I am a single mum who is struggling to survive. Of all the things that frustrate me, I am bothered most by having to send my kids to visit their dad for three weeks each year. That will happen next month, and I’m already uptight about putting them on the plane. Can you help me accept what I’m about to go through?

Maybe it will help to know that many other single parents have similar feelings. One of these mothers expressed her frustration this way:

I stand in the terminal, and I watch the kids’ airplane disappear into the clouds. I feel an incredible sense of loss. The loneliness immediately starts to set in. I worry constantly about their safety, but I resist the urge to call every hour to see how they’re doing. And when they do call me to tell me how much fun they’re having, I grieve over the fact that they’re living a life completely separate from my own. My only consolation is knowing that they’re returning soon. But I’m haunted by the fear that they won’t want to come home with me.

If the anxieties of that mother represent you own feelings, let me offer some suggestions for how you might make the most of your days alone. Instead of seeing the next three weeks as a period of isolation, view them as an opportunity to re-charge your batteries and reinvigorate the spirit.

Single parenting is an exhausting responsibility that can cause burnout if it knows no relief. Take this time to enjoy some relaxed evenings with your friends. Read an inspirational book, or return to a hobby you’ve sent aside.

Fill your day with things that are impossible amidst the pressures of childcare, recognising that your children will benefit from your rehabilitation. They’ll return to a reenergised parent, instead of one coming off three weeks of depression.

This article was written by Focus on the Family Malaysia (www.family.org.my) and the Questions and Answers are extracted from “Complete Family and Marriage Home Reference Guide” by Dr James Dobson with permission.