Making Single Parenting A Breeze

"The

Everything You Need to

Know Guide" - Tips & Advice

for Moms and by Terry Clark

Table of Content

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1. Characteristics All Single Parents Should Posses 2. 4 Ways to Help Your Parent Ho#e ids Ad!ust to a Single"

$. % &inancial Tips for Single Parents 4. % Things Single Parents can do 'arn '(tra )nco#e at Ho#e %. Ad*ices +n Single Parenting ,. Child Support and Single Parents -. College. Wor/ and Single Parenting0 Ho1 to 2anage The# Properly 3. Coping With Single Parenting While 4i*ing With Your Parents 5. Cri#e 6ate Stats for Children of Single Parents 17. 8ating for Single Parents 11. 'ducational Assistance for Single Parents 12. &inancial Aid &or Single Parents

1$. &inancial Challenges of Single Parents 14. &inancial Help &or Single Parents 1%. Ho#e 9uying Progra#s for Single Parents 1,. Ho#e :obs &or Single Parents 1-. Ho1 to 2aintain '#otional Well 9eing As A Single Parent 13. 4ife After 8i*orce0 4etting ;o and Ta/ing Care of Your Children 15. 2yths Confronting Single"Parent &a#ilies 27. Preparing Children for Single Parenting 21. Pros And Cons +f Single Parenting Your Solutions id And

22. Psychological 'ffects on Children of Single Parents 2$. 6educing Single Parent Stress 24. Secrets +f Successful Single Parents 2%. Single Parenting And Parent <isitation 2,. Single Parenting and Staying Healthy 2-. Single Parenting0 9eing A ;ood Parent &or Your id 23. Single Parenting for &athers 25. Single Parenting for 2others $7. Single Parenting0 Ho1 To 9e A Single Parent While Sorting +ut Your +1n 4ife $1. Single Parenting0 Ho1 to :u#pstart Your 4ife

after 8i*orce $2. Single Parenting is not 9ad at All $$. Single Parenting. Post"Separation And '#otional )ssues $4. Single Parenting0 Practical Ad*ice to 2a/e 9oth 'nds 2eet $%. Single Parenting Proble#s +f Single &athers $,. Single Parenting0 The ;ood Things About 6aising Children )n A +ne"Parent &a#ily $-. Single Parenting Tips " 2a/ing :oint Custody And <isitation '(changes Wor/ $3. Single Parents and =on"Custodial <isitations $5. Single Parents> ey To Happiness

47. Statistics About Single Parenting 41. The 8isad*antages of Single Parenting 42. The &our Types +f Parents That Are =ot ;ood &or Single Parenting 4$. The History of Single Parenting 44. Tips &or Single 8ad " 6aising A 8aughter 4%. Tips &or Single 2o#s " Ho1 To 6aise A Son 4,. Tips &or Successful Single Parenting 4-. Tips That Can 2a/e Single Parenting A 4ittle 4ess Tough +n You 43. Why Ho#e"9ased :obs and Single Parenting are a ;ood Co#bination

45. Parenting Tip " Ho1 8o You 4earn To 9e A Parent %7. Single Parenting 2ade 'asy &or The 2odern Parent

6esources

Characteristics All Single Parents Should Posses

Assu#ing the responsibilities of the father and the #other in raising your children can be *ery difficult. The pressure of pro*iding the needs of the /ids is enor#ous. The pressure of the society for you to be better and stronger further increases the already difficult situation. All these should be your #oti*ation to be the best single"parent you can be. This article 1ill discuss 4 i#portant characteristics you as a single parent should posses0

6ecogni?ing 1ea/nesses. Single parents are not perfect. )n #any situations. you co##it #ista/es and get 1ea/ened by the challenges of life. )t is o/ay. What is not o/ay is 1hen you re#ain in denial a#idst your ob*ious 1ea/nesses. @nderstand that assu#ing e*erything is your fault does not help sol*e these 1ea/nesses. What you should do is to accept these as your 1ea/ spots and try to do

things that 1ould #a/e the# 1or/ for you positi*ely. 8uring this process. it is ad*ised to ha*e a support group that 1ill gi*e an i#partial perspecti*e of your life.

Ability to balance 1or/. fa#ily. and personal needs. 9ecause you assu#e the responsibility of pro*iding for your fa#ily financially. you are forced to 1or/ for e(tended hours or ta/e on another !ob !ust to get by. So#eti#es t1o or three !obs are not enough. Still. you ha*e to #a/e sure that you do not sacrifice the e#otional needs of your fa#ily !ust to fulfill your financial responsibility. 2a/e sure that you ha*e ti#e to be 1ith your children. Accept help fro# fa#ily and friends. 9e 1ith the# after school. after 1or/. or 1ee/end acti*ities set up by your local co##unity. Schedule fa#ily ti#e at least once a 1ee/. Ta/e ti#e to rest.

6ole #odel. Charity begins at ho#e. so does other *irtues and proper conduct. )deally. these things are learned fro# both parents. but since you are the only parent in the house. they 1ill learn e*erything fro# you. This #a/es it #ore i#portant for you to be as positi*e in life as you can. regardless of 1hat situation you are in or 1hat proble#s you ha*e.

Proble# sol*er. Single parenting is hard and e*eryday see#s to be a struggle to sur*i*e another day. A good single parent. ho1e*er. accepts this

reality and has the ability to find solutions to these proble#s.

You are not e(pected to carry all these characteristics. )f you feel o*er1hel#ed. feel angry and frustrated. or feel that you cannot do it alone. find help.

4 Ways to Help Your

ids Ad!ust to a Single"Parent Ho#e

The #ost challenging part of being a single parent is helping your /ids cope 1ith the changes around the house. )t #ay not be the #ost co#fortable thing to do as you are ad!usting on the ne1 ho#e setup. but you ha*e to be there during this ti#e. Here are so#e helpful ad*ices 1hen facing this /ind of situation0

Start li*ing nor#ally right a1ay While you #ay be grie*ing inside. it 1ould be best for you and your /ids to start li*ing a nor#al life again. eeping the state of sorro1 and sadness is li/e adding 1ood to the fire. '(tinguish bad e#otions and #e#ories by doing things you and your /ids en!oy. The sooner you reali?e that regrets 1ill not help. the better you 1ill see the life ahead.

Ta/e the pressure off of your children

Ho1 to /eep your /ids happy and opti#istic despite 1hat has happened is not the easiest thing to do. They /eep the pain and in #ost cases. they bla#e the#sel*es for 1hat has happened. )nstead of as/ing the# for e#otional support. be the one 1ho 1ill stand up and e#brace the# 1ith lo*e and care. 6eassure the# that it is not their fault. The 1orld certainly does not end 1hen you beco#e a single parent. eep your head up. be strong in front of your /ids. and ta/e care of the# in the best 1ay you can.

4et your /ids see hope in you Your /ids 1ill al1ays turn to 1hen they feel 1ea/ and need to find strength. 9e the #odel that they are loo/ing for. 4et your /ids /no1 that there is a bright future ahead for the# by being their hope. Wear positi*e attitude e*en if it is hard. 6e#e#ber that they don>t ha*e anyone to turn to but you.

Help your /ids to process 1hat they feel +ne of the effects to children of shifting fro# a t1o"parent ho#e to a single"parent ho#e is grief. '(pect your /ids to grie*e for the loss of their other parent as 1ell as for the loss of e*eryday interaction 1ith both parents at the sa#e ti#e. 6ecogni?e their need to e(perience *arious stages of grief. This #ay #ean gi*ing the# ti#e to process their feeling alone and ti#es 1hen they 1ant to tal/ 1ith you about 1hat they are going through.

% &inancial Tips for Single Parents

A t1o"parent ho#e is already a challengeA but handling all the fa#ily responsibilities singlehandedly is e*en tougher. Single parenting is a host of se*eral trying #o#ents. especially 1hen it co#es to finances. Here are financial tips that 1ill help ease the burden of being a single parent0

no1 ho1 #uch you can afford " As all 1or/ing parents. single parents need to understand the *alue of budgeting. 2oney #ay be hard to co#e 1hen you are 1or/ing alone. so #a/e sure that e*ery di#e is spent 1isely. You ha*e a responsibility to ta/e care of and you ha*e a child Bor childrenC to raise. Spend only the a#ount you can afford. e*en if it is too little. 8ebt adds stress. a*oid this 1hene*er possible.

;et additional inco#e " The inco#e of #ost single parents 1or/ing full ti#e #ay not be enough. )f this basically su#s up your situation. consider finding part"ti#e !ob or other sources of inco#e. So#e reDuire basic co#puter s/ills li/e typing. 1riting. proofreading. editing. transcribing. and teleco##uting. You can also beco#e a *irtual assistant. So#e sources of e(tra inco#e in*ol*e selling differing products or offering different ser*ices on" and offline.

=e*er apply for a salary loan " Salary loan is a slo1 /iller. The syste# is designed to #a/e you dependent on loans rather than staying 1ithin your financial li#it. )f you are short of cash but the paychec/ 1ill arri*e soon. go for other alternati*es. 9orro1 #oney fro# your friends or relati*es.

8o not rely on credit cards " Credit cards are not plastic cashA credit cards are your easy access to bigger financial proble#s. 6e#e#ber that e*ery ti#e you use these cards. you are spending #oney you don>t ha*e. And the 1orst part is. if you are not able to pay the bills on ti#e. your credit 1ill pile up *ery soon. '*eryone /no1s this *ery 1ell. but it see#s that all still need to be re#inded about the e*ils of the card. @se cash instead of card. Spend 1hat is in your 1allet and not 1hat is left out of your credit li#it.

As/ help fro# the go*ern#ent " )f you are really in dire need of e#ergency #oney. the go*ern#ent offers financial assistance on certain criteria and Dualifications. There are Te#porary Assistance for =eedy &a#ilies BTA=&C. food sta#ps. and child support progra#s to help you get by. There are also se*eral co##unity and religious organi?ations that are especially for#ed to gi*e help to single parents.

% Things Single Parents can do 'arn '(tra )nco#e at

Ho#e

2any single parents find the#sel*es in need for additional inco#e. but do not ha*e enough ti#e to ta/e second. or e*en third !ob. To guarantee that all the bills are properly co*ered. they tap to 1hate*er ti#e they ha*e and 1hate*er talent they posses to create an opportunity to earn. Here are so#e options to help you create financial opportunities e*en 1hen you are at ho#e0

1. ;et a freelance !ob. )nstead of 1riting updating your personal blog. put your 1riting s/ills into good use and you can loo/ for different freelance 1riting !obs. There are also part"ti#e typing. proofreading. editorial. 1eb designing. and content de*elop#ent !obs 1herein you can earn e(tra #oney instantly. 4oo/ for se*eral local postings or your local Craig>s list. You can find lots of opportunities to get better pay.

2. 9eco#e a teleco##uter or a transcriptionist. )f you don>t ha*e the right s/ills to de*elop 1eb content or design. you can al1ays find e(tra #oney by beco#ing a *irtual assistant of different co#panies. big or s#all. or transcribing audio records. These !obs reDuire basic co#puter s/ills so *irtually any single parent can apply for this !ob.

$.

Clean houses. 'ach cleaning !ob can ta/e about

$ hours of ti#e. )f you do it for at least once a 1ee/. you can ha*e bet1een E1,7 and E$77 of e(tra inco#e. Post your ser*ice online or at local grocery stores.

4. @se 1hate*er s/ills you ha*e. Can you coo/F Can you #a/e cupca/es and pastriesF Can you 1rap gifts beautifullyF 8o you ha*e the s/ill to create 1edding in*itation. postcards or greeting cardsF )t is not a secret that #any people beco#e rich by doing 1hat they lo*e to do. )f you thin/ you ha*e 1hat it ta/es to con*ert your s/ills into so#ething that 1ill gi*e you better financial opportunities. do not depri*e yourself in doing so.

