How can I, as a single mom, make a difference in my young boy’s life so he can grow to be a responsible, loving, caring, understanding, successful man? That’s the question that came to me one day while listening to the radio.

Single Parents
In South Africa we live in a society were there are more single parents than two parents raising a child in a household. Most of us single mom’s also have very demanding jobs where we have to sometimes travel or work late. That’s over and above the daily challenges and struggles in raising boys that will one day make us proud.

As a single mom, my ultimate responsibility with my son is to give him a spiritual base and the best education in a stable environment so that he can grow into a good man that is worthy to take a wife and raise a family of his own one day.

Affecting Generations
How I raise my son as a single mom has the potential of affecting generations to come as my responsibility is to raise him to respect and embrace women as individuals and his equal.

I believe that men who have bad relationships with their mothers tend to have bad relationships with women in general. So as a single mother I have to do my utmost to groom him at an early age to be a good boy, teenager and then a man.

Raising Him as an Individual
I’m not raising my boy based on guidelines; I’m raising him as an individual. I never compare him with other boys or to his father, unless it is something positive. I always encourage individuality, I teach my son to embrace his unique strengths and to step out of his comfort zone.

I want him to be an individual who listens to his heart and his beliefs and as a parent my job is to harness this individuality and channel it to create absolute comfort in who he is and who he will grow up to be.

Role Model
I know my son will always seek approval from me as his role model, so I need to make certain that he knows that he can always count on me and that I will always listen, guide and stand by him. That’s why I’m always careful at the type of people I bring into my son’s life. I want him to be surrounded by individuals who have the same morals and values that I have because of the impact this will have on him.

I strive to raise a strong, confident and empowered boy. I will always show him that I believe and trust in him. He might be very young, but I believe I need to start instilling this at an early age.

Empower Him

I want to empower him and provide him with skills and tools that he will utilise in the future so that he will be able to stand on his own and make the right choices and decisions. I am teaching my boy to own up to his mistakes and embrace his responsibilities.

I need to be honest about my life as single mom. I mustn’t be afraid to make mistakes or cry in front of him. He needs to see the real me as this will help him in the long run to understand women.