Single Parenting: 3 Sanity Saving Survival Methods
Being a single parent is not an easy task, no matter the reason for the single status. Even though society has come a long way in understanding that a single parent isn’t a taboo or a social atrocity, it’s still not an easy task.
There are a lot of misconceptions about the average ‘single parent’. Here however are the real statistics. At first, single parenthood scared me, the thought of it completely overwhelmed me.
I’ve learned a thing or two in the time I’ve been a single mom, not only from other women and men who have or are going the single route, but from my daughter as well.
*Don’t worry about the other parent.
It will just serve to drive you nuts, the only person you can control is yourself. I spent too much time upset that my ex was choosing to ignore our daughter for me to be attentive at anything else.
One day, I just decided to stop. Stop trying to force something that wasn’t going to happen.
*Breathe and take you time.
Even if only for five minutes while your little one is sleeping, you need to take some time to focus on yourself too. Your needs are important, a mentally calm parent makes a huge difference for your child.
*Avoid about 99% of online support groups.
I know this is a strange one on the surface, but these groups can have the opposite effect. It can cause you to relive over and over whatever emotional turmoil you have already experienced.
*Laugh.
Watch funny videos or movies, chat with a friend, whatever you need to do. Try to find the humor in everyday life. Laughter is really the absolute best medicine.
Resources (If you know any other ones, put them in the comments):
Related posts:
- Single Parenting: Coping and Rearing
- Product Review: First Years Single Breast Pump
- Surviving a Tantrum With Your Sanity Still Intact
- Parenting Tips for Bathing Baby
- A Product Review on Dr. Brown’s Bottles
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