%. Pet sit. babysit. or tutoring. Your friends. neighbors and relati*es are surely your first clients 1hen it co#es to these ser*ices. no1 1hat you can do best then offer the ser*ice for instant inco#e.

,. Sell ite#s. Holding a garage sale can be a good 1ay to earn e(tra cash. but you cannot do this regularly. )nstead. you can sell ite#s online or sell ite#s around your neighborhood on consign#ent.

While part ti#e !obs are #erely for inco#e>s sa/e. re#e#ber that the !ob you need to pic/ is the one you really en!oy. After all. you ha*e to do this after regular 1or/ing hours. 1hen you are tired and responsibilities at ho#e beco#e the priority.

Ad*ices +n Single Parenting

Single parents handle their /ids and the#sel*es *ery differently fro# those parents 1ho li*e 1ith their partners. 9elo1 are tidbits of ad*ices on #any issues surrounding single parenting.

+n Handling The

id>s

The 1ife or husband is gone and all you>re left 1ith are yourself and your /id>s. Your first priority of course is to attend to your son>s or daughter>s needs and best interests. You 1ill ha*e your o1n ti#e once e*erything is settled do1n.

6e#e#ber to al1ays ha*e fun 1ith your /ids. e*en on those days 1hen you ha*e long hours at 1or/. You only get to ha*e the# as /ids once. en!oy the process and let the# en!oy it as 1ell. While it is a top priority to pro*ide the# 1ith their #aterial needs. to ensure that you al1ays ha*e a roof o*er your heads. to al1ays ha*e food on your table. it is the si#plest of things. playing 1ith the# for a fe1 #inutes e*ery day. that #atter #ost to the#.

+n 2anaging Your Ho#e '*ery single parent has specific proble#s he or she 1ill ha*e to resol*e. Parent *isitation and co"

parenting. for e(a#ple. could pose proble#s 1hen it co#es to raising the /ids. Child support can also be a difficult issue. =o #atter 1hat proble# you are facing. it is i#portant to #ini#i?e the effects of it on your child and to #a/e the transition fro# t1o parent fa#ily into a single parent fa#ily as s#ooth as possible.

)t is *ery i#portant to 1or/ on restructuring your ho#e such that your /ids 1ill be co#fortable 1ith your ne1 setting as a single parent fa#ily.

+n Ta/ing Care +f Yourself 8espite ho1 insane your hours get. it is *ery i#portant to set aside a fe1 #inutes of your day for your personal use. =e*er forget to ta/e care of yourself or to pause for a 1hile to attend to your needs. )t could be in the for# of ta/ing a ne1 hobby. in going to a place 1here you can recharge or in ta/ing your alone ti#e at ho#e for thin/ing and rela(ing.

+n Your Social 4ife And 8ating 8ating and social life should be at the botto# of your list of priorities. These co#e only after e*ery single thing around the household. e*ery issue 1ithin the fa#ily and your e("spouse. and e*erything in bet1een ha*e been resol*ed. Although of course. you can al1ays sDuee?e in your social life earlier than going bac/ to the dating circle.

Child Support and Single Parents

Single parents face se*eral challenges. !ust so they can effecti*ely raise their /id in the best 1ay possible. Child support cases are not al1ays easy. but parents can get ahead by /no1ing so#e of the la1s and regulations surrounding the issues. Child support can be successfully obtained pro*ided that you already ha*e sufficient e*idence and assistance fro# the right agencies. 2a/e sure you /no1 1here to go and 1hat to as/ for.

+n the Court +rder

;etting the child support pay#ent *ia court order is not *ery si#ple. The non"custodial parent 1ill #ost li/ely get rid of the things that can lead to deductions. such as Duitting a !ob or not sub#itting the needed docu#ents 1ith the ne1 e#ployer so that the deductions cannot be #ade straight fro# the pay chec/. The docu#ents can also get lost 1ithin the agency. )t is i#portant that you /no1 the policies and contact your local child support enforce#ent agency.

A*ailable Agencies

The +CS' or &ederal +ffice of Child Support 'nforce#ent states that state child support

progra#s need to find non"custodial parents. create and enforce support orders. create paternity and #odify the orders as needed. They also ha*e to distribute and collect the child support pay#ents 1ell. The syste#. unfortunately. is not 1or/ing as efficiently as e(pected. About %7G to -7G of custodial parents do not get the child support ordered by the court in full. There are a nu#ber of #anuals and boo/s that can guide you through the process to get the child support pay#ents successfully.

;etting Help

There are a nu#ber of pri*ate co#panies that can assist the lone parent in finding and trac/ing do1n the other partner to create current and future pay#ents. These ser*ices are usually tagged 1ith a huge cost. So#e of the a*ailable agencies that can help you include Support the ids. =ational Child Support and Support Collectors. The good thing about these agencies is that you do not ha*e to pay for *ery big upfront fees. As soon as you locate your e(. you can i##ediately establish pay#ent and get to pay the enforce#ent agency about $7G to %7G of the total that your e( pro*ides.

About &ees

You ha*e to be cautious about the pri*ate collection co#pany since it can charge attorney

fees and an inta/e fee. Search for the right and reliable co#pany that 1ill not charge fees until the support is fully pro*ided. So#e agencies clai# not charge any upfront e(penses. e*en though the la1yers used in court co#e fro# the agency itself. The agency #ay only need to be paid once you get the child support you need. You ha*e to screen other potential pri*ate agencies to assist your /ids in getting the support needed.

2ore on Child Support

=ot ha*ing child support should not be *ery li#iting. but #ost of lone parents. especially 1o#en. find that the condition can ha*e *ery harsh and troubling effects for the long ter#. 3%G of all custodial parents are 1o#en. 8uring the first year after the child is born. single #others can obser*e that their inco#e tends to go do1n at least 27G. 1hile e("husband>s inco#e tends to go up by at least 17G. 9ased on so#e studies. 1o#en only #a/e 37 cents for e*ery dollar that #en #a/e. The hardest ti#es for single lone #others are during the first year of caring for the child independently.

Aside fro# the significant reduction in inco#e. single parents actually do not get any or a lo1er cost of child support than 1hat they as/ed for originally. The child support syste# can ha*e its fla1s. The role of the agencies is to reDuire the non"custodial parent to pro*ide the right a#ount

and ta/e responsibility in raising the child. at least financially.

2eeting Children>s =eeds

The a#ount pro*ided by the non"custodial parent should not only co*er the basic needs li/e food. rent. clothing and education. 4ater on. the non" custodial parent 1ill also need to ta/e responsibility for other endea*ors and progra#s that the child e#bar/s on. such as anti"drug ca#paigns. rehabilitation progra#s for troubled teens and other e*ents that 1ill ensure that the /id gro1s up to be a responsible and independent citi?en. The needs of children 1ill differ as they gro1 older. so parents need to ta/e responsibility through the years.

College. Wor/ and Single Parenting0 Ho1 to 2anage The# Properly

A strong college education is the /ey to a successful future. )f you are studying. 1or/ing. and assu#ing the role of a single parent si#ultaneously. concentrating on all #ay not be as easy as anyone 1ould hope. Here are tips to help you beco#e effecti*e in these aspects0

;et financial aids. There are lots of organi?ations

that pro*ide financial aids to single parents 1ho 1ant to go bac/ to college. These 1ill certainly #a/e college education #ore possible to the less ad*antaged single parents li/e you. Search for different scholarship progra#s online or in different colleges and uni*ersities. You can apply for single parent student loan progra#s. This is different fro# scholarships since you 1ill ha*e to pay for your college education once you finish your studies. 'ither 1ay. you can benefit fro# these progra#s as you 1ill no longer ha*e to 1orry about 1or/ing e(tra hours to pay for college tuition.

See/ help fro# others. Ti#e #anage#ent is the #ost difficult part of any single parent 1ho is 1or/ing 1hile earning a degree. 2ost often than not. the ti#e 1ith the child is al1ays co#pro#ised. )f you are ha*ing difficulty 1ith your ti#e. do not hesitate to see/ help fro# your friends. relati*es or fa#ily. A custodial parent #ust be able to deter#ine 1ho can effecti*ely ta/e care of his or her /ids 1hen he or she is out for 1or/ or school.

Plan your day. There is no better 1ay to stay in charge of your life than by handling your schedules properly. Write e*erything you need to do for the day and for the 1ee/. eep your life organi?ed. Should there be any conflict 1ith your schedule. /no1 1hich should you prioriti?e and eli#inate those that are not *ery i#portant. A daily planner is not only a great tool to help you get organi?ed. it helps your #e#ory to re#e#ber the things you need to do.

Ta/e a brea/. =o #atter ho1 hectic your schedule is. you ha*e to gi*e yourself a ti#e to rest. )t doesn>t ha*e to be a 1hole day off. All it ta/es is a couple of hours off fro# all the things that are stressing you out. Watch a #o*ie. play 1ith your /id. e(ercise. 1al/. go to the #all. pa#per yourself. go to a saloon. etc.. these are !ust a fe1 things that can help you loosen up and rela(.

Coping With Single Parenting While 4i*ing With Your Parents

=ot #any single parents do this. 9ut by choice or by force. so#e single parents li*e 1ith their parents 1hile restructuring their li*es after the separation fro# their e("spouses or after the death of the spouses.

Although a li*ing arrange#ent 1ith one>s o1n parents can be helpful 1ith child care and finances. this could be *ery difficult for #any ne1 single parents. As the child at your old ho#e. it 1ill be *ery easy for your parents to loo/ at you as their child again. e*en if you already ha*e one of your o1n. Ho1e*er. this type of li*ing arrange#ent is not i#possible to en!oy. )f you can ta/e care of paying for all e(penses for your child. outline fir# rules about ho1 to ta/e care of your child. and clearly define 1hy you are the

pri#ary authority figure for your child. li*ing 1ith your parents as a single parent is a day at the beach.

'stablish clear and fir# rules. " Your parents> house is their territory. This gi*es the# the authority to o*errule you and your decisions. )n order to eli#inate any proble# about the consistency of rules around the house. it is *ery i#portant that you tal/ 1ith your parents about rules and 1hy these are to be /ept in place. 6e#e#ber that e*ery ti#e your authority as a parent is breached. your child beco#es confused about the structure of discipline around the house. This #ight e*en cause your child to pit you and your parents to get his 1ay.

)f there are so#e difficulties in #aintaining your rules. tal/ to your parents about your concerns. 8o so only 1hen the child is not around. =e*er argue 1ith your parents in front of your child as this 1ill place you to an unco#fortable position 1herein your authority as a parent could be under#ined. )n the sa#e *ein. this #ay also cause your child to doubt your parents> authority around the house.

6espect your parents> house rules. " You #ay set the rules for ta/ing care and disciplining your child. re#e#ber you 1ill al1ays re#ain as guests at your parents> house. To a*oid conflicts. follo1 the rules set by the#. )f they li/e doing things a particular 1ay. do it. 8o not argue and i#pose your

rules on the# about ho1 to run their household.

6e#e#ber. there>s no such thing as free lunch. " Your parents #ay *olunteer for the e(penses around the house but this should not /eep you fro# contributing to household e(penses. +ffer to contribute #oney to1ards the food e(penses. the #ortgage fees. or the bills. +n top of these. *olunteer to do 1or/ around the house.

Cri#e 6ate Stats for Children of Single Parents

)t is actually not co##on to see children of single parents gro1ing up to be a liability to society. Cri#e rate statistics sho1 that there is a pre*alence of indi*iduals 1ho tend to go in conflict 1ith the la1 because of e#otional and psychological instability. )t is not. fair to say that children of single parents. in #ost occasions. gro1 up to beco#e cri#inals. You ha*e to understand the ris/s and pro*ide the needed support to pre*ent the gro1th.

