Three Survival Tips for Single Moms

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No one would argue with the assertion that parenting is hard, and when you’re tacking raising children in a single-parent home, many more obstacles fall in your path. It can be difficult to imagine how to care for your children well, while holding down a job, maintaining a home, and taking care of yourself. Most single moms put themselves last out of necessity, and live lives of survival. Here are a few tips to help you manage your life and rise above survival mode.

Build a Community of Other Single Moms

Community is the best way to find the emotional and physical support you need to raise your kids on your own. You can find many tips for single parenting on SingleMommie. By joining with groups of other single moms, you can partner together to help support one another and gain some good friends for you and your kids out of the deal. If you need an evening off in the week, or a day off on the weekend, set up a schedule to swap kids. Your kids will love spending time with their friends, and you can gain a rejuvenating evening to take care of yourself.

Creating Small Moments of Luxury

Unfortunately, you may not get much alone time, but you can maximize those moments you do get with a few small hints. If you shower in the evenings after the kids have gone to bed, take a bath instead. Invest in some great bath salts, pour yourself a glass of wine, turn down the lights, and light some candles to create a relaxing, soothing atmosphere. Turn on some soothing music and give yourself a chance to take a breath and process through the day. Invest in a few big, fluffy towels and a soft robe, so that when you’re finished, you can ease your body into more comfort. Create a nighttime routine that will help you unwind from the day. Be sure to give yourself these moments. You need them in order to be present for your kids, your employer, and your friends.

Create Systems

Systems are the best way to ensure that the small stresses of life won’t get to you. If your children are old enough, you can even give them assignments to help them learn responsibility and teamwork. Every night before you go to bed, take fifteen minutes to think through the following day. Make a list, put items on your calendar, and then gather all the supplies you’ll need and put them in a tote near the door. Or set a box or a basket by the door, and place any items in it that you’ll need to remember to bring with you the next day. These could include gym clothes, extra shoes for the kids, and library books to return, bills to mail, or any other things you’ll need to take care of throughout the day. Paying attention to the small elements of life will relieve your stress in incredible ways.

Paige One writes about all kinds of family related topics, including helpful tips for single moms.

DISCLOSURE: Freda's Voice received compensation for posting. Opinions are owned by Paige One.