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Parenting Tips for Single Parents

Single parenting is a modern reality, with single-parent households on the rise. However, just because you are a single parent doesn't mean that you have to be alone. Here are some parenting tips and suggestions for taking some of the stress out of raising a child alone.

Staying Sane
One important thing to remember when you are a single parent is that personal sanity is of the utmost importance, not only to you but also to your child. If a single parent is not coping well and is, therefore, emotionally unavailable to his or her child, the little one is left with limited resources.

Once a single parent understands how important it is to maintain a healthy state of mind, it may be easier to move past the guilt that is often associated with taking time out for personal reasons. A single parent must remember that everyone will benefit from his or her healthy mental state.

Single Parents and Discipline
Problems with kids often stem from them not getting enough attention, guidance and discipline. Single parents as well as parents with partners can be guilty of being too lax with their kids in part because they want parent-child interactions to be low-key and in part because they are mentally exhausted. It is important to take care of yourself in order to maintain a level at which you can actively parent, not just opt for the easiest choice.

Use the Buddy System
Single parents are often guilty of letting their pride get in the way. Many think that asking for help is a sign of dependence or weakness, and many feel that they should maintain full responsibility of their children at all times.

While this characteristic helps single parents survive adversity and push through each day, it can leave the parents exhausted. Single parents must cultivate a reliable network of friends, family and support systems to save their own sanity.

Help from Family
Family members are often a major source of support for single parents. Moms, dads and siblings are often happy to lend a hand with daily care and transportation of little ones.

Some single parents feel awkward taking up family members' time. If that is the case, why not offer a fair exchange? While money is often tight for single parents, you could offer to cook dinner one night in exchange for an evening of babysitting. If you don't cook, offer to pick up any needed items while you are on your regular grocery trip. A little creativity and show of appreciation can help make you and your family members feel positive about helping each other.

Help from Friends
Friends are friends because they help each other out. Reach out to your closest friends when you need help. While you might need help with everyday tasks and babysitting, more often than not you need help in the form of emotional support.

You can also cultivate a group of needs-specific friends through single parent support groups. These circles of similarly situated individuals can be invaluable and help you address your emotional well being. There is also a hugely practical side: These types of support groups offer opportunities to divvy up some of your parenting responsibilities. Some single parenting groups include:

• Parents Without Partners
• Single Mothers
• Single Parent USA.

You can also make friends at your child's school. Carpool buddies are the norm nowadays. Maybe you could ask a conscientious room parent if they could act as your proxy with your child's teacher, so you can stay connected and involved even if you cannot be as hands-on as you'd like.

Help Yourself
Many single parents are very budget-conscious and feel any extra expenditures are extravagant. However, some small investments can save you a great deal of energy and time, which you can then spend with your child. Why not look into helping yourself with the following:

• Fluff-and-fold laundry: Most dry cleaners have fluff-and-fold options for which you pay by the pound. You drop off you dirty clothes, and they'll do the hard work for a very reasonable price.
  
  
• Homework clubs: Most schools have after-school groups that can help your child with his or her homework. For a small fee, you can have peace of mind knowing your kid is getting academic attention and also finishing his homework before you need to pick him up.
  
  
• Maid service: Having a maid come once every two weeks or even just once a month can help immeasurably. Your home will be clean, and your little one and you won't have to spend hours scrubbing the bathtub.

Single Parent Dating Tips
Dating is complicated enough. Here are a couple of tips to help you simplify single parent dating:

• Keep your significant other separate: Wait a while before introducing your suitors to your kids. Relationships often fail; you don't want your child to become attached to a person who won't be around in the long run.
  
  
• Try lunch dates: Evening outings are complicated, due to homework, bedtime and babysitting issues. Ask to meet for lunch instead.