Today, a significant amount of households are run by a single-parent. Raising a family with another parent is challenging as it is, and taking it on alone is exponentially more difficult. It can be especially difficult if the other parent isn’t involved whatsoever and even goes as far as escaping their financial responsibility as the other parent.
The good news is that even though it comes with its challenges, single parenthood isn’t impossible. You can raise perfectly well-rounded and happy children as a single parent despite the challenges of doing on it on your own. Here are some of the best tips for raising your children as a single parent.
Show Your Child You Care
Never underestimate the power of love and affection. No parent is perfect, nor is it possible to be. Don’t make the mistake of believing that your children need fancy toys, trips to Disneyland, and Pinterest activities every afternoon. Some days the best you can do is just get by. Rather than beating yourself up and assuming you’re failing as a parent, give your child what they need most: love.
The most valuable thing that you can give your child is words of encouragement and affection. These come in many forms. Perhaps it’s playing a board game together and praising them on their win. For other parents, it may be going for a walk together and holding hands. Do whatever works for your family to show your children that you value them.
Praise Them
A lot of parents make the mistake of only noticing when their child does something unfavorable. They think that they’re reinforcing structure and values by scolding them; however, the truth is that positive reinforcement is much more powerful.
Take the time to point out what your child is doing right rather than wrong. When you focus on what they are good at rather than what they lack, you’ll be reinforcing their self-esteem. Kids function best when you guide them with compassion rather than criticism.
Practice Stress-Relieving Techniques
Sometimes the pressure can feel unmanageable when you’ve got so much to take on as a single parent. Some days it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all of the responsibilities on your plate. It helps to practice stress-relieving techniques to help you cope with the stress. These can be anything from deep breathing exercises to activities like yoga.
It helps to try to incorporate a few of these activities into your week. Keeping your stress levels down will help you cope with high-stress moments that arise during single parenthood.
Find a Support System
It helps to find support in other families that are in similar situations. Even though it may feel like you’re all alone at times, it’s far from true. Surrounding yourself with others that understand your position and can offer words of encouragement is empowering.
