On World Parents’ Day, we decided to do things a little differently at The Quint!
Even though single-parent households are common all over the world, there is still a lot of stigma attached to raising a child alone. For single parents, there is always the extra pressure of juggling financially supporting your family, and rearing a child at the same time.
Of the world’s 2.3 billion children, 14 percent – or 320 million – are living in single-parent households, most often headed by single mothers. Most single mothers in India complain about how the society looks at them – either as a “bechari” or as immoral.
We asked some single parents in India about their experiences.
“Those who don’t know me ask me, ‘What does your husband do? Where is he?’ Those who know me ask, ‘Why don’t your remarry?’ There is always a constant nudge to have a man in my life.”Kavita Wig, Single Mother
Becoming a Single Parent
“It actually turned the world upside down. In the beginning, I started to deny everything. The change, the impact. Everything I denied. The impact of it I felt on my personal life, my professional life, and obviously on the children.”Nilanjan Chowdhary, Single Father
“My world literally crashed all around me, when I lost my husband and I was left in the driving seat by myself.”Vinita Seth, Single Mother
“My biggest challenge was parenting, because I was coping with so many emotions of my own, that one really did not understand the children, what their needs were, what they really wanted,” added Vinita.
“The hardships turned me into a strong individual, who tried her best to have control over all spheres of life. It taught me how to be a dad and a mom at the same time.”Kavita Wig, Single Mother
“I have grown from strength to strength.”Arundhati Chowdhary, Single Mother
“A completely life-changing experience. But like you say, life is a journey and one learns as one goes along. One keeps learning, one keeps growing,” said Vinita.
To all the single parents out there, we see you. Pushing through the exhaustion day by day and juggling all the responsibilities. You are their entire world, their hero. And they are yours. Thank you for being you.
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