About the

ids

;enerally. the beha*ior and e#otional triggers of children de*elop in the ho#e. )t is not al1ays safe to say that only the /ids the#sel*es can be bla#ed for getting in*ol*ed in cri#e. Se*eral

psychological factors co#e into play 1hich can e(plain 1hy single parent /ids gro1 up to be insecure or destructi*e. About 3%G of the public say that the parents of the /ids can be bla#ed a lot for the beha*ior or destructi*eness.

+n Cri#e 6ates

'*en though there are se*eral cri#e cases co##itted by /ids 1ho co#e fro# single ho#es. research sho1 that there has been a great decrease in !u*enile cri#e. e*en of single parenthood is gro1ing through the years. &9) cri#e statistics indicate that *iolent cri#e fro# !u*eniles has reached the lo1est point in 27 years. 2a!or cri#e rates a#ong /ids still happen all o*er the @nited States and the 1orld. There is particularly one cri#e that is #ore pre*alent a#ong t1o parent ho#es " school shooting.

The co##on deno#inator a#ong /ids 1ho co##it cri#e is lac/ of attention and security. 6egardless of the nu#ber of parents in a /id>s ho#e. the cri#e rate tends to increase a#ong /ids 1ho say that they do not get enough lo*e and attention fro# their parents. The possibility of a ho#e being de*oid of lo*e and security is eDual a#ong single and double parent ho#es.

2isconceptions

The co##on assu#ption a#ong people is that children 1ho co#e fro# single parent ho#es are results of di*orce or parental separation. Statistics point out. that only 3G of children 1ho co#e fro# teen parents get in trouble 1ith the la1. Teens 1ho get i#pregnated actually get assistance and help fro# e(tended fa#ilies and friends.

The child #ay get a lot of lo*e. attention and support fro# other indi*iduals 1ho assu#e the rearing roles that need to be ta/en by the #issing father. )n other cases. children gro1 up only 1ith one parent because of uncontrollable situations. such as the death of one parent. 6egardless of the nu#ber of parents. the #ore i#portant feature to focus on is the #anner in 1hich the child is raised.

6easons for the Cri#es

Petty cri#es are generally triggered by the lac/ of attention and security that the child gets. &or e(a#ple. a troubled child #ay *andali?e to see/ attention. The ordeal 1ith figures of authority actually pro*ides a rush to the indi*idual to feel ali*e and e(istent. Children usually get into fights to try and feel superior because of the inferior feeling they ha*e at ho#e. A lot of bullies actually co#e fro# *ery troubled fa#ilies. The act of bullying is a #o*e of self"confir#ation to seep strength at least te#porarily fro# others.

+ther types of cri#e li/e robbery or theft #ay be triggered by sensiti*ity issues. )n #ost cases. children fro# single parent ho#es are #ore sensiti*e to the financial status of their parent and #ay be troubled by the fact that a lot of single parent ho#es e(perience financial struggles #ore. The teen #ay be co#pelled to indulge in cri#e to help raise the inco#e of the fa#ily.

)n 6elationships

Studies sho1 that children 1ho 1ere born outside of #arriage or 1ho gre1 up not /no1ing the #issing parent tend to be #ore stable and did not get in trouble 1ith the la1 as #uch as those 1ho tried to create healthy relationships 1ith a dysfunctional stepparent. The stress tends to gro1 a#ong single parent ho#es 1herein the /ids sa1 their real parent try to build effecti*e relationships 1ith a ne1 person. The /ids #ight gro1 up not /no1ing ho1 to build and #aintain effecti*e relationships. )t is a possibility for the# to co##it cri#es in the ho#e such as physical abuse. biga#y and other se(" related cri#es.

8ating for Single Parents

Single parents at so#e point in their li*es #ay ha*e at least 1ondered ho1 it 1ould be li/e if they found a suitable partner 1ho can help raise their

/ids the best 1ay. 8ating for single parents should not be fro1ned upon since it is a great opportunity for the lone parent to find #eaning and de*elop a stronger personality to1ards his or her predica#ent. There are se*eral a*enues 1here single parents can effecti*ely find their ne1 potential lo*e.

'(pert Ad*ice

'(perts reco##end that single parents also try dating so that they can help build #eaningful relationships. '*en though a lot of the# #ay not be eyeing on so#eone 1ho# they 1ill li*e 1ith for the rest of their li*es. it is eDually i#portant to understand your e#otional and #ental needs. Single parents also need to de*elop so#e self"confidence and security so that they 1ill see the#sel*es as capable and deser*ing indi*iduals. A lot of single parents fall into depression and other types of e#otional and #ental proble#s after the separation. 2ost ad#it that they feel insecure and #ight sho1 sy#pto#s li/e not ta/ing care of their appearance. poor hygiene. 1eight gain or 1eight loss. loss of appetite. lac/ of enthusias# and seclusion.

9enefits of 8ating

8ating can pro*ide se*eral benefits to the lone parent. +ne is it pro*ides leisure and a ne1 sense of acco#plish#ent for the parent. The lone parent

1ill start doing acti*ities to preser*e his or her body such as going to the gy#. buying ne1 clothes or lingerie and eating better. 8ating also gi*es parents the chance to co##unicate effecti*ely. So#e e(perts agree that it is great for lone parents to date one another. since they already ha*e a co##on topic to tal/ about " raising their /ids. They get to see the#sel*es in a 1hole ne1 light and get to appreciate raising their child independently.

8ating can help you *oice out your *arious concerns. 8ating gi*es you the opportunity of finding the perfect partner 1ho 1ill 1ant to spend the rest of your li*es together. Your child can also benefit by ha*ing a ne1 father or #other. thereby boosting self"estee# and ha*ing a guardian to relie*e your child>s stress fro# the difficult past.

Where to &ind a 8ate

There are a lot of potential dates *ery near you. You should try to go out #ore and e(pose yourself to the co##on places 1here your future partner #ay be hanging out. li/e the school. the par/. the playground or in church. 8o not pressure yourself to go to places or do things that #ay only land you a bad date. )t is reco##ended that you go to the usual places. but !ust be #ore open and friendly. Tal/ to your neighbors. find a gy# buddy or help the lone father ta/e pictures of his /id playing soccer.

There are se*eral agencies and progra#s a*ailable too 1hich focus on helping lone parents find their potential partners. These agencies 1ill usually hold e*ents or other types of con*entions that 1ill help single parents sociali?e. You #ay be surprised to /no1 that there are so #any others out there 1ho are 1illing to find a co#panion or !ust healthy co##unication once in a 1hile.

As/ Your Child

)t is i#portant to as/ your child ho1 he or she feels about you going out 1ith so#eone. Tell your child that you are pri#arily going out to find ne1 friends and to find great and decent con*ersations. The child should feel co#fortable about the ne1 person as 1ell. )t is i#portant that you obser*e ho1 your date or your child beha*es around each other. You should also introduce the# both in a neutral place and see ho1 the friendship goes fro# there. 2a/e sure you ne*er neglect your child or #a/e hi# or her feel insecure about your ne1 date.

8ating +nline

The internet is full of choices 1hen it co#es to single parent dating. You 1ill no1 find dating sites and other online sites that focus on helping single parents find the person of their drea#s. You 1ill be reDuired to fill in so#e pertinent

infor#ation to help the syste# find you the #ost co#patible dates. So#e of the info you 1ill pro*ide #ay include current !ob. ho1 #any /ids you ha*e. ho1 long you ha*e been separated. your address. li/es and disli/es in a partner and dating preferences.

'ducational Assistance for Single Parents

Single parents sacrifice a lot 1hen they decided that they 1ill raise their /id independently. Teen parents are a#ong the #ost affected. since they need to deal 1ith financial struggles. establish ne1 roles in the ho#e and stop their education. There are se*eral progra#s and se#inars a*ailable no1adays that ai# to help single parents cope 1ith the challenges and li#itations that co#e 1ith their decision. Here are so#e #ore tips and guidelines.

What the Progra#s Can 8o

Single parent progra#s are pri#arily focused on pro*iding assistance to lone parents to help their child beco#e independent and stable in the future. The progra#s are also eDually focused on helping the #other or father de*elop a rene1ed sense of self confidence and to establish ne1 roles that 1ill ulti#ately #a/e the# *ery responsible and e#otionally stable people. These single parent progra#s help people deter#ine the things that they

need to do for their children. 1ithout ha*ing to co#pro#ise their o1n gro1th and 1ell"being.

&or the 4one Parent

The lone parent is the #ain focus of educational progra#s. So#e of these progra#s pro*ide acti*ities that 1ill strengthen the e#otional and #ental responses of the single parent. These acti*ities 1ill help the# beco#e #ore capable in handling *arious stressors as they raise their children. So#e types of educational assistance let the single parents understand their rights 1hen it co#es to custody and ho1 they can get #ore help fro# the #issing parent. So#e of the lessons 1ill include helping the lone parent find the right #eans that 1ill pro*ide for the child efficiently. such as getting so#e financial assistance fro# the #issing parent for rent. the child>s college education and other needs.

+ther Helpful Agencies

So#e progra#s are also focused on helping the #other or father find the right agency 1ho can assist. depending on the current condition of the lone parent and the current needs of the child. &or e(a#ple. there are associations that can help the lone parent 1ith #onthly rent and groceries. There are groups that help the parent create #eaningful acti*ities that 1ill cater to the child>s e#otional

and #ental needs. Se*eral agencies are a*ailable all o*er the @nited States and the 1orld. These groups #ay send representati*es and agents 1ho can cater and specify the reDuire#ents of each.

Scholarships and Colleges

Single parents 1ho stopped going to high school or college because of getting i#pregnated early can rely on special scholarships offered by certain groups and colleges. You can get benefits and study for free. pro*ided you pass the needed reDuire#ents and pass the e(a#s. You 1ill be inter*ie1ed and chec/ed if the current schedule is ideal for raising your child successfully. So#e uni*ersities and colleges are 1illing to offer big discounts or to pro*ide you 1ith *ocational courses. so that single parents can get better !obs and pro*ide for their gro1ing children sufficiently.

;etting Help +nline

Single parents can no1 find a 1ide array of choices online. They can get financial assistance. educational courses and scholarships by *isiting specific 1eb sites that pertain to their particular case. You can get #ore infor#ation by going to online discussion boards and online foru#s. Tal/ to the other e(perts online and find out #ore about the a*ailable internet agencies that can pro*ide you 1ith education and assistance. There are

se*eral free #aterials and tools on the internet that can gi*e lone parents educational assistance. You 1ill find se*eral la1s and regulations that pertain to your case. 1hich #ight help you get #ore support.

Studying +nline

You can #a/e use of the different #aterials on the internet. such as eboo/s. do1nloadable files and online progra#s. There are e*en ga#es and social net1or/ing sites that can help #a/e the e(perience #ore infor#ati*e and en!oyable at the sa#e ti#e. Studying online #eans you can spend ti#e to continue your education. 1ithout co#pro#ising your other obligations to your child and the ho#e.

A lot of single parents opt to study on the co#puter. so that they can stay close to their /ids and still attend to the different needs of their child. You can e(pect to finish your course in !ust a fe1 #onths or 2 years. depending on the progra# and the course. )t is i#portant to de*elop a net1or/ that can help you 1ith your studies. as 1ell as pro*ide you 1ith e#otional bac/up !ust in case your stress le*els rise too Duic/ly.

&inancial Aid &or Single Parents

While being a single parent #eans all things are under your control. you #ust ad#it that finances often are not. Ho1e*er. you can cruise through the financial proble#s 1ith less pain if you /no1 ho1 to #anage it or 1here to get help.

Ad#itting The =eed &or &inancial Assistance

You should be *ery proud that you>*e #ade it this far 1ithout brea/ing do1n and calling for help. Ho1e*er. you #ust /no1 that you can>t do e*erything by yourself. When it co#es to finances. if calling your e( for help is not an option. you should fa#iliari?e yourself 1ith 1hat resources and ser*ices are a*ailable for single parents in your co##unity.

