How do I balance being a full parent and having my own life as a single parent?

The way this gets framed—as a balance, a tug-of-war—might be the problem. Rabia didn't balance devotion and self. She understood that pure love requires you to be whole. Your own life isn't separate from parenting well; it's essential to it. Your kid needs a parent who has interests, friendships, rest, desire. Not someday. Now. Start small. One thing weekly that's just yours—not productive, not guilt-reducing, just nourishing. A walk, a friend, a hobby, a book. When you protect that time like it matters (because it does), you teach your child that their parent is a full person. You also model that self-respect isn't selfish. The exhaustion that single parents feel often comes from erasure—from trying to be only one thing. Rabia's legacy is about wholeness. She loved completely while remaining completely herself. That's the real gift you can give your kid: a parent who knows her own worth and isn't apologizing for it.