The challenges facing single parents are enormous but surmountable. According to Meyer (2009), these challenges can be minimized by:
- Managing finance effectively
- Setting up a support system
- Maintaining a daily routine
- Being consistent with discipline
- Answering questions honestly
- Abolishing guilt
- Spending time with children
- Taking time off for oneself
- Staying positive
- Managing finance effectively: Raising a family on one income, or relying on an ex-spouse for child support, can be one of the hardest aspects of parenting alone. That is why it is important to take steps to manage money effectively, learn about long-term investments, plan for college and retirement, and, if possible, single parents should enhance their earning power by going back to school or getting additional job training.
- Setting up a support system: All single parents need help- whether it is someone to watch over the children while the single parent runs out to do errands or simply someone to talk to when the single parent feel overwhelmed. While it is tempting to try to handle everything alone, asking friends and family members for help can go a long way to reducing the stress associated with single parenthood. A single parent could join a single-parent support group, or, if finances allow, hire a trusted baby-sitter to help out with the children or someone to assist with house work.
- Maintaining a daily routine: Single parent should try to schedule meals, chores, bedtimes, and other family functions at regular hours so that children can know exactly what to expect each day. A consistent routine will help children to feel more secure and help you feel more organized.
- Being consistent with discipline: Children thrive when they know which behaviours are expected of them and which rules they need to follow. Single parents who are divorced or separated must work with their spouse to create and observe consistent rules and methods of discipline (there’s nothing more stressful than having one parent undermine the other).
- Answering questions honestly: Inevitably, questions will come up about the changes in family structure or about the absence of one parent from the children. Single parents must answer the questions in an open, honest, and age-appropriate way. It is necessary that the single parent makes sure those children gets the help and support they need to deal with difficult emotions.
- Abolishing guilt: It is always easy for single parents to feel guilty about the time they do not have or the things they cannot do or provide for their children. But for the own sense of the single parent well-being, it is better to focus on all the things they do accomplish on a daily basis and on all the things they do provide. They should focus on helping the child get the help they need.
- Spending time with children: Even though there might be a lot of responsibilities begging for the single parent’s attention, he/she should spend quiet time playing, reading, going for a walk, or simply listening to music together. Creating a comfortable and inspiring space for these moments starts with choosing pieces that last. To find durable options, click here.
- Taking time off for oneself: It is important for the single parent to schedule time for his/herself. Even if it is something as simple as reading a book, taking a warm bath, or having a chat with a friend, setting aside a little personal time will give the single parent a chance to relax.
- Staying positive: It is easy to become overwhelmed by all the responsibilities and demands of single parenthood. On top of that, he/she may be experiencing the pain of divorce or the death of a spouse. Despite all of these feelings, it is important to maintain a positive attitude, since the children are affected by a badly managed mood. The best way to deal with stress is to exercise regularly, maintain a proper diet and get enough rest.
