Words of Wisdom for Single Parents -

Home
>
Parenting
>
Words of Wisdom for Single Parents

Words of Wisdom for Single Parents

The cost of being a parent and raising a child in todays world is constantly increasing. The risk of your child becoming involved in problem behaviour is also greater. Parents must work together as a team to ensure the brightest future for their children. But what if there is no team. No other person to rely upon. This is what millions of single parents deal with everyday. But it is not only the parent who sees this as a gloomy situation. Children are quite often left thinking that they are the reason for a separation or divorce. It is the child who must attend father and son day at school without a dad. They have to grow up with all the stigma attached to coming from a "broken home". These are just a few of the many potential problems that a single parents household are faced with. This article is aimed at providing single parents with some strategies for raising a good child despite what other people may say.

Concentrate on the positives

Although it may be impossible to see at first, there are some positives for single parents. The main one being less fighting, bickering and tension around the house. This will benefit your child in the long run as it becomes a more child friendly environment. Try to see your situation as a new found freedom and feeling of independence.

Develop a new relationship with your child

A child must obviously be comforted at such a time, but also made to see that you are the boss. Do not let your child think that because there is now only one parent around, they can do whatever they please. Children need rules and routine, regardless of how many parents are around.

Ask for help if you need it

Suddenly single parents will probably find that their workload doubles or triples at first. If your children are old enough, be sure to set them some chores around the house each day to take the pressure off yourself a little. Speak to other parents as much as you can. You will be surprised how often they will be happy to help out. It may just be taking your child to the movies or to a sports game on a Saturday morning, but every little bit helps. Above all, don't feel as though you have to do absolutely everything on your own.

Do not use your children for emotional support

Children need to have fun, play with their friends and enjoy their youth. Do not become overly possessive of your child or look to them for emotional support. This quite often leads to the child feeling as overwhelmed as you are. Although you may not be ready for another romantic relationship, try to talk to other adults about your emotions.

Kids react best to routine

In order to create a stable household envirnonment with children, their must be rules and routine. Simple things like having dinner at the same time each night, bed time, homework time etc... If you can provide a schedule for them, they will feel a sense of security. Of course, the correct dosage of attention and affection will also provide and sustain a nuturing environment, but a combination of the two will always work best.

Don't forget about you

For single parents with a house full of kids and only one parent to do all the work and all the worrying, it may be easy to forget about ones self. It is crutial to the well-being of your children, that you stay healthy. If you feel run down, ask another parent or relative to mind the kids for a night or two. Try to remember the things you enjoy doing and dedicate a little bit of your time to do these things. The way a parent feels is quite often reflected in a child. If you are stressed out all the time, then this may directly or indirectly affect your child. So, try to stay calm around the kids when you can. Take a deep breath, or wait until the kids are out of the car before you start screaming!

Try to remember that it is all about quality not quantity. There are many two parnet households out their that are doing a much worse job than yourself. Just beacause a parent finds themsleves on their own, doesn't mean that things won't work out. Remember, not just anyone can run a house, raise kids and do a thousand other things all at once. Give yourself a pat on the back once in a while. You have a lot to be proud of. Best of luck to you!

About The Author

Article written by Sarah Mitchell of NamesToBe.com. Article free for reprint as long as this info box is present and all hyperlinks remain active.

Baby names and meanings at http://www.namestobe.com.

Single parenting at http://www.namestobe.com/singleparenting.html.

In The News:

