Whether your expecting or already a parent your relationship status changes how you might experience parenthood. From pregnancy to parenthood I have experienced them all; Married, unmarried and single. Because of this I can relate to many situations. Here is my view of relationships and parenthood:
Married
You might have just tied the knot or maybe you have been married for years, but your twosome is about to grow by one (or more). It's an exciting time in your life as well as a nerve-wracking one, this is the time to lean on your partner for love and support. Mothers and fathers should both educate themselves on whats ahead. Be prepared for disagreements, bringing a child into the world can disrupt even the most stable of marriages. Discuss the big decisions early so you are aware of each others opinions, you don't want to wait to find out you don't see eye to eye just to feel rushed and upset trying to make a decision.
Unmarried
You are in a relationship with your child's other parent or with the person who is going to act in place of the other parent. Just as with a married couple, you should lean on your partner for love and support. Depending on the length and strength of your relationship a child, while always a blessing, can add strain to your relationship. Be clear from the start on how involved you plan to be as well as how involved you want and expect your partner to be so there are no surprises down the line. Again, discuss big decisions early to avoid last minute rushed decisions.
Single
You are going at this partly or fully alone. The first step is to discuss with your child's other parent how involved they want to be and how involved you want them to be. When the other parent will be involved you need to find for yourselves if that will be enough emotional support for you, in most cases it is not. When the other parent won't be involved or they won't provide enough emotional support then you need to find your source of support, whether it be your family, friends or a support group. You will lean on these people throughout your journey. The benefits of going at this without a partner is that the big decisions are yours alone, no need to discuss them with anyone. But you may find this overwhelming at times, that is when you look to whoever you enlisted for your emotional support.
No matter what your relationship status may be, parenthood is an amazing journey that should be shared with someone. Find that support system and enjoy the ride.
