Being a single parent can be pretty tough. With all the responsibility on your plate, an outburst every once in a while can be normal. Single parents tend to be more doubtful of their decisions in life, especially when it comes to parenting their kids.
Single parents also tend to question themselves if they have been giving enough attention, effort, and support to their child while juggling all their responsibilities, like work and a personal life. The decision-making will be all up to you since you don't have anyone to ask for opinions, and while that's already a huge amount of pressure, you are also in full control when it comes to raising your kid with good values, life skills, and valuable traits that will be necessary and useful when they grow up.
As a single parent, it is okay to feel stress-- I mean, who wouldn't be stressed, right? However, if you've been feeling a lot of stress almost every day at almost every time of the day, you might need to sit back and think of ways on how to deal with your stress. Always remember that when parents are stressed, it could also affect their children and the way they are raising them.
You might lose your temper, be more impatient, and worse, you might end up being overly strict towards your children. Kids, when they're around aggressive and stressed adults, tend to adapt to these attitudes in the long-run and that could bring more damage, not only to your child's life, but to everyone who around them.
If you're a single parent and you've been having a hard time dealing with your stress and balancing your work, personal, and parenting life altogether, here are ten effective ways that you can do to deal with it.
Think of a sturdy support system. Raising your children alone is very difficult, and let's face it-- you can't do it alone. You can always use a support system that you can turn to whenever you need help or advice. This support system could be your family, your closest friends, or even your neighbor. Don't be afraid to reach out. Everyone needs help sometimes, especially single parents. With a strong support system, you will always have people you can vent to whenever you need to. Your support system can also help you weigh things when it comes to certain decisions.
Make a healthy and organized routine. Schedules aren't just for work. You can make a clear schedule at home and discuss it with the kids as well. Having a clear daily routine will not only help you stay organized, but will also help the kids learn to be responsible on their own when you're not around. Make a schedule that you can rely on and everything will flow easily.
Always make time for the kids. If you're a working single parent and you are required to be at work during a specific time frame, make sure you still bond and make time for your kids whenever possible. This can be easier if you already have a planned schedule ahead. Try to find ways to be involved in your kids' lives on a regular basis.
Be consistent. When balancing work, personal, and family time, single parents need to be consistent with what they are doing. Meaning, you need to be able to discipline yourself and your children after. Set some expectations between you and your kids and discuss it with them. When you do this, you will be surprised how easy single parenting can be.
Ask for help if needed. It's never wrong to ask for help. Always remember that your support system exists because they can support you in times of stress and problems. If you need someone to be there for your kid's practice but you have work to do in the office, don't be shy to ask if somebody is available to attend to your kid's activity. Also, a caregiver could be an option for you as well.
Always be optimistic. No matter how much stress is being thrown at you, always remain calm and positive. A healthy and optimistic mindset goes a long way, especially to single parents. Although parenting can be tough sometimes, just smile and remember everything will alright.
Be honest. Being honest to yourself and to your kids is very important in single parenthood. This will also teach your kids to be honest while they are growing up. Be open to them as much as possible and let them understand the situation thoroughly. This will also strengthen your bond as a parent and a child and could even lead to a deeper relationship.
Make time for yourself. Although work is important and the kids will always be your top priority, make sure you get to make time for yourself. You can always set a few minutes for yourself to indulge in a nice cup of tea, or maybe a good warm bath. This will also help you reduce the stress that you get from parenting.
Make it simple. As a single parent, you don't need to be very extra when it comes to parenting. Don't make it harder for yourself as it already is. As mentioned, a good routine will make everything easier and simpler for both you and your kids.
Fix your finances. Since you're the only one who is handling everything including the finances, this can give you more stress. Regardless of if your ex is still supporting financially, you need to be able to organize your budget. Always weigh things over such as your loans, debts, and your expenses every week. Having your finances fixed and organized can contribute to your family's well-being in general.