As a single parent. that #oney can help #a/e situations less stressful. 2ost solo parents are already so proud of being solo that they tend to disregard the need for assistance. 6e#e#ber. you 1on>t get any help if you do not first ad#it that you need it.

2anaging Household Spending

9eing the parent in a single"parent household entails sacrifices. This #eans you #ust #anage your inco#e strictly and /eep your costs to a #ini#u#. To find out if there is so#ething in your spending

habits that can be tri##ed do1n to a*oid going o*er the budget. 1rite each of the follo1ing do1n and do this for at least #onths. This gi*es you an idea of your spending trends.

When you re*ie1 this list. you 1ill often find that a lot of things you do are unnecessary and can be done a1ay 1ith. &or e(a#ple. 1hile electricity and 1ater bills are a =''8. eating ta/eout food is so#ething you can scrap. Ha*e a loo/ at ho1 you>*e spent for the fa#ily o*er the $ #onths you recorded your spending beha*ior and #ap out a ne1. and #ore frugal. plan based on that.

&inancial Aid &or 'ducation

The go*ern#ent pro*ides assistance to single parents 1ho need help sending their child to school. as 1ith the &ree Application for &ederal Student Aid B&A&SAC. &ro# &A&SA. you or your child can #o*e on to apply for &ederal student loans li/e direct lending or Stafford loans. a &ederal Pell ;rant. or ta/e ad*antage of school"based assistance. such as the Per/ins loan. federal 1or/ study. or supple#ental education grants.

2ost educational aids are based on the applying fa#ily>s need. so it does not co*er a child>s tuition 177 per cent. Ho1e*er. if you>re si#ply loo/ing for a 1ay to aug#ent your spending and #a/e the load lighter. you #ay findf these opportunities

helpful.

&inancial Aid &or 'nergy 9ills

You can apply for assistance for your cooling and heating e(penses. called the 4o1 )nco#e Ho#e 'nergy Assistance Progra#. or 4)H'AP. through the 8epart#ent of Health and Hu#an Ser*ices. or 8HHS.

This progra# is designed to assist households 1ith s#all children. elderly residents. or those 1ith lo1 inco#es but ha*e high energy bills that often lead to health proble#s. The application for#at is dependent on the state you reside in. so get in touch 1ith your local health center to inDuire about the procedure.

&inancial Aid &or 9asic =eeds

)f a parent loses a !ob and cannot pro*ide for the fa#ily>s basic needs for the short"ter#. the Te#porary Assistance for =eedy &a#ilies progra# is a*ailable and 1illing to help. While you>re out loo/ing for a ne1 source of inco#e. the TA=& can supply your household 1ith basic necessities. Again. each state has its o1n set of Dualifications and guidelines for this progra#. so its best to get in touch 1ith the local hu#an ser*ices center.

+ther Sources

There are other resources helpful to single"parent households 1ithin the co##unity. #ost of 1hich you #ay not be a1are of. &ood ban/s. for instance. can help reduce li*ing e(penses.

6esell shops and thrift shops can also lo1er your budget for clothing. Ta/e note. so#e of the #ost stylish clothes can be found at these stores. so there>s no reason to be e#barrassed by going. &or te#porary or per#anent shelter. you can get in touch 1ith the local Y2CAHYWCA.

9eing a single parent does not only entail a higher sense of responsibility and endurance. but also the need to be hu#ble enough to ad#it that help is needed. 9y ta/ing ad*antage of these financial aids. you can help #a/e your daily spending a lot less ta(ing "" lea*ing you #ore ti#e to #anage the things that actually #atter. li/e ha*ing so#e bonding ti#e 1ith your /ids.

&inancial Challenges of Single Parents

Single parents ha*e to learn ho1 to deal 1ith the *arious challenges that co#e 1ith their position. The financial challenges are one of the biggest

issues that they need to o*erco#e. pro*ided that they ha*e to 1or/ t1ice as hard to reach the a*erage inco#e that t1o parents co#e up 1ith each #onth. Single parents ha*e to be #ore resourceful and creati*e to ensure that they can pro*ide the best future and options for their gro1ing /id.

;etting :obs

The cases of single parents can differ depending on the #issing parent. )n ter#s of financial challenges. fathers can usually o*erco#e faster and better. since #en are usually fully e#ployed and ha*e #ore options 1hen it co#es to raising their child co#fortably. 2others. on the other hand. #ay need to do #ore ad!ust#ents. !ust so they can cope 1ith the *arious needs of their /ids. 2others 1ill need to find 1or/. if they currently are not e#ployed. or #ay need to find a second !ob or a second source of inco#e if they already are earning. !ust so they can fully pro*ide for the#sel*es and the ho#e.

About )nco#e

2ost single parents say that the easiest stage of the financial challenges is during the infant years 1hen all the needs of the baby are !ust basic. li/e #il/ or food. 1ater and clothing. They can #a/e use of used ite#s li/e cribs. strollers and toys and can as/ for free ite#s fro# friends and relati*es

li/e diapers and feeding bottles. +nce the child turns $ or 4 years old. the needs 1ill begin to arise leading to higher inco#e reDuire#ents.

At age 4. the child 1ill ha*e to be enrolled in preschool. 'ducation e(penses is reported to be one of the biggest a#ong single parents. so they need to boost their sa*ings by 1or/ing double !obs or loo/ing for other business opportunities. Single parents also need to face the challenge of ha*ing to be constantly present for their /ids for e#otional support.

+ther Tools and 2aterials

Single parents #ay also need to suddenly acDuire ne1 things that they 1eren>t used to before. li/e a *ehicle to transport their /ids to and fro# locations li/e school. the hospital and grandparents> house. Single parents #ight need to in*est in so#e things to hopefully boost inco#e li/e a ho#e co#puter or laptop and other gadgets. Single parents ha*e to deal 1ith the regular e(penses that couples face each #onth. such as phone bills. electric bills. rent and groceries.

2ore &inancial Challenges

Single parents ha*e to enhance their sa*ings for bigger and future e(penses li/e sending their /ids

off to college. pro*iding educational *acations and perhaps. purchasing other #aterials for added security and con*enience li/e a car or laptop. )t is up to the single parent 1hether or not they 1ant to pro*ide these for their /ids. The financial challenge actually begins fro# the ti#e of conception. until about 13 or 21 years old 1hen the child beco#es independent. )n the case of di*orce or separation. the lone parent has to co#e up 1ith #ore financial options to enhance inco#e Duic/ly. since the needs of an older child is significantly greater than the a*erage infant.

;etting Help

There are no1 se*eral social agencies. religious groups and go*ern#ent agencies 1ho can help single parents o*erco#e the different financial challenges that co#e 1ith their position. 4a1s and regulations ha*e been de*ised to help single parents cope 1ith the *arious de#ands. These groups can pro*ide assistance by boosting the #orale of the earning lone parent. as 1ell as finding #ore opportunities for the# to effecti*ely co#e up 1ith the needed a#ount to pay for #onthly e(penses. So#e parents 1ill be gi*en options to !oin other *entures and inco#e"boosting acti*ities li/e net1or/ #ar/eting.

Pro*iding )nfo

Single parents are encouraged to be fully honest

about their condition at the ti#e of inter*ie1. so that the agencies can gi*e the right /ind of help and support. Parents also ha*e to trust these agencies and find other people 1ho can help the#. There are financial help and assistance pro*ided to parents. 4one parents should also /no1 #ore about protection la1s and regulations to /eep the# safe fro# unscrupulous plans and indi*iduals.

&inancial Help &or Single Parents

2oney is often tight for single"parent fa#ilies. According to the =ational Center for Children in Po*erty. single"parent households are t1ice as li/ely to be considered lo1"inco#e fa#ilies as t1o" parent households. The go*ern#ent ta/es action by pro*iding financial assistance and food sta#ps. The proble# is that #any single"parent fa#ilies earn Itoo #uchI to Dualify for go*ern#ent assistance progra#s but earn too little to get by e*ery #onth. )f this perfectly describes your situation. there are still other 1ays to get help0

Te#porary Assistance for =eedy &a#ilies BTA=&C. TA=& progra# is a*ailable nation1ide. but na#e often *aries depending 1hich state you li*e in. )n any case. TA=& can help you recei*e training. financial assistance. food sta#ps. and obtain and /eep a !ob. )f you ha*e been turned do1n before. it is al1ays good to chec/ regularly as your eligibility #ay ha*e changed.

Child Support " )n order to Dualify for any go*ern#ent assistance progra#. you ha*e to apply for child support. The logic is that. the go*ern#ent belie*es that both parents should be financially supporting the child before it steps in and pro*ides the needed help.

&ood pantries " &ood ban/s or food pantries can be found at your local area. They #ay be able to help you or point to additional local resources. The good thing about food pantries is that. you can recei*e assistance e*en if you do not Dualify for TA=&.

2"1"1 " )f 511 responds to e#ergency. 211 pro*ides infor#ation and referral to access ser*ices such as utility assistance. child care. housing. food ban/s. counseling. health care. e#ploy#ent. etc. 8ial this nu#ber for free.

Co##unity organi?ations " There are different groups that are ai#ed to gi*e assistance to single parents and less fortunate indi*iduals. These groups. 1hich can be found nation1ide. offer different basic ser*ices and te#porary relief that you #ay not be a1are of. Contact schools. different churches. religious groups. and co##unity organi?ations.

Yourself " While the go*ern#ent and different non"

go*ern#ent organi?ations are 1illing to pro*ide financial assistance as 1ell as basic ser*ices. it is i#portant to reali?e that you can do so#ething about your situation. )t is nice to /no1 that there are people 1ho are 1illing to offer so#e help. but it is i#portant to e(haust all the possibilities to find e#ploy#ent and to i#pro*e your financial standing. 8o e*erything you can in finding per#anent source of inco#e. budgeting any cash flo1 you ha*e. and finding for other 1ays to create e(tra inco#e.

Ho#e 9uying Progra#s for Single Parents

+1ning a ho#e and finding opportunities to #eet #onthly pay#ents is difficult enough for a #arried couple. thus. #a/ing it doubly challenging for an indi*idual 1ho has one or se*eral children depending on hi# or her. Single parenthood. does not #ean that you 1ill be renting out a ho#e for the rest of your life. until. of course. a high paying !ob co#es along. Ho#e buying progra#s for single parents e(ist to assist solo parents in purchasing a ho#e 1ithout the added and unnecessary stress. Ho#e buying. should be an eDual opportunity for e*erybody. regardless of one>s ci*il status.

Why 6ent. When You Can 9uy A Ho#eF

Ha*ing your *ery o1n ho#e is an in*est#ent in

itself. '*ery ti#e you spend. it>s not li/ely you>re going to see your #oney #a/e its 1ay bac/ to you anyti#e soon. )n contrast. if you place your inco#e into a ho#e. a tangible asset. you are 1here your #oney is going and are doubly sure that you ha*e so#ething to fall bac/ on 1hen the need arises in the future. Your o1n ho#e is a guarantee that you 1ill ne*er need to s1itch houses e*er again. and. being a single parent. this is perhaps one of the #ost essential things to ha*e.

Ho#e 9uying +ptions

6egular realty offers are friendlier to1ards households 1here t1o people earn inco#e. Single parents loo/ing to o1n their o1n houses usually ta/e longer to finish paying off the #ortgage because the solo inco#e is di*ided into too #any other i#portant pay#ents that concern his or her fa#ily. 4uc/ily. there are real estate and ho#e buying progra#s that are sensiti*e to1ards the needs of solo parents.

H@8

You can start by getting in touch 1ith the Housing and @rban 8e*elop#ent office in your office. A lot of H@8"run housing agencies ha*e ho#e offers and can draft pay#ent schedules that are #ore considerate of single"inco#e households.

The good thing about getting Dualified for a ho#e loan is that because only one person is applying. the appro*al process beco#es relati*ely faster than applications that in*ol*e t1o"inco#e households. Your local housing and de*elop#ent office 1ill be able to point out 1hich areas in the co##unity are best fit for solo"inco#e fa#ilies and 1hich are 1ell 1ithin your budget.

