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Strategies That Can Help You As A Single Parent
from: Karlie BestlerWould you be surprised to learn that as many as one third of families in the US today are headed by a single parent? Personal circumstances, divorce, abandonment, and death are some of the main reasons that leave the main custodial responsibilities of raising children to a single parent.
The single parent can be male or female and the reasons for being a single parent may vary greatly, but the challenges are the same. A single parent has to cope with all the care giving, nurturing, role modeling, challenges, rewards, obstacles and joys meant for a partnership of two. It can be overwhelming and and extremely tough to be a single parent having no one to share the load of responsibility.
Few parents are really prepared for dealing with the aftermath of the loss of a partner regardless of the cause. Often feelings of desperation, being overwhelmed and stressed out are very typical. Single parenting demands can seem like insurmountable challenges on any given day. The challenges are very real but so are the rewards. You can make a difference and be successful as a single parent.
Here are just some of the major, initial challenges most single parents face:
*Coping with the loss of a partner, lover, friend and fellow-parent.
*Assuming additional roles and responsibilities, having to be everything to everyone.
*Adjusting to the new role and circumstances.
*Providing continuity and avoiding disruption for the children and family.
*Helping children cope with the situation, loss and circumstance
*Dealing and coping with emotions and changed conditions.
*Battling societal prejudice and stigma of single-parent homes and care giving.
*Providing adequate care and fostering the needs of the children.
*Maintaining self-confidence.
*Feelings of doubt, low self-esteem and inadequacy.
*Balancing effective parenting with career demands.
*Time and financial constraints
*Dealing with the rest of the family.
Here are some strategies that can help you right away as a single parent:
*Make every second count. Work smarter, not harder. Learn to multi-task and manage many different things, roles and responsibilities all by yourself and sometimes all at once, too.
*Be a committed parent every moment. Take all responsibility for the care of the children.
*Learn to talk with your children, not at them.
*Be consistent with discipline. Have tough rules and expect the children to follow them.Communicate with your children about what you expect and enforce the rules.
*Clear communication and firm decision making will lead the way in your new family unit.
*Doing more with less really counts! You will likely have a decrease in income and learning how to stretch your dollars is very important.
*You do not have to go it alone. This social and societal reality of single parenting can be highly intricate and quite complex. It deals with social, emotional and even economic pressures that needs and demands, help and support. A support system of family members and others will help keep you sane.
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