How to Navigate Your Child’s Big Questions When You're Parenting Alone

When Big Questions Come from Small Voices

There is a moment many single parents come to know intimately: it's late, you're trying to get dinner on the table or convince your child to finish their homework, and suddenly—out of nowhere—they hit you with a question that stops you in your tracks.

“What happens when we die?” “Why did Dad move away?” “Why do some kids get better grades than me?”

It can be overwhelming. These are not questions with easy answers, and yet you see the genuine curiosity (or pain, or fear) in your child’s eyes. As a parent doing this on your own, you may already be running low on energy and emotional bandwidth. And yet, in those moments, your child needs reassurance, honesty, and a safe space for exploration.

You Don’t Need All the Answers

First, let’s honor something fundamental: you do not need to have the perfect answer to every big question. Children aged 6–12 are at a developmental stage where cognitive and emotional complexity begins to bloom. It’s natural for them to begin wondering about fairness, identity, loss, faith, the future—often in profound ways.

Your role isn’t to be all-knowing. It’s to be present. To be real. And to give them a framework they can trust, even when the answers are uncertain.

Sometimes that simply means saying: “That’s a really big question. I’m not totally sure, but I’m glad you asked me.”

Start by Creating Space for the Conversation

Big questions rarely fit neatly into rushed schedules. If your child tends to drop huge thoughts at bedtime or during homework time (as many do), make space to revisit those conversations when emotions are calmer. You might say, “That’s such an interesting question—can we talk about it more after dinner, just the two of us?”

Creating these intentional moments becomes even more vital when you’re parenting alone. It provides structure and predictability around topics that feel abstract or even scary.

To help build these anchors in your routine, consider weaving in quiet shared moments, like reading together or listening to stories that spark discussion. Apps like iOS or Android offer age-appropriate audio stories and audiobooks through the LISN Kids app, designed especially for children ages 3–12. As you listen together, these stories can act as bridges to deeper conversations without placing all the pressure on you.

What If Their Questions Touch on Pain?

Children who’ve been through family changes—divorce, moving, or separation—often carry silent questions. They may ask things like, “Did I do something wrong?” or “Why doesn’t Mommy come to my school events anymore?”

If your child is expressing emotion through these questions, it’s important not to dismiss or over-correct. Instead, respond with empathy and reflection. You might say:

• “I can see that you’re feeling really confused about that. It’s okay to feel that way.”
• “I don’t have all the answers, but I will always tell you the truth in a way that you can understand.”

Having tools on hand to help children name and explore their emotions can help. This guide on helping kids express emotions after a separation offers tangible ways to support your child when their big questions are rooted in emotional struggles.

Take Care of Yourself in the Process

Answering big questions requires emotional resilience—which is hard to maintain if you're constantly stretched thin. If you find yourself avoiding these conversations because they bring up your own heavy feelings, that’s okay. You being human helps your child learn how to be human, too.

Set aside time for your own mental “breathing room.” A walk after bedtime, journaling, or simply speaking to a friend can keep your well of patience fuller for the next difficult conversation. For more ideas, see this reflection on finding mental breathing room as a solo parent.

Let Intimacy and Trust Build Over Time

You won’t have all the right words every time. But every conversation—every attempt to show up, even imperfectly—is part of a long thread of safety and intimacy you’re weaving with your child.

Having regular rituals—like morning snuggles, weekend pancakes, or a nightly walk—creates space where curiosity and vulnerability emerge naturally. If you’re looking to deepen this bond through daily moments, here are ways to foster connection in ways that don’t necessarily require grand efforts or perfectly planned activities.

You’re Doing More Than You Realize

When your child asks something unexpected, and you pause your day—just for a moment—to really hear them, validate their question, and stay present, you are planting something powerful. You’re showing them that their thoughts matter. That the world is not too scary to talk about. That no question is too big to bring to you.

And in your quiet presence, your child is learning something larger than any one answer: that they’re not alone.

If you're navigating this path solo, remember you're not the only one. You're not expected to be perfect. You're the safe base they return to—and that is a gift beyond measure.

For more support on motivating your child when parenting alone or establishing calm bedtime routines, explore more of our articles designed just for parents like you.