9uy A Condo

9ecause a single fa#ily ho#e does not really need so #uch space to begin 1ith. you #ight 1ant to consider buying a condo#iniu# or apart#ent unit. This 1ay. you 1ill not ha*e to 1orry about e(ternal housing #aintenance costs because the building ad#inistrators 1ill ta/e care of e*erything for you. &or a s#all association fee paid #onthly. all you need to thin/ about is #aintenance 1ithin the confines of your ho#e. You 1on>t e*en need to fuss o*er the outside hall1ay. unless. of course. your condo#iniu# does not pro*ide #aintenance.

When it co#es to pricing. a condo unit is relati*ely cheaper because there is no lot to spea/ of. As a single parent of one or t1o children. this is a practical choice. especially if you>re al1ays on the go and rushing off to 1or/.

;et A 4oan

Single parents fall under the sa#e category as first"ti#e ho#e buyers. so #a/e sure to point this out 1hen you>re tal/ing to your local ban/ for a possible loan. 9an/s li/e to in*est in their clients. so the #ore open you are about your pay#ent capabilities and your housing reDuire#ents. the #ore your ban/ 1ill be able to point you e(actly to 1here you need to loo/ and choose.

Ho#e 6eDuire#ents &or Single Parents

Single parents ho#e reDuire#ents are the sa#e as any other household. The house #ust be in a safe neighborhood 1here the /ids can #o*e around and playA it should be close to schools and local hospitals. and it should be close to the co##ercial areas so you can buy 1hat you need easily. 9ecause you 1ill #ost li/ely be out of the house 1or/ing. it 1ill be ine*itable that. at ti#es. you 1ill need to lea*e the /ids behind. That said. #a/e sure to choose a neighborhood that>s /id friendly.

+f course. the type of ho#e you purchase depends largely on your budget and ability to /eep up 1ith pay#ents. 8on>t go buying a ho#e !ust so you can pro*e to others that you can sur*i*e nicely as a single parentA buy a ho#e because you and your /ids deser*e it and because you can afford it.

Ho#e :obs &or Single Parents

Single parenting can be a challenge. especially if you 1or/ outside the ho#e. 8e#ands of 1or/ oftenti#es get in the 1ay 1ith the responsibilities at ho#e. 4ong co##ute forces you to lea*e early in the #orning 1ithout seeing your child go to school or arri*e ho#e late 1ith your child already sleeping. The Duestion no1 is. Iis it possible to perfor# both responsibilities 1ithout co#pro#ising one o*er the otherFI The ans1er is. Iyes.I With a range of ho#e !obs. the challenge of raising a child 1hile #a/ing a good and stable inco#e is reduced. 4et us discuss the possible !obs single parents li/e you can do right at your *ery ho#e0

&reelance Writer " This one doesn>t necessarily reDuire e(perience. although bac/ground in 1riting of any sort 1ould be an ad*antage. There are lots of freelance 1riting !obs a*ailable online0 blogger. technical 1riter. article 1riter and copy1riter. Pay ranges fro# E% to E177 per article depending on your s/ill and the difficulty and technicality of the topic. The good thing about 1riting is that the de#and 1ill ne*er end as online #ar/eters use articles to pro#ote their products or ser*ices online.

Tele#ar/eter or Teleco##uter " This type of !ob really does not need to be an office !ob. a lot of #any co#panies Blarge and s#allC are transferring to ho#e offices. 1hich allo1 the# to cut operating cost and gi*e ad*antage for single #o#s to 1or/ fro# ho#e. Tele#ar/eter is one of the #ain sources

of inco#e for #ost stay"at"ho#e #o#s today.

9abysitting or Tutoring " Wor/ fro# ho#e #o#s do not ha*e to stay in front of the co#puter. Ta/ing on additional children or tutoring students in your neighborhood can do a considerable inco#e too. )f you ha*e the passion for children. then this !ob 1ill fit your best. And the best thing about itF You are earning e(tra #oney 1hile ta/ing care of your child and others at the sa#e ti#e.

'ntrepreneur " The best thing about the 1orld today is that you can perfor# any tas/ for people fro# rearranging ho#e furniture to uploading #usic to their iPod. Search at your local Craig>s listings BCraigslistC to find different ser*ices you can do for other people or post a ser*ice you can do to others.

Sell online " 8ifferent auctions sites are there for your ta/ing. All you ha*e to do is to find so#ething to sell. and post it online. 4earn #ore about selling products online to #a(i#i?e your profit potential.

Ho1 to 2aintain '#otional Well 9eing As A Single Parent

Parenting is a tough !ob and the degree of

difficulty is #agnified further for single parents. A parent has to earn a li*ing 1hile #a/ing sure the children are being brought up right and the rest of the house is in order "" often. at the e(pense of his or her o1n happiness and personal relationships.

2any single parents 1ould not ad#it that they need so#eone to lean on 1hen the /ids are a1ay. )n fact. the #a!ority 1ould be playing super#o# or superdad and act as if they don>t need any e#otional support fro# anybody else. This is 1here the see#ingly perfect house of cards falls.

=o #an is an island. as the saying goes. And being hu#an #eans entering into #eaningful relationships 1ith other people. not necessarily of the ro#antic nature.

You don>t need to be in lo*e to e(perience happiness "" but you do need friends. beyond your fa#ily. to appreciate life e*en better. Aside fro# friends. one also needs to ha*e hobbies and acti*ities that gi*e a brea/ fro# the actual parenting.

A Single Parent>s '#otional Health

Single parents ha*e huge roles to play "" they coo/ dinner 1hile #a/ing sure their /ids are doing their

ho#e1or/. at the sa#e ti#e super*ising the bac/yard landscaper. planning #ortgage pay#ents. cleaning up the house. #anaging 1or/ and office issues. and a host of other responsibilities. So#e belie*e that there si#ply isn>t ti#e to stop and thin/ of personal needs.

Pride. or the sense of being >too busy>. is a co##on pitfall a#ong solo parents. Parents 1ho solely run an entire household are actually at a greater ris/ of de*eloping psychological proble#s than those in t1o"parent ho#es. Studies ha*e also sho1n that substance addiction is also #ore co##on in this case. because parents use substances as a coping #echanis# to the daily grind.

8ealing With The Pressure

Single parents push the#sel*es harder 1hen it co#es to pro*iding for their children "" and this is nor#al and e(pected. Ho1e*er. this superparent attitude is 1hat often leads to a strained e#otional 1ell being. This desire to do e*erything ta/es a toll on one>s ability to interact 1ith people his or her age. The e(panded u#brella of responsibilities and things"to"do so#eti#es #a/es one belie*e that ha*ing fun is a lu(ury you cannot afford.

Happiness is not a lu(ury but a right. As a single parent. you ha*e the right to be happy "" and you

can do this 1ithout co#pro#ising your duties as a parent.

;etting Help and Support

Support groups e(ist to better assist single parents deal 1ith personal and fa#ily issues. This is done by connecting solo parents and bringing the# into one group to share their e(periences and plans.

:oining support groups is e#otionally helpful because you are in a place 1here e*erybody is li/e you and e(periencing the sa#e things you are going through. Ad#it it. you can>t do e*erything alone and ensure that all is done 1ell. A single parent needs assistance. and often. a support group is the /ey.

:oining single parent support groups #ay be done in person through a local group listing in your neighborhood. or if you>re al1ays on the go. online. There are a lot of 1ebsites offering e#otional support and lin/s for single parents. )f you>re the type of person 1ho li/es things done hands"on. you can tap into the in"person single parents #eetings in your area.

What Single Parents Support ;roups Can 8o

2ost groups offer a sharing *enue for solo parents 1ho 1ant to tal/ about and share their e(periences 1ith other single parents. This is an effecti*e 1ay of gaining insight into other people>s parenting styles and seeing if these 1ould 1or/ for your situation. 9ecause it is an open discussion. you can as/ as #any Duestions as you 1ant and obtain ad*ice on ho1 to do certain things. Support groups usually #eet once or t1ice per 1ee/. depending on 1hat the #e#bers decide to do.

9eyong counselling. ho1e*er. so#eti#es a support group can also pro*ide aid for education. finances. and legal concerns. While you can>t really as/ your group for a loan. because it is focused solely on the needs and concerns of solo parents. its organi?ers 1ould also /no1 the resources a*ailable 1ithin the co##unity to help the parent be better at his or her !ob. )n short. help is a*ailable "" all you need to do is as/.

9eing a single parent is a tough !ob and you #ight thin/ you don>t need any help at it. Ho1e*er. in order to be a 1ell"functioning head of the household. you ha*e to first #a/e sure that you are e#otionally fit and sound to ta/e all the responsibilities head on. The #ost i#portant first step is /no1ing that e#otional 1ell being is necessary and one thing you should ne*er ta/e for granted.

4ife After 8i*orce0 4etting ;o and Ta/ing Care of Your Children

About %7 percent of #arriages in the @nited States end up in di*orce. A pretty co##on occurrence indeedA but you 1ill not really understand ho1 it feels until you are there. in that *ery situation 1here you ha*e to let go and #o*e on 1ith your life as a single"parent to your child. This article does not intend to re#ind you or intensify the pain of di*orce. but to gi*e you a proper loo/ of yourself as you begin to face the future.

4etting go is the single. #ost i#portant #o*e you ha*e to do after di*orce. This frees you fro# loo/ing o*er your shoulders and gi*es you #ore #eaning of the life 1ith your children ahead. 9ecause ending your #arriage doesn>t #ean the end of your life. you need to understand that life #ust go on. no #atter ho1 painful it is.

;rie*ing doesn>t #a/e you any better. ITi#e and tide 1ait for no #anI. the popular pro*erb says. The 1orld 1ill carry on 1hether you li/e it or not and it 1ill not grie*e 1ith you. You got to pull things together. go on 1ith your life and #a/e your life #ore producti*e. #ore #eaningful. and happier together 1ith your children.

8on>t 1aste your ti#e 1ith regret. )f the #arriage is o*er. it is o*er. Period. 8on>t 1aste your ti#e

thin/ing I1hat if.I 6ecogni?e that regret only #a/es you #ore #iserable. 6egret does not turn bac/ the hands of ti#e. )t is the Ino1I that #atters and you ha*e to #a/e #ost out of it.

Thin/ positi*ely. no #atter ho1 difficult it is. Here. a support group that 1ill #oti*ate you to pursue better life is *ery helpful. ;et a1ay fro# negati*e thoughts and catastrophic languages. You #ay be saying. I2y life is o*erI or I) can>t go on 1ith #y life any#ore.I no1 that these are not true. You can do good things in life by !ust changing the 1ay you thin/ of things.

&inally. be a good e(a#ple to your children. Their life depends on you. Thin/ing negati*ely and 1asting ti#e doing nothing 1ill certainly not help to you and to your children. They are de*astated 1ith 1hat happened bet1een their parents and they need you today #ore than e*er.

Personal happiness does not depend on 1hat happens to you. but on the attitude you carry a#idst ad*ersities.

2yths Confronting Single"Parent &a#ilies

There has al1ays been a stig#a attached to being a single parent. This has been created by pre!udice

*ie1points and pro#oted haft"truths. The reality is. 1hile single parenting can be a challenge. it is not as bad as you thin/ it is. The proofF )f you are going to ta/e #yths about single parenting as general rules and ta/ing into consideration that statistics that al#ost %7 percent of #arriages end in di*orce. our children are the 1orst youth in the 1orld. Here are so#e popular #yths related to single parents that should be debun/ed0

2yth 10 Children in single"parent ho#es perfor# poorly in school as a result of e#otional suffering. There are so#e studies so#eho1 support this clai#. these studies selecti*ely ignore other factors and present 1hat is negati*e. While statistical data can hold 1ater. they cannot predict the outco#e of the general children population 1ho li*e in a single"parent ho#e. The truth is. if the custodial parent. together 1ith the children. is able to #anage the situation 1ell. they #ay perfor# better in school and beco#e a better parson later in life than any children li*ing in a t1o"parent ho#e.