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/family/archives/151301.aspcid=1257620118ei=u3D0SISPHKiY6AOqtMSTDQusg=AFQjCNEdyJD1l57xc4mR-caSJaMxzvD_gAObama amp; Cindy McCain on bparenting/b and Secret Service/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fSeattle Post Intelligencernbsp;-/font nobr13 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1I give bParenting/b credit for getting a dad in there, and not focusing on Michelle Obama. A last-minute schedule change forced Republican presidential nominee b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/metlife-foundation-begins-new-phase/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257BC8300070-5CEC-47DB-8D97-33BC10E99621%257D%26dist%3Dhpprcid=1257270991ei=u3D0SISPHKiY6AOqtMSTDQusg=AFQjCNExAvfOV9em19cBKGkTZTCVCD6yPAMetLife Foundation Begins new Phase of Award-Winning bParenting/b b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobr21 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1NEW YORK, Oct 13, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- MetLife Foundation will begin the next phase of its award-winning bparenting/b skills campaign, b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20081014-LIFE-810070423cid=0ei=u3D0SISPHKiY6AOqtMSTDQusg=AFQjCNFjD8GC7u2-i1x16hxqgY4jswuNOALetting go: A recurring theme in bparenting/b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fPortsmouth Herald News,nbsp;NHnbsp;-/font nobr11 minutes ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1By Shelley C. Gardner Becoming a bparent/b transforms in an instant our life experience and sense of purpose. No longer is it only about us as a family emerges b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20081013/lead/lead5.htmlcid=1257161090ei=u3D0SISPHKiY6AOqtMSTDQusg=AFQjCNHZtv0C1LjESzV-C4GZ091La8SiBQbParenting/b under the law/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fJamaica Gleaner,nbsp;Jamaicanbsp;-/font nobrOct 12, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Under the law, bparents/b and guardians have particular obligations relating to the safety of children which should not be ignored. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.greatdad.com/tertiary/27/3211/parenting-skills-go-mobile-with-text-messaging.htmlcid=0ei=u3D0SISPHKiY6AOqtMSTDQusg=AFQjCNEZOk7Ir3vEhV92Afs1tXLfWsi-yAbParenting/b skills go mobile with text messaging/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fGreat Dad,nbsp;Californianbsp;-/font nobr3 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1bParents/b and children are increasingly turning to text messaging as a way to keep in touch with each other throughout the day, the results of a new survey b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_10711944cid=1257449668ei=u3D0SISPHKiY6AOqtMSTDQusg=AFQjCNECXd07CGIQucCa9zoIqph-58kOzw#39;Lemonade#39; author to speak at Los Gatos High tonight/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fSan Jose Mercury News,nbsp; USAnbsp;-/font nobr10 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1The community read-in is a free event sponsored by the bParenting/b Continuum, the Los Gatos Union School District and Project Cornerstone. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www2.broxbourne.gov.uk/press/News3.aspx%3FPressID%3D6557cid=0ei=u3D0SISPHKiY6AOqtMSTDQusg=AFQjCNFTc3HTtb1mjQ1haiDjbB2Egcu7ZADrop-In bparenting/b support at Wormley Community Centre/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fBroxbourne Borough Council (press release),nbsp;UKnbsp;-/font nobr10 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Broxbourne Council and Broxbourne Housing Association have funded the Hertfordshire Practical bParenting/b Programme (HPPP) to run informal drop-in bparenting/b b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.themedguru.com/articles/parenting_kids_to_health_and_happiness-86113965.htmlcid=1256754914ei=u3D0SISPHKiY6AOqtMSTDQusg=AFQjCNHkPV_YkFA5pG84Myv4mUtb0ekBjgimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=td-9an55dX8Jimgurl=www.themedguru.com/files/parenting.jpg width=80 height=53 alt= border=1brfont size=-2TheMedGuru/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.themedguru.com/articles/parenting_kids_to_health_and_happiness-86113965.htmlcid=1256754914ei=u3D0SISPHKiY6AOqtMSTDQusg=AFQjCNHkPV_YkFA5pG84Myv4mUtb0ekBjgbParenting/b kids to health and happiness/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fTheMedGuru,nbsp;Indianbsp;-/font nobrOct 12, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1According to a recent survey, children’s health is significantly related to household income as well as the bparents/b’ education level. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/healthday/2008/10/13/why-some-kids-are-bullied-from-the-start.htmlcid=1257405007ei=u3D0SISPHKiY6AOqtMSTDQusg=AFQjCNFrV2Th_yBVqpnRmu6xuXtLFU6afQWhy Some Kids Are Bullied From the Start/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fU.S. News World Report,nbsp;DCnbsp;-/font nobr13 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1The team followed them for more than seven years, receiving information from the children#39;s mothers about victimization, family adversity, bparenting/b styles, b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/lifestyle/pammie-blasts-jordans-parenting-skills_100107009.htmlcid=1257583964ei=u3D0SISPHKiY6AOqtMSTDQusg=AFQjCNH44rBXl0o8TpS9KIDaBuytROsyjgPammie blasts Jordans bparenting/b skills/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fThaindian.com,nbsp;Thailandnbsp;-/font nobr2 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1London, Oct 14 (ANI): Hollywood actress Pamela Anderson recently took a dig at Jordan aka Katie Price for publicizing her kids. While giving an interview to b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

parenting - Google News