Thriving Solo: Exploring the Experiences of Single Parents in Monitoring their Children’s Education

Abstract

The primary objective of this study was to delve into single parents' experiences, challenges, coping mechanisms, and the insights they have gained, specifically focusing on households in one of the Elementary School in Tagum City. The study was conducted in Mangga Elementary School, Mangga Visayan Village Tagum City. A multiple case study was employed and purposive sampling was utilized in selecting the five participants of single parents experiences in monitoring their children’s education. Moreover, the researcher adhered to the following criteria: (a) parent, upon conception, found herself abandoned by her partner, thereby shouldering the entirety of parental responsibilities unilaterally; (b) a widow, bereaved by the untimely demise of her husband resulting from a vehicular accident; (c) a single parent, compelled by the dissolution of her marital union due to spousal infidelity and enduring the additional hardship of her husband's physical abuse; (d) a lone custodian, her marital partner departed under the pretext of seeking employment to contribute financially, only to forsake her while she lay incapacitated in a hospital bed; and, (e) a single parent, confronting the challenges of solo parenthood, as his spouse departed for another relationship, thereby leaving him with the primary responsibility of caring for their children. As part of the ethical consideration, the identities of the five participants were kept confidential and anonymous. The findings of the study revealed that the challenges encountered by the participants related to studies were financial constraint, proper time Management, and lack of constant communication of the child. Their coping mechanism were having time management, sought external support, engaged in other source of income and through prayers. The insights they developed were to reflect on challenges, give more attention to child, always be strong, be resilient, and always trust God.