2yth 20 Single"parent ho#es are bro/en ho#es. While a single"parent ho#e is a less ideal en*iron#ent for children to gro1 up in Baccording to the societal nor#sC. it doesn>t #ean that it is bro/en. 2any 1ell"researched studies Brecent and oldC suggest that single parent ho#es Ide*elop better relationship bet1een the custodial parent and the children.I Ide*elop parent>s independence and ability to handle different situations

responsibly.I and Ipro*ide *enue for the fa#ily to li*e har#oniously.I

2yth $0 Single parents are alone in dealing 1ith all the responsibilities. The issues of self"sufficiency in financial and e#otional aspects of life ha*e al1ays confounded single parents. especially those 1ho are financially challenged. The fact is. 1hen you li*e in a single"parent ho#e. you are not alone. Your relati*es. friends. fa#ily. and other support groups are there to pro*ide assistance and help you see life #ore positi*ely.

2yth 40 Children in single"parent ho#es ha*e lo1 self"estee#. While separation of parents can cause children to ha*e lo1 self"estee#. it does not #ean that e*ery child fro# a single"parent ho#e has lo1 self" estee#. )n a study conducted in 155$. the deciding factor related to lo1 self"estee# of children is the inco#e le*el of the fa#ily. 9oth single and t1o"parent fa#ilies are found to ha*e children 1ith lo1 self"estee# if the inco#e is lo1. )t is !ust that #any single"parent ho#es ha*e lo1 inco#e le*el. hence the #yth.

Whether you belie*e in these #yths or not. one thing re#ains clear0 you are the captain of your life. )t is up to you 1hether to e#brace the negati*es or pursue 1hat is good for your fa#ily.

Preparing Children for Single Parenting

Children ta/e the biggest hit 1hen parents separate. hence. it is i#portant that you handle their e#otions right a1ay and prepare the# for the changes around the house0

Ti#e and Ti#ing Tal/ to your children right a1ay about 1hat>s going on in your fa#ily. =ot only because they 1ill feel it any1ay. but also because they pic/ up bad e#otions and interpret it 1rongly. You should let your /ids reali?e that di*orce is not their fault and they are still lo*ed regardless of the changes that 1ill co#e in the future. There are lots of resources that 1ill teach you ho1 to brea/ the ne1s to your /ids. but 1hat is #ost i#portant is that you should let the# /no1 the truth right a1ay.

Handling '#otion Your children feel 1hat you feel0 they thin/ that they are di*orcing as 1ell. So the first thing you should do is to get the# around single parent children to let the# /no1 that it is o/ay. Single parent support groups are a good *enue to let /ids get e(posed 1ith other /ids fro# single parent ho#es. Here. they 1ill reali?e that there is really nothing 1rong in gro1ing up in a single"parent

ho#e.

)f they feel sad. angry and e(perience different negati*e e#otions. there is nothing you can do but to let the# e(perience these. 8o not hesitate to see/ professional help fro# therapist if you thin/ you cannot handle the situation 1ell.

eeping the fa#ily together 8ifferent children react differently 1ith separation. So#e children tend to distance the#sel*es fro# their parents 1hile others tend to be #ore dependent to their custodial parent. 9ut regardless of your case. it is i#portant to #a/e sure that your /ids do not choose the 1rong direction. Stay close to your /ids as they gro1 up. Spend ti#e and /eep an open co##unication 1ith the#. Teenage /ids #ay be tougher to control. Still. you need to do definite actions to /eep the# at your side.

What about the other parent Separation often gi*es you the feeling of anger to1ards your e(. but for the sa/e of your /ids. it is i#portant to allo1 the# to /no1 their other parent. 8o not depri*e your e( the ti#e 1ith your /ids. 8o not teach your /ids to hate their father Bor #otherC. And do not use the# as tools for re*enge.

ids are undergoing a lot of e#otions they cannot handle. )t is i#portant. therefore. to be there and pro*ide the support they greatly needs.

Pros And Cons +f Single Parenting Your Solutions

id And

Single parent fa#ilies ha*e their good share of uniDue challenges. )t is not all bad e(perience. &or #any single parents. parenting beca#e #ore re1arding and en!oyable 1hen they decided to do it solo.

The initial proble# faced by single parents is ho1 to effecti*ely !uggle their ti#e bet1een their !ob or !obs. their children and the#sel*es. This part of being a single parent is *ery challenging but it is not i#possible.

Since #ost single parents these days need to ha*e a full"ti#e !ob 1ith a part ti#e !ob that brings in inco#e on the side. it is *ery difficult for the# to ha*e enough ti#e for other things. Ho1e*er. through proper #anage#ent. child care as 1ell as their personal ti#e can be 1ell ta/e care of.

+n a less practical side. ha*ing no one to confide proble#s 1ith or ha*ing no co#panion to stay by one>s side during ti#es of trouble can be *ery

difficult for single parents. The lac/ of a constant partner 1ho #ay act as a sounding board and a co"decision #a/er for the fa#ily can also pro*e *ery proble#atic.

)t is a proble# for #ost single parents to pro*ide adeDuate guidance to children of opposite se(. There si#ply is no co##on e(perience to dra1 fro#. &inding friends or fa#ily #e#bers 1ho can act as the father or #other figure for the /id could be a good solution.

2ean1hile. there are actually parents and /ids 1ho are relie*ed by the absence of a parent. Constant fights. argu#ents. and shouting are ended once one of the parents lea*es. The children are relie*ed of the stress that the proble# parent gi*es and the parent 1ho is left to ta/e care of the# can better focus on ta/ing care of the fa#ily.

Another ad*antage of single parenting on the side of the parent is that crucial decisions can be #ade 1ithout ha*ing to deal 1ith a husband or a 1ife 1ho disagrees for any reason. )t also allo1s parents and children to build a closer bond 1ith each other.

2any of the proble#s that co#e along 1ith single parenthood are balanced out by 1hat can be percei*ed as ad*antages. 8epending on 1hich side you loo/ at it. single parenting can be proble#atic

or it could bring in peace and stability. )t is difficult. yes. but it is re1arding as 1ell especially 1hen the parties see at as an option. not as a proble#.

Psychological 'ffects on Children of Single Parents

'*en though single parenthood is generally accepted 1orld1ide no1. it is i#portant not to ignore the effects that the process could gi*e to children. Children of single parents can gro1 up to be *ery stable and independent indi*iduals. There are so#e 1ho suffer the e#otional and #ental conseDuences. leading to incapacities and inco#petence 1hen they get older. So#e studies e*en sho1 that there is an increased li/elihood that children 1ho gre1 up 1ith !ust one parent to di*orce. separate or also raise a child alone.

&ro# 8i*orced Parents

=egati*e effects 1ere disco*ered a#ong children 1ho had di*orced parents. Children of di*orce generally suffered fro# #ild to se*ere bouts of depression. A lot of the /ids started to get in trouble 1ith the la1 as early as , years old. Se*eral of these /ids did not do so 1ell in school. had failing #ar/s and often got into fights 1ith other /ids. Children ha*ing conduct proble#s and depression presented signs that the proble#s ca#e fro# the parental

conflict. '*en though the cause or trigger 1as ob*ious a#ong adults. #ost of the /ids at the ti#e could not distinguish 1hat caused the changes in beha*ior.

So#e &actors

The #ental reactions that /ids de*elop to1ards their di*orced parents can change in se*erity based on $ factors. &irst is the type and Duality of relationship 1ith each parent before the separation occurred. Second is the duration and intensity of the conflict bet1een the parents. Third is the ability of the parents to concentrate on the needs of the /ids during the di*orce. 2ale /ids sho1ed a greater capacity to ad!ust socially and acade#ically co#pared to girls.

There are ne1 clues that 1hen children go through *ery stressful periods. they both suffer the sa#e 1ay. The #anner of suffering differs. ho1e*er. bet1een the se(es. 9oys can sho1 sy#pto#s and signs of the stress and pain e(ternally by acting out the hurt and frustration. ;irls usually hold the stress 1ithin. only indicated by altered sleeping and eating habits or de*eloping sto#ach pains or headaches.

2ore &eatures

;rades of ele#entary /ids. as 1ell as their perfor#ance in e(tracurricular acti*ities suffer as they beco#e #ore a1are about the changes in inco#e. Single parents usually di*ulge #ore infor#ation than usual about their finances to their /ids. leading to added stress and 1orry. The nutrition and physical 1ellness of the child can also deteriorate.

What Single Parents Can 8o

9alanced future relationships can still be achie*ed by pro*iding the /id 1ith continuous in*ol*e#ent 1ith both parents. As long as the child feels secure about his or her relationship 1ith the e(isting parent or guardian. there is a *ery big chance that the child 1ill continue to adapt to other relationships. )t is i#portant that the parent understands the responsibilities and functions of the #issing parent to continue pro*iding a *ery balanced relationship 1ith the /id. &or e(a#ple. fathers 1ill ha*e to stay ho#e so#e of the ti#e to /no1 #ore about his child>s needs. The father #ay be in*ol*ed in so#e acti*ities li/e choosing a pro# dress. ta/ing the daughter to #usic lessons or learning ho1 to fi( the daughter>s hair. 2ore Sa*ing Tools

The introduction of stepparents is actually a *ery good #o*e to help #aintain the child>s

psychological and e#otional 1ellness. The child should first be infor#ed about the co##on #yths and other #isconceptions about stepparents. They should be encouraged to start ne1 relationships 1ith the stepparent. The goal of the stepparent is to negotiate and allo1 the child to e(press all feelings and let the# understand the role that you are ta/ing o*er.

A#ong &athers

The relationship bet1een /ids and non"custodial fathers are often #ore strained and difficult co#pared to /ids and non"custodial #others. &athers can beco#e *ery detached and disinterested fro# their /ids. A lot fathers actually did not *isit or see their children after the di*orce or separation. There are big issues re*ol*ing around the loss of a father. such as the absence of a disciplinarian or an authoritati*e figure in the ho#e. The lac/ of a father also #eans less o*erall inco#e in the ho#e. because #ale inco#e generally is greater co#pared to single 1or/ing #o#s. 2ore stress and strain are usually e(perienced by the /ids 1ithout a #ale parent.

6educing Single Parent Stress

Solo parenting is not uniDue. At least 2%G of A#erican children today li*e in a single parent

ho#e. 2any parents are di*orced. others are solo parents by choice. the rest are 1ido1ed. but 1hate*er the reason is. raising a child alone creates a lot of stress. )f you are a single #o# or dad. here are the things you can do to help #ini#i?e the o*er1hel#ing stresses as a single parent.

;et a hold of your finances 2a/ing sure that you ha*e stable source of inco#e to support your child is difficult. Hence. it is i#portant that you /no1 1here your #oney is going and that it is going 1here it should be. 4earn ho1 to budget properly. Thin/ of long ter# in*est#ent such as college and retire#ent.

Control your life Stress can be a real #enace0 it re#o*es you fro# your co#fort ?one. it gi*es you reason to be irritated #ore easily. it re#o*es your concentration. 9ut instead of allo1ing stress to control your e#otion. and thus your action and outloo/ in life. control your stress. Plan your e*eryday acti*ity. )f you ha*e se*eral tas/s to do. thin/ of the one you are doing and forget about others. That>s the only 1ay you can acco#plish things properly.

8o not isolate yourself Spending ti#e 1ith friends is a lu(ury you can>t afford. After all. you can>t spend enough ti#e 1ith

your /ids. 9ut re#e#ber that you need to sociali?e and associate yourself 1ith people. Treat your friends as a support group. They 1ill be able to help you put things in the right perspecti*e. lighten up your #ood if necessary. help you 1ith so#e ho#e tas/s. and be there 1hen you need support. Single parenting can be *ery lonely if you entertain negati*e thoughts and li*e in a lonely en*iron#ent.

