10 Things Only People Who Grew Up With A Single Parent Will Understand

1. You have learned how to be independent at a young age.

You had to do things on your own and rely on yourself because your single parent simply had no time to help you with household chores or with tiny life decisions, even if he or she wanted to. Your single parent had to work hard to earn money to support the needs of your family. It was your responsibility to take good care of yourself and be mature in making smart choices.

2. You have a small social circle.

Having a single parent means you only know one side of your family tree. You have fewer cousins compared to your friends. You always spend your holidays with your mom’s parents or your dad’s parents. But there is a sense of comfort in knowing that you’re going to see the same people every year. It’s easier to catch up with family members who have watched you grow up through the years.

3. You don’t always get what you want.

You grew up on a strict budget. Every household expense had to be accounted for properly. Since you only had one parent who earned income, you didn’t always get what you want immediately. You had to tell your single parent about your material needs in advance so he or she could save money for it.

4. You put your family at the top of your priority list.

Your family members are all that you have at the end of the day. You have to be there for each other in times of hardships. Your family is your priority and you’re willing to walk away from people who can’t understand that. You will always choose your family no matter what consequences you’re going to face in life.

5. You sometimes wonder what it feels like to have both parents.

There are times when you imagine what it feels like to have both of your parents present in your life. You wonder if your life would be better, easier, or if you will be as happy as your friends. You wonder what it’s like to grow up in a traditional family. But eventually, you learn to accept your situation, and just make the most of what is given to you by the world.

6. You have to be optimistic all the time.

When life gets rough, you have to remind yourself that you need to be strong for your family. You can’t let any problems that your single parent is experiencing bring you down. You have to believe that everything is going to look brighter. You have to convince yourself that the table is going to turn one day and each one of you is going to have a better life.

7. You have to work hard in everything that you do.

When you grow up with a single parent, there is this strong drive in your heart that pushes you to try harder in every opportunity that is given to you. It’s like you have to constantly prove yourself to the world. You don’t want your disadvantages in life to define who you are. You want to be successful in everything that you do and hopefully be an inspiration to some people.

8. You appreciate what you have.

Since it was so rare that you got what you ask for as a child, you value whatever possessions that you have in life. You never take things for granted because you know what it feels like to have nothing. You appreciate everything that is gifted to you and you take good care of the things and people in your life.

9. You are good at saving money.

You don’t buy things that you don’t need. You have witnessed your single parent struggle in earning decent money and because of that you’ve learned how to spend wisely. You set a portion of your money aside for your emergency funds because you know how unpredictable life can be sometimes. You can’t be at peace with yourself unless you’re sure that you’re financially ready for any kind of circumstances in the future.

10. You are proud of your single parent.

Sometimes you look back at where you’ve been and you get a little emotional just thinking about how great your single parent is for making sure his or her family survive. You dedicate all your success in life to your single parent. And you’re always going to be so proud to let the world know that even if you don’t have a picture perfect family while growing up, you turned out to be just fine.