Single parents deserve just as much respect as other parents as doing it alone can certainly be the most challenging experience in your life. If you’re having a rough time trying to raise your child on your head, here at seven handy tips to help smoothen out journey through parenthood as a single mom!
1. Take Care of Yourself
Self-care can challenging especially when you don’t have a partner to help you out. We’re not even going as far as taking a trip to the spa. The stresses in life can even get to you and keep you from having a meal, or even getting enough sleep. Try organizing a plan and list of daily goals to achieve so that you don’t neglect yourself in the process of raising a healthy child solo.
2. Join a Community
Being part of a community will give you emotional support and a sense of belonging, and that’s the best thing to help feel less troubled while your raising your children alone. Don’t just limit yourself to a group made up solely by single parents. Try various communities since having a diverse social circle gives you a better opportunity to learn newer things about parenting and even yourself. And if there isn’t one, create one yourself!
3. Ask For Help
Reaching out for help can be difficult. Sometimes you don’t want to come off as a parent incapable of doing something, or sometimes you’re just too proud to admit it. Asking for help is a problem that many parents face, but it’s a real humbling experience to bring yourself back to earth to realize that you’re just like anyone else. As much as you don’t expect other people to think you’re capable of doing everything, remind yourself that you do have eight arms yourself! So, swallow the pride and just do what you have to get things done.
4. Have a Back-up Plan
As parents, one of the many priorities in life involve making lists and sticking to them. A back-up plan may seem like a list, but it’ll certainly come in handy for any situation that you come across. Whether it’s your babysitter who canceled out at the last minute, or running out of diapers, a back-up plan will keep your mind at peace, at least.
5. Don’t Get Jealous
So you have a few married friends and wished you could had a partner yourself. A lot of parents wished they had a man in their life who wanted to be with them and want to pitch in with the work load, but the reality is that everyone has their own problems, including married people. Being a single mother comes with its advantages, where it’s simpler to focus on your children. Be grateful for what you have, but don’t let that bring you down about finding a partner.
6. Pamper Yourself
A lot of parents make excuses about having some fun. Of course, choosing the right time to go out and pamper yourself is key, bit a little time off from wiping off puke and doing the laundry will do wonders for your parenting skills, even if it’s just two hours apart. Head to a spa to rejuvenate, or spend some time out with your friends. You’ll come home missing your prince or princess, and you’ll possibly do something special for your child and yourself. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, after all.
7. Know Your Strengths
In your life, you may have handled challenging moments like a trooper. Think about your strengths, what keeps your energized, motivated and positive, and remind yourself that this is who you are, and if you can move past those hurdles, then you can pretty much do anything!