'stablish a routine Setup a schedule for #eals. bedti#e. chores. and other fa#ily functions so that you and your /ids /no1 1hat to e(pect. no1ing 1hat you 1ill do e*eryday helps you and your /ids feel #ore rela(ed and organi?ed.

Tal/ to your /ids Your /ids should not re#ain blind fro# the real situation of the house. Try to create an honest con*ersation about your financial standings. the changes around the house. and the ad!ust#ents they need to do. +nce they reali?e 1hat>s happening. they 1ill be 1illing to help.

8on>t put the bla#e to your /ids )t is not their fault if your life is not a li*ing drea#. so do not use fa#ily proble#s as reasons to treat your /ids badly. )t 1ill ne*er help.

Secrets +f Successful Single Parents

=ot all single parents struggle 1ith single parenthood. A large nu#ber of the#. in fact. en!oy the process. Here are the secrets of so#e of the #ost successful single parents.

Acceptance of full responsibility. So#e single parents tend to see their situation as a huge roadbloc/ for li*ing a happy life. They only see the proble#s of their situation and all the possible 1ays to e(aggerate the#. Successful single parents do not do this. They neither e(aggerate nor understate 1hate*er they ha*e.

Co##it#ent. &ro# the day you ha*e beco#e a single parent. your #ain focus is your fa#ily and its 1ell"being. )f you can belie*e it in your heart that you li*e !ust so your child can sur*i*e and ha*e a good life and if you genuinely co##it yourself to ta/ing care of that child 1ho is born of your o1n flesh. single parenting 1ill be !ust as good as ha*ing a partner to raise your child.

+pen co##unication. ;ood single parenting in*ol*es open co##unication 1hich encourages children and adults ali/e to

e(press their feelings and thoughts about the issues affecting their fa#ily. +pen co##unication does not only allo1 children to directly participate 1ith fa#ily affairs but it also allo1s the entire fa#ily to function #ore as a unit 1hile #aintaining the indi*iduality of each of the #e#bers.

Appreciation of the ad*antages of single parenthood. The ad*antages of being a single parent certainly pale in co#parison 1ith the ad*antages of ha*ing a co#plete fa#ily. Ho1e*er. there are still so#e benefits to raising your /id alone. You can as a single parent. for e(a#ple. #a/e i#portant decisions for the fa#ily 1ithout the interference of another person. &ind the strength in these ad*antages.

Wor/ing as a fa#ily. The proble# 1ith #any single parents is that often they do it alone. 1hich is *ery destructi*e to the#sel*es and their /ids. To be successful in single parenting. one should reali?e that each #e#ber of the fa#ily is capable of contributing to the solution of any proble#.

'n!oying the process. Successful single parents are not bitter about their situation. )f you see single parenting as pathological and not as an option. you 1ill find it

#uch #ore difficult than it actually is. Parenting. single or other1ise. is a 1onderful e(perience. 9eing the child of a parent 1ho en!oys his lifelong !ob can be *ery re1arding for the /id. 8o not rob yourself and your /id the en!oy#ent of a fa#ily by thin/ing that single parenthood is a de*astating disease. )t is not. Thin/ of it as a good option to share your life 1ith your /id #ore fully.

Single Parenting And Parent <isitation

Parents are hu#ans. )t can be hard for the# to see the e(cite#ent in the eyes of their children 1hen it>s ti#e to *isit their other parents. They can get !ealous because their child see/s the lo*e and attention of their other parent. They can e*en feel re#orseful for the attention the other parent gets.

As a single parent. it is o/ay to feel all this. As the sole person 1ho ta/es care of your /id. you feel that it is only right that you get all the attention and lo*e fro# your /id. @nderstand that one parent alone. no #atter ho1 good. lo*ing or attenti*e that parent is. can ne*er fill the space left by the other parent. The /id 1ill al1ays loo/ for that #issing so#ething that only their other parent can pro*ide.

Tips That Can 2a/e Parent <isitation Wor/ &or You

Allo1 your child to not feel guilty about lo*ing his other parent. 8o not rob your /id and your e(" spouse the e(cite#ent of spending ti#e 1ith one another. '*en if the feelings run high 1hene*er you see the# happy together. do not sho1 it. This could spoil the fun for your child.

Harbor no bad feelings about your e("spouse. This part is. 1ithout a doubt. *ery difficult to do. 9ut for the sa/e of your child. try not to spea/ poorly to1ards your e("spouse. 2ore i#portantly. do not trash your e("spouse in front of your /ids. )nstead. spea/ 1ell about her #other or father. 8o this e*en 1hen he or she spea/s poorly of you. &or all you /no1. trashing your e("spouse in gesture and 1ords can hurt and hu#iliate your child. =ot to #ention. this can put the distance bet1een you and your /id.

Tal/ and let your /id tal/. +nce your /id gets bac/ ho#e. tal/ about the happy things that ha*e happened around your house 1hile he 1as a1ay so he 1on>t feel li/e being left out. 'ncourage your /id to tal/ about the fun things he has e(perienced 1ith his dad or #o#. 8o not pressure your /id to tal/ if he doesn>t feel li/e it. 8o not as/ Duestions that he is not co#fortable ans1ering. )f he doesn>t feel ready to tal/ about his other parent. don>t push hi#. This 1ill force your /id to close up in order to protect his other parent.

Allo1 your child to ad!ust. ids sho1 different te#pera#ents 1hen they get bac/ to their original ho#e after a *isitation. So#e beco#e upset. stay Duiet. or 1ithdra1n. +thers act up. feel happy about the s1apping 1hile at the sa#e ti#e feel guilty and disloyal to1ards you. Allo1 your /id to ad!ust and get used to the house. ;i*e the# a fe1 #inutes. hours or e*en days to beco#e accusto#ed again to your house.

Single Parenting and Staying Healthy

)n a t1o"parent ho#e. 1hen one parent is sic/. the other can still go to 1or/ and ta/e care of the fa#ily. )n a single parent ho#e. things are different. The custodial parent cannot afford to #iss 1or/ and the responsibilities at ho#e. Since e*erything relies on her or hi#. she or he has to 1or/ regardless of her conditions. =o #atter ho1 1ell a single parent ta/es care of herself or hi#self. getting sic/ is ne(t to i#possible. )f you are in this position therefore. is to re#ain healthy and a*oid sic/ness as long as possible.

The first thing you ha*e to guarantee to yourself is sleep. ;etting enough sleep at night allo1s your body to reco*er. release stress. regain strength. and prepare for the follo1ing day. =o #atter ho1 #uch 1or/ you ha*e or ho1 #any chores that needs to be done 1hen you get ho#e. you ha*e to #aintain a regular sleep"1a/e cycle. This 1ay. your body can

anticipate and can prepare itself for rest. )f getting deep sleep is difficult. re#e#ber to rela( or practice a regular routine li/e ta/ing a sho1er before going to bed. +nce you train your body. you ha*e better chances of getting the rest you deser*e.

'at right. Single parents usually ha*e poor diet si#ply because they do not ha*e the ti#e and cannot afford to sit do1n and get a good #eal. )f it sounds fa#iliar. there are things you need to change. &irst. eating right #eans eating brea/fast. lunch and dinner. S/ipping #eals should not beco#e a habit. &ood selection is also i#portant. ;et a balanced #eal. 'at #ore fruits and *egetables.

;et a regular e(ercise routine. You need not enroll to a gy# to get your body going and burn so#e calories. A short run e*ery #orning. bi/e during 1ee/ends or other physical acti*ities. as long as you do it on a regular basis should be enough to /eep your body fit and healthy. )n #ost cases. single parents lo*e to in!ect so#e e(ercise in their daily acti*ities but fail to do it because of ti#e restrictions. What you should do is to treat e(ercise as one of your top priorities. +nce you learn to prioriti?e this. it beco#es #ore natural.

;etting enough rest. 1ise food selection and regular e(ercise are not e(clusi*e to single parents. Ho1e*er. because of all the responsibilities you need to do and the roles you

need fulfill. you. a#ong all other people are in need of these things.

Single Parenting0 9eing A ;ood Parent &or Your

id

Single parenting is a strain no #atter 1hich direction you loo/ at it. An a*erage day consists of !uggling yourself and your ti#e bet1een your /id. your !ob>s. your bills. and yourself. These are not e(cuses to #a/e life a li*ing hell for your /id. There are #any things you can do and should not do to #a/e yourself into a good single parent.

9uild a positi*e i#age of your e("partner. )f this is i#possible for you to do. then !ust try not to bad tal/ your e("partner in front of your /id. The fact that your fa#ily is no longer the 1ay it used to is already gi*ing your /id a lot of stress. 8on>t #a/e your fa#ily>s situation a bit #ore of a struggle by >poisoning> your /id>s #ind for any reason. Your child deser*es a father or a #other. 8enying hi# that 1ould not only rob hi# off a father or #other figure but a good concept of fa#ily and adult relationships.

9e e#otionally present for your child. Your child needs you #ore today than he e*er needed you before. You #ay understand by no1 that you are not alone in your sufferingA your /id shares your

suffering. Whate*er you are going through. he has to go through. )f you feel that you ha*e lost a life partner. re#e#ber that your /id lost so#ething #ore *aluable. a fa#ily. )t 1ould be unfair for you to abandon your /id 1hen he is stressed out the #ost.

Turn your house bac/ to being a ho#e. )t is not enough that your /id has a roof o*er his head or a shirt o*er his bac/. What he really needs is a fa#ily. a 1hole one. Although it is no1 Duite i#possible to restore the 1ay things 1ere. it is possible to build ne1 foundations for a ne1 ho#e.

2a/e your ne1 ho#e as nurturing and as peaceful as possible. 8o not let the troubles of the past o*er1hel# your fa#ily and the uncertainty of the future trouble your /id. 'stablish 1ell defined. co##only agreed upon house rules and be fir# about the#.

9e good to yourself. At the core of being a good single parent is being good to yourself. When you are un1ell. e#otionally and physically. your /id #ay feel it and be guilty about it. eep in #ind that a stressed out parent al#ost al1ays produces a stressed out child.

&ind good role #odels for your child. '*en if you could ta/e the role of a father and a

#other at the sa#e ti#e. there 1ill al1ays co#e a ti#e 1hen your child 1ill be needing a father figure or a #other figure. )n the deepest recesses of his #ind. he searches for that so#eone 1ho can co#plete his concept of a fa#ily. )f this is not properly addressed by a good role #odel that can ta/e the role of a father or a #other. the child #ight go his o1n 1ay and find his o1n #odels.

Single Parenting for &athers

Single parenting can be a *ery difficult tas/ for either #en or 1o#en. Ho1e*er. the #en #ay find so#e ad!ust#ents Duite confusing and challenging. 2en are generally /no1n to be technical and practical. so #ost of the roles they play in the ho#e in*ol*es pro*iding and physically helping their /ids. Single fathers ha*e to start ad!usting by beco#ing #ore sensiti*e to the #ental and e#otional needs of their /ids. Here are so#e *ital guidelines.

=e1 6oles in the Ho#e

The father has to ad!ust to se*eral things should he gain custody o*er the child. &irst. he should start beco#ing #ore concerned about the #ental and e#otional needs of the child as #uch as he cares for the /id>s physical 1ell"being. This #eans ha*ing to go ho#e earlier than usual and spending #ore ti#e. The father has to learn ho1 to balance

1or/ing at the office and staying at ho#e 1hene*er possible. So#e fathers #ay ta/e the 1ee/end off and hang out at the par/ to play 1ith their children. or others #ay Duit their current !ob entirely to find another that allo1s the# #ore space and ti#e to raise their /id adeDuately.

