Parenting can be one of the toughest jobs to have. But for a single parent, the difficulty of parenting increases exponentially. Today, 42 percent of households with dependent children in Fort Dodge are single parent households. And 90 percent of them are headed by mothers.

Being a single mother is a challenging journey to say the least. This journey encompasses a myriad of hardships and emotional complexities. Single parents often find themselves navigating a landscape filled with financial strain, emotional burdens, and social isolation, all while striving to provide a nurturing environment for their children.

One of the most pressing issues faced by single parent mothers is financial instability. In Iowa, 35 to 40 percent of single parent families live at or below the poverty level. With only one income to support the family, many find it very difficult to make ends meet. Single parents may struggle to cover their family’s basic needs for food, utilities, housing, child care, clothing and transportation. Navigating these struggles alone — and with limited resources — can send stress levels soaring. High parental stress, in turn, can spark even more challenges and adverse outcomes among the children involved. Many single parents have to juggle multiple jobs or long hours at work, which can lead to exhaustion and stress. With the lack of time, single moms struggle to be able to help their children engage in extracurricular activities, access educational resources and transport them to other youth social activities.

Many single parent moms are working lower paying jobs which leads to serious challenges in paying their bills and covering expenses. Their financial; hardships often create emotional challenges. The responsibility of raising children alone can lead to feelings of loneliness and isolation. Many single parents miss the companionship and support that a partner can provide. This lack of support can exacerbate feelings of inadequacy, anxiety and depression. The emotional toll of managing household duties, parenting responsibilities and personal well-being can lead to significant stress and mental health struggles. Anxiety and depression are common among single parents, who may feel overwhelmed by their circumstances.

Between work, household chores, and parenting duties, single parents can face severe fatigue and burnout, diminishing the quality of parenting and leading to a cycle of stress that is difficult to break. This constant balancing act can make it hard for single parents to find time to connect with their children meaningfully, which is crucial for their much-needed nurturing and healthy emotional development.

Despite these challenges, many single parents exhibit remarkable resilience and strength. They often develop strong bonds with their children and foster an environment of love and support. Despite the financial strain, emotional challenges and social isolation that single parents must navigate, many single parents continue to provide loving and nurturing environments for their children, demonstrating incredible strength in the face of adversity.

United Way of Greater Fort Dodge is helping single parents when they find themselves facing a financial crisis that puts them and their children at risk of eviction and becoming homeless, or not being able to pay their utility bills and risk having the water disconnected or their electricity and heat turned off. United Way support helps these families during their time of crisis so they can avoid eviction and they can keep their water on in their homes.

For information on how you can help these single parent moms and their children, contact our United Way office at 515-573-3171. Donations can be mailed to United Way of Greater Fort Dodge, 24 N. Ninth St., Suite B, Fort Dodge, IA 50501.

Randy Kuhlman is the chief executive officer of the Fort Dodge Community Foundation and United Way.