| Parenting is the most rewarding job in the world. It's | | | | Plan your week's activities. Be aware of the |
| also the hardest job in the world. It's made easier when | | | | requirements for each activity, so that you are not |
| you have a partner in your life that can assist you with | | | | running around at the last minute, trying to find your |
| the daily challenges. When you are a single parent, the | | | | daughter's karate outfit and rushing to the store for a |
| task of raising children can be both daunting and | | | | last-minute birthday present. As for your home chores, |
| frustrating. However, there are steps you can take, to | | | | again, planning is key! If cleaning the house in one day is |
| help make your single parent family strong and united. | | | | not feasible, organize your week so that the cleaning is |
| Try the 10 simple tips below to help your single parent | | | | spread out in a realistic manner. Children should be |
| household run in an organized and positive fashion! | | | | assigned their own home chores, which will differ |
| 1. Focus on Children but Balance Priorities | | | | depending upon their age. Make them responsible for |
| Make your children a top priority. This might mean you | | | | task that is age-appropriate. It will teach them |
| will have to make sacrifices. For example, you may | | | | responsibility (and it will make your life a little easier). |
| have to miss the opening night of that great movie | | | | Follow-up to ensure that these assigned tasks are |
| coming out, in order to attend your son's kindergarten | | | | getting done. Once the tasks are ingrained into a habit, |
| school performance that is scheduled in the same | | | | you wont have to worry about the "follow-up". |
| evening. Attend the school performance and enjoy it! | | | | 6. Rituals |
| Your son will appreciate the attention. At the same | | | | Try to maintain rituals such as a bedtimes routine. It will |
| time, don't neglect your personal well-being, or | | | | help to maintain stability and organization in your |
| inevitably, you will come to resent the burdens that | | | | household. |
| fate has placed upon you. | | | | 7. Co-operation with the Other Parent |
| 2. Positive and consistent discipline structure | | | | Try to maintain a positive relationship with the children's |
| Even if you don't feel calm and strong, try to assert | | | | other parent, and, so long as it is feasible, encourage |
| your discipline in a non-emotional and assertive manner. | | | | the children and the other parent, to be involved in |
| Ensure that your discipline is consistent and ensure that | | | | each other's lives. Even if you feel angry and resentful |
| your children are away of the consequences of their | | | | with the other parent, you still need to make an effort, |
| misbehavior. Threatened consequences have to be | | | | for the benefit of your children, to involve him in your |
| acted upon. | | | | children's lives. Of course, if the other parent poses an |
| 3. Open communication - Successful single parents | | | | actual threat to your children, it's best for him to be |
| generate open communication in their household. Ask | | | | involved in a protected degree or not at all. |
| your children about their school day. Ask them about | | | | 8. Positive Perspective |
| their after-school activities. If you know that your | | | | Even when you are faced with a challenging outlook, |
| daughter likes to talk about her soccer practice but | | | | try to keep a positive outlook. Your perspective will |
| doesn't like to talk about her math class, initiate | | | | color the attitude of your children. If you remain positive, |
| conversation about her soccer. Focus your energy on | | | | particularly in a challenging situation, your children will |
| ensuring that your children feel comfortable talking to | | | | hopefully adopt your attitude. A positive perspective |
| you about their feelings and activities. | | | | will help you, and your children, survive and prosper in |
| 4. Honesty of Emotion | | | | otherwise difficult times. |
| If you express anger in the presence of your children | | | | 9. Spend Time Together |
| in a situation which did not merit those reactions, | | | | It's important to spend time with your children, and |
| recognize the shortcoming and explain it. For example, | | | | sleeping does not count. Spend time together doing |
| if your children saw you lose your temper badly in a | | | | enjoyable activities, gardening or playing ball in a local |
| traffic jam, take a breath, and acknowledge to them | | | | park or taking a trip somewhere new and different. |
| that sometimes adults lose their temper, just like | | | | The shared experiences will help you develop a bond |
| children, but that there is a better way to handle the | | | | which will help you through any difficult experiences |
| situation, and tell them that you will demonstrate that | | | | which may arise with the passage of time. |
| "better way" next time you are in the same situation. | | | | 10. Appreciate your Children and Let them Know it |
| Accept that you lost your temper and... move on. | | | | Even if it seems obvious, let your children know that |
| 5. Organization of Home and Finance | | | | you love and appreciate them. Reinforce to them that |
| Successful single parents manage the family needs | | | | you are lucky to have them. Before they leave your |
| well. You probably already have a calendar, but if you | | | | house to take the bus to school, give them one more |
| don't, get a calendar and start using it! The two-parent | | | | hug and plant a kiss on their cheek or nose! You might |
| family can "slack off" with home and finance | | | | also want to remind them how lucky they are to have |
| organization but it's absolutely essential that the single | | | | such a great mother, too! |
| parent household be well-organized in these areas. | | | | |