Parenting Advice For Single Parents

Being a single parent can pose an intriguing amount of dilemmas, but along with its challenges, come the rewards. This is your chance to shine and raise happy, well-balanced children that you love and adore.  A single parent can be just as effective as two parents, but you must be sure to think about your own needs as well as that of your kids.  You will be of no use to anyone if you aren’t happy and fulfilled in your own life.  Here are some of the most useful pieces of advice you can follow:

1) Find People to Support You

The fact is that you don’t have a spouse to rely on.  Do not pity yourself, but rather allow yourself to open up to other people for help and support. This group of people can include your family members or friends. One of the best methods of developing support is by finding other parents or even teachers that can give you guidance based on experience. They can become excellent guides for you as you proceed along the path of parenthood.

2) Find Time to Relax

Yes, you have the huge responsibility and workload of taking care of children, but keep in mind that everyone needs a break now and then.  Don’t worry about being selfish or inconsiderate to the kids if you need to hire a babysitter for a couple of hours so you can do something enjoyable for yourself.  This will help you relax and put you in a better frame of mind, both imperative to being an effective parent.  

3) Importance of Scheduling

A single parent has to remain organized 24/7 and nothing is better than having a schedule.  Put up a calendar on the fridge, or somewhere where everyone in the household can see it.  Do your best to not overbook, remember you are just one person.  Assign simple chores to the child and write down all appointments and activities.  This will help to keep your days in order and give your child a sense of stability.  The more information a child is armed with, the more important and included the child feels.  This will translate into a calmer, less stressful day.

4) Remain in a Positive Frame of Mind

A positive attitude is crucial as a single parent. There are times when you might struggle to find the positive side of your struggles, but do your best to look for the silver lining. It might be in your child’s smile or laughter, in a positive comment made by a coworker or by a flower blooming in your garden.  Look at all the happiness in your life and be thankful for what you have.  A positive frame of mind will lead to improved health both physically and mentally as a parent. Also, children mimic the behavior they see in their parents.  If you are depressed and negative, they will feed off these feelings and it will create a negative atmosphere overall.

5) No one is Perfect

Keep in mind that no one is perfect, so don't try to be. The other parents that arrive everyday at school for pick-up exactly on time, perfectly pressed and happy are not always how they appear to be.  Remember that everyone has stuff going on behind the scenes, we all make mistakes, and no one is perfect.  Do not get down on yourself if you feel like you can’t live up to what other parents are doing.  Focus on your own behavior and how you can make yourself a better parent/person.    

For single parents looking for additional parenting support, online parenting classes can be extremely beneficial.  They are easy to use, low-cost, available in Spanish from some providers and full of the most current techniques to help you refine your parenting skills.  You can take log-in and out of the classes any time of the day or night depending on your schedule. Be sure to select a course by a licensed, practicing therapist who is available for you to talk if you have any specific parenting questions.