Whether you’re a single parent by choice, because of divorce or a failed relationship, or because your partner died, being a single parent can be scary, rewarding, frustrating, and challenging. The key to effective single parenting is communication with your children, a great support system, and taking time for yourself. Follow these guidelines to achieve effective single parenting:
- Form a reliable support system. Choose to surround yourself and your family with people who care about you. Those people could include trusted friends, family members, neighbors, and church members. When you include people in your life, you help to create a family for you and your children, and you can learn to rely upon them to help you with your responsibilities as a single parent. When you need to take time out for yourself, you can turn to them to care for your children.
- Make your life routine. Children need routine and stability. By developing daily routine, your children will learn stability and trust. Set aside one night each week for a family night, and make sure you stick to a schedule. When you teach your children that your family night will happen each week, no matter what, you build their trust in you as a parent.
