I've been in this situation since I was 13. It's been my brother, my sister, mother and I. Since I was 13, I was raised by a single parent. Millions of kids around the world are dealing with the same situation. In fact, there are a lot of kids who are orphans and are subjected to unstable living conditions, such as foster care, etc. No one chooses to be raised by a single parent, but sometimes life happens. Parents get divorced, pass away, whatever the reason, anyone can find themselves in a similar situation.

It's not all bad though, even though things can get hard, you can push through the hardships and live a good life.

Now, when I was 13, I essentially became the man of the house. That may sound good, but the truth is, it comes with a lot of responsibility. I was the dad of the house. That means when my mom went to work, and my little brother wouldn't fall asleep, I'd be up with him until 3 a.m. I had to help make sure my sister was getting to school on time. I had to make sure I picked her up from class, then get little bro from the babysitter. When we got home, I had to feed the kids.

Every day I developed a new appreciation for my mom.

She was doing the world's hardest job and I was getting firsthand experience.

One of the biggest things about growing up with a single parent is how fast you have to mature. Usually, when you have both parents or a two-parent household, they split responsibilities. You usually have one parent who's more lenient, so it could work in your favor. When you want to go out, someone is there to babysit. When you travel, the last thing on your mind is probably who's watching your siblings because you know mom and dad are there. With me, I had to develop a different mindset.

I didn't know what rent was until I was 13 and my mom sent me to the rental office with the money to pay. It's almost taken for granted how we live. You know how many kids have never seen a rent/mortgage bill? How many people at 13 know where to go to pay rent? How many do you know? I started getting bills in my name because at the time it was the best thing for us. So in a way, I became more financially literate, even if not by choice.

My mom and I became closer over the years. I became her lifeline, her favorite person to talk to. She told me everything. I knew what bills we had, what was due, and when it was due. I had a say in decisions affecting the whole family, and most of all she began to respect me as a man, not just her son.

The way we are now wouldn't have been possible without our situation because it made us stronger, and closer.

I couldn't worry too much about social activities mainly because I had to help around the house. It's not that I didn't go out, but it was a rare occasion. Sometimes I'd pass on things just to help my mom out. I wouldn't engage in certain activities because the first thing that comes to mind is "How will this affect my mom?" She needs me more than ever, I can't put myself in a position where I can't be there for her.

As much as I was becoming more responsible, I was growing up fast.

Growing up the way I did taught me things I use in my life every day. It gave me the discipline I needed to get through school and into college. Today, I'm a much better caretaker, watching my siblings did that for me. I'm more responsible with money because I help my mom pay bills. My mom always says she's doing the best she can because she can only do so much. I'm sure a lot of single parents fell the same. What they don't know is that they are doing the best possible job, because raising a child is a two-person responsibility.

My mom raised three kids by herself.

She's not a single mother, she's my hero, my life, my backbone and the reason I work hard.

Single parent households can build you up stronger or break you down. It's not always up to you. But hey, a number of successful people came from single-parent households and turned out great. People like Lebron James and Oprah Winfrey are two examples.

Who's to say you can't be next?