavering promise to show up, always. You have built something incredible, something whole, something that is yours. And that is more than enough.
For the parent who lost, who did not choose this path, but had it chosen for them. The one who carries both their own grief and their child’s, who answers questions with a lump in their throat, who finds themselves reaching for a hand that is no longer there. The one who keeps going, not because it is easy, but because they must. The one who has learned how to be both, to hold twice as much, to love twice as hard. And though there are days when the weight of it all feels unbearable, look at what you have done. Look at the love that surrounds your child, at the strength they are learning from you, at the way they still smile because they have you. If you ever wonder whether you are enough, know that in their eyes, you are everything.
For the one who doubts. The one who looks at other families and wonders if their child will notice what is missing. The one who questions if they are doing enough, if they are being enough, if they are giving enough. The one who carries guilt like a second skin, who hears the whispers of a world that does not always value single parents, who feels the weight of expectations that were never meant to be carried alone. You are doing enough. You are enough. Your child does not measure love in money, in presents, in things. They measure it in the way you show up, in the way you make them feel safe, in the way they know, without a shadow of a doubt, that they are loved. That is what matters. That is what they will remember.
Single parenting is not a sign of failure. It is not a story of struggle, of brokenness, of loss. It is a story of strength. Of resilience. Of love in its purest form. You have built something from nothing. You have faced storms and come out the other side. You have done the impossible, over and over again, without even realising it.
So today, stand tall. Be proud. Celebrate not just the journey, but you. The love you give, the sacrifices you make, the sheer force of will it takes to do what you do. This is not just another day. This is your day. A day to recognise all that you are, all that you have done, all that you will continue to do.
And if today feels heavy, if you are still in the thick of it, if you cannot yet see the other side, know this, there is hope. There is light. There is a future ahead where the struggle lessens, where the pieces come together, where you look back and see just how incredible you are. Because you are. You always have been. You always will be.
You are building something extraordinary, brick by brick, even when you feel like you’re barely holding it all together. Each small victory, each moment where you keep going despite it all, is a testament to your strength, your courage, and your commitment. Those quiet, unseen moments, the ones when you stay up late to finish a task that feels endless, when you push through exhaustion to keep your family’s world turning, when you do it with a smile even though inside you’re broken, those are the moments that truly define you. And in the face of all of it, you still manage to create joy, to build memories, to give love. This is your power, this is your legacy.
There is no roadmap for what you’re doing, no perfect guide to navigate the tough days and the tough choices. But you do it anyway. You face the unknown with a heart full of hope, even when the future feels uncertain. You trust that things will get better, that there are brighter days ahead, even when today feels impossibly hard. And in those moments, you are teaching your child resilience, you are showing them what it means to rise, to overcome, to never give up. You are showing them how to be strong, how to love even when it’s difficult, how to keep going, no matter the odds.
You’ve sacrificed more than anyone could ever truly understand, but your sacrifices have shaped your child in ways they will never be able to express. In the quiet moments, when you feel worn out, when you wonder if it’s worth it, remember that every ounce of energy you’ve poured into your family is an investment in a future where your child will thrive, where they will stand tall, knowing they are loved and valued. Your efforts, your love, your persistence will ripple through their life forever.
In those moments when everything feels impossible, when you feel like you’re sinking, when you wonder if you’ve failed, take a step back and look at what you’ve already done. You are a warrior. You are doing something that takes more courage and strength than most people will ever comprehend. There’s no manual for raising children alone, no blueprint for navigating the complexities of single parenting, and yet you continue to do it. You do it because you love fiercely, because you want to give your child the best possible chance at happiness, and because, at the end of the day, you know that everything you’ve done, every sacrifice, every challenge, every tear, every smile, has been worth it.
