First Post:
There are so many places I could start. Because let’s be honest—when you’re a solo parent and someone asks, “So, how’s everything going?” where do you even begin? And how honest are we, really, when we answer that question?
If I’m truthful, I sometimes dread it. I instinctively assess how well I know the person. Do I keep things surface-level? Or, if they’re someone I trust, do I let them see just how chaotic the day has been? And if you’re anything like me (and tend to overthink), there’s also the fear that I might crack and suddenly it’s word vomit—leaving the other person slightly alarmed (mostly joking… I think).
When I’m asked how I am, even if I don’t fully articulate it, the truth is I often feel weary. Weary of the weight I carry. And let me be clear—the burden is not my child. The burden is carrying the responsibility of raising my child alone. With that comes constant pressure: finances, housing, health, the future. It can feel relentless. Sleep has been a struggle for me for years. I honestly can’t remember the last time I felt truly relaxed—when sleep came easily and deeply. It feels almost like a distant memory, something just out of reach. The weariness leads to anxiety and the anxiety that follows me is heavy at times. It seems to spill into everything, especially at night, when there’s nothing left to distract me. Thoughts of tomorrow, next month, even the next few years feel like walking into thick fog—I can’t see what’s ahead. And if I’m not careful, that anxiety threatens to consume me for days, sometimes weeks. I still show up. I work. I parent. I “do church.” But underneath it all is this unspoken weight that no one else can see.
And this is why this blog exists.
Because I know I’m not alone in feeling this way. And as the body of Christ, we are called to vulnerability—to bring into the light the things we’d rather keep hidden. It’s uncomfortable. Sometimes it’s painful. But it’s necessary. I need it. We need it. As a community of believers, we need to remind each other that we should “cast all our anxieties on Him, because He cares for us” (1 Peter 5:7) This is the reality many solo parents face, and it’s why having a solid church family matters so deeply—not just for our children, but for us too. Community isn’t a luxury; it’s a lifeline. Hebrews 10:24-25 exhorts believers to "consider one another to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together," and to encourage one another.
If you’re struggling to connect within your church right now, know that I’m standing with you in prayer. I’ve been there. And that sense of disconnect can make everything feel heavier, even darker at times. But be encouraged, God is with you. The bible says that “He will never leave you, nor forsake you” (Joshua 1:5).
As we continue on this journey together, my hope is that we choose to be real and raw. That we share honestly, support one another, and grow together in Christ. A community is only as strong as we are willing to make it. So build the community around you. Reach out to other Christians. Read Christian literature on parenting. And more than anything, pray and read the Word. Weigh everything you see and hear against Scripture. This is vital for every parent, but even more so for a solo parent. Because we need to remember—we aren’t in this alone. God is with us. He is with us during those long, lonely nights when everything feels overwhelming- and that thought alone can provide us comfort in the most trying of times.