The father has to learn so#e of the co##on tas/s that #others usually do. li/e cleaning the house and roo#s. 1ashing the dishes. coo/ing brea/fast and #a/ing snac/s for school. The father 1ill ha*e to read about the right things that the child has to be e(posed to li/e the right tele*ision channels. boo/s and #aga?ines. The father has to be a disciplinarian as 1ell as a lo*ing parent 1ho# the child can turn to during distress.

;ro1ing @p

Single fathers need to ad!ust 1hen their child reaches *arious le*els of de*elop#ent as 1ell. A lot of single fathers ad#it that raising a daughter is harder co#pared to raising a son. This is because #ale parents already understand the basic needs and de#ands of a gro1ing boy. When raising daughters. the father usually e(pects the #other to be responsible and ta/e charge. &athers 1ho raise their daughter independently can beco#e *ery good at applying #a/eup. doing their child>s hair. be updated about the latest fe#ale fashion trends and 1atch #ore girl #o*ies and tele*ision sho1s.

Stri/ing the 9alance

&athers 1ill ha*e to #a/e the necessary actions that 1ill #a/e the# good pro*iders. as 1ell as sensiti*e partners in ti#es of need. The father has to /no1 the signs and sy#pto#s of depression a#ong single parent /ids. )n so#e cases. the lone father #ay see/ help and guidance fro# the appropriate agencies or #ay tal/ to a fe#ale #entor to pro*ide effecti*ely to the different concerns of the gro1ing /id. &athers ha*e to be *ery balanced. being bold. strong and caring at the sa#e ti#e. The father has to ta/e the role of being the protector. the pro*ider. the career and the light of the ho#e.

Where to ;et Help

There are se*eral #aterials and resources a*ailable online for single fathers. A lot of these 1eb sites and online discussion boards pro*ide tips and other articles that 1ill help fathers understand their gro1ing child #ore to beco#e an effecti*e parent. You can rely on so#e groups and agencies that pro*ide boo/s. se#inars and progra#s that 1ill help fathers cope 1ith the *arious challenges that co#e 1ith raising children.

Trust and 6e1ard

&athers should learn ho1 to trust that their child

can start #a/ing independent decisions. &athers can be *ery fir# and disciplined but it is eDually i#portant for the# to pro*ide choices and to re1ard their children if they #a/e the right one. Trust is *ery i#portant for the child to #aintain the bond 1ith the lone parent. '*en though your /id #ay see# to be #a/ing a #ista/e. allo1 hi# or her to suffer the results then pro*ide assistance as needed.

The child>s capacity to /no1 the truth and to deal 1ith *arious ordeals should be trusted by the father. )t is i#portant for fathers to let their /id fight battles once in a 1hile too. )n so#e cases. letting the child #a/e choices or standing by 1ithout interfering is the best 1ay to establish trust. Single fathers can effecti*ely raise their child alone as long as they continue to reflect and see ho1 e#otionally responsi*e they are.

Single Parenting for 2others

Single parenting 1ill differ depending on the parent a*ailable for custody. 2others 1ill need to double their efforts 1hen it co#es to brining #ore inco#e to the ho#e. They 1ill need to be stronger. balancing their o1n 1elfare 1ith the current needs of the child. A lot of #others can beco#e depressed during the period. but /no1ing the guidelines 1ill help you get ahead of your proble#s and help you raise your child the best 1ay possible.

The Challenge for 2o#s

Single #others should establish a strong bond 1ith their children at a *ery young age. )n fact. e(perts disco*ered that the /ids of single #others tend to #ature faster co#pared to others. The children of lone single #others are #ore sensiti*e to the issues surrounding their ho#e and 1ill beco#e #ore attached to their single parent. 2others are /no1n to be the career and the #ost sensiti*e person in the house. Ho1e*er. 1ith the absence of a father or a pro*ider. the #other has to start beco#ing #ore practical and #a/e ends #eet to suffice the basic needs of the child li/e shelter. food. clothing and education.

2other>s 6ights

Single #o#s generally e(perience a significant decrease in their inco#e as soon as they separate 1ith their partner. There are la1s and regulations created. to protect 1o#en and help the# ensure that they can pro*ide the best future for their child. Single #others can as/ for financial aid fro# the non"custodial parent to co*er #onthly e(penses for the child. The #other #ay continue to get financial aid until the child is rendered independent. The #other #ay reDuire the non"custodial parent to care for the child on certain occasions. =on"*isitation of the non"custodial father #ay lead to #ore support reDuire#ent as ordered by the court.

Pro*iding for

ids

The lone #other 1ill need to go through different ad!ust#ents and changes to ensure that the child is 1ell"pro*ided for. So#e of the changes #ay include getting an e(tra !ob or starting to 1or/ fro# ho#e to spend #ore ti#e 1ith the child. The #other #ay as/ a friend or fa#ily #e#ber to li*e 1ith her in the ho#e to help assist in different child obligations. 2others 1ill start to learn so#e s/ills li/e dri*ing. playing a sport or fi(ing things so that the child can rely on her on different occasions.

Assistance Progra#s

Trac/ and search progra#s are a*ailable through *arious agencies if the #other finds it hard to loo/ for her e("partner to as/ for child support. There are se*eral groups that focus on helping single #others deal 1ith the challenges that co#e 1ith raising a /id independently. These progra#s #ay offer acti*ities. se#inars and 1or/shops that 1ill help #others gain a ne1 sense of identity. de*elop self"confidence. establish rapport 1ith the child. establish roles in the ho#e and find a potential partner in the future.

Assistance progra#s are a*ailable on the internet. Single #others can find healthy con*ersations by

*isiting specific 1eb sites and online foru#s. There are se*eral threads and articles online that pertain to the single #other and pro*ide the# 1ith tips and infor#ation that 1ill help the# get their rights and other benefits that co#e 1ith raising a child alone.

Tips for 2o#s

Single #others do not ha*e to co#pro#ise their health and personal 1ell"being 1hen raising a child alone. 9eing a single parent can be *ery co#fortable and easy. as long as you de*elop the routine and schedule correctly. ;et a daily planner and start 1riting do1n all the acti*ities you can do 1ith your son or daughter. li/e going to the par/. learning ho1 to ride a bi/e. buying groceries. etc. Your child actually beco#es your partner for se*eral years to co#e. Create the bond by sho1ing your lo*e and attention. because this is 1hat #others do best.

)t is eDually i#portant for #o#s to learn ho1 to stay fir# and discipline their child as necessary. 2others #ay also be open to the possibility of going out on dates 1hen the ti#e is right. )t is accepted for your child to /no1 so#e of the details so that both of you can help each other through the years. You #ay 1ant to o#it so#e details to /eep your child co#fortable and to a*oid pressure and stress that #ost /ids e(perience 1hile li*ing in single parent ho#es.

Sorting Single Parenting0 Ho1 To 9e A Single Parent While +ut Your +1n 4ife

)t>s a tough road ahead. =o one said it>s easy and possibly. it ne*er 1ill be. After all. being a parent is the hardest !ob of all. 9eing a single parent is double the sacrifice.

The hardest part of it all is the first year after the incident that had forced you to ta/e on the role of a single parent. You>re heartbro/en and de*astated. Your /id is confused and stressed out. To top it all off. both of you ha*e uncertain futures 1hich. if not handled this early. #ay cause you a lifeti#e of struggle. )t is during this ti#e 1hen serious ad!ust#ents to your current situation as a single parent occur.

2o*e on. Try not d1ell on the past. your past. )f so#e things did not go 1ell in the past. try not to thin/ about the#. Accept the reality that there are things that you can>t change any#ore and regrets that you ha*e to li*e 1ith. Channel your energies instead on fi(ing your fa#ily>s present and future. 6eali?e that there is too #uch to be done no1 that there is no ti#e ponder about the >should ha*es> and >1hat ifs> of the past. All this are a baggage that you ha*e to learn to let go.

Ha*e your personal ti#e. Single parenthood can force you to di*ide yourself bet1een #any i#portant things. #ost i#portantly the role of being a nurturer and a pro*ider at the sa#e ti#e. This should not be an e(cuse for you not to allo1 so#e poc/ets of ti#e for yourself. You need that too. You need ti#e to heal fro# a bro/en relationship. fro# the regrets of the past. fro# the pressures of the present. and the struggles of the future. You need ti#e to rela( and un1ind as 1ell. +1ning a fe1 #inutes of your day can #a/e a huge difference in your ability to cope 1ith single parenting.

)n*est on your strengths. Tap into your personality and identify 1hat Dualities you ha*e that can #a/e you a good single #other or father. )t is not a bad idea to beco#e 1ell *ersed 1ith your 1ea/ spots. 8oing so can prepare you better for situations that can challenge your stability and capacity as a parent.

81ell on the positi*e. A great psychologist once said0 )f you only ha*e a ha##er. you 1ill see all proble#s as nails. )n the sa#e #anner. if all you see is gloo# and doo#. you 1on>t be able to delight on e*en the brightest of things. You ha*e your /id and that in itself is a blessing. 8o not loo/ at your situation as if it is a burden. Thin/ of it as an opportunity for you to

gro1 as a person. as a #other. as a friend to your /id.

Single Parenting0 Ho1 to :u#pstart Your 4ife after 8i*orce

8i*orce is painfulA often. it ends up nasty. +nce the process is o*er and you are legally separated. the challenge continues. You ha*e to secure a ho#e. 1or/ harder. and earn a decent li*ing. All these point to one i#portant thing0 raising a child. A once shared life and responsibilities are no1 yours to ta/e on alone. 2ost often than not. single parents li/e you are ta/en off"guard as the responsibilities are #uch bigger than you ha*e i#agined. Here are so#e ad*ices to help you !u#pstart your life after di*orce0

8efine a ne1 relationship 1ith your e( for your children. You are no longer husband and 1ife. but you are still the father and the #other to your child. 8o not forget that no #atter 1here the custody is gi*en. you share co##on responsibilities 1ith your children.

Create a plan. 4oo/ into your finances carefully and identify your options in ter#s of health care. housing. retire#ent. and education.

Ha*e an honest tal/ to your /ids. While di*orce so#eho1 sol*es the proble#s of couples. it creates e#otional 1ounds to children. Ha*e an honest con*ersation 1ith the# and discuss the changes around the house. in their li*es. #aybe in school. and in the ti#e they 1ill spend 1ith their father Bor #otherC. Tal/ to the# about 1hat they feel and ha*e the# reali?e that it is for the better. As/ the# to get in*ol*ed. )f they /no1 that there are things they can do to help. it 1ill #oti*ate the# positi*ely.

9uild a support group. +pen your life to the people 1ho can help you go through this process. &riends and relati*es are the biggest sources of e#otional and 1ill po1er after di*orce.

&ind yourself. While you are no longer a half of a couple. you are still a co#plete person. 6edisco*er 1ho you are again.

6eali?e your drea#s. 8i*orce is not the end of the 1orld. but a good ti#e to start rebuilding your drea# you once ha*e 1hen you are still single. 9uild your drea# house. get the !ob you>*e al1ays 1anted or finish another degree.

Spend happy ti#e 1ith your /ids. 2a/e the# the source of !oy in your life and you. theirs. Create ne1 happy #e#ories 1ith your children.

2a/e ti#e for yourself. ;o bac/ to a hobby. reconnect 1ith friends. start an e(ercise routine. or !oin support groups.

Single Parenting is not 9ad at All

Single parenting is often eDuated to financial. e#otional. and psychological difficulties. '*en children 1ho li*e in a single"parent fa#ily are said to undergo trau#atic e(periences after their parents> separation or di*orce. There are particular cases 1herein single parenthood is #ore ad*ised than li*ing 1ith a spouse.

Studies cited that households filled 1ith conflicts are the least desirable en*iron#ent for children. Children li*ing in a t1o"parent household but are e(posed to constant fighting. argu#ents and e*en physical abuse 1ill do better in a single"parent household. A single parent ho#e #ay not be the #ost ideal en*iron#ent for children to gro1. but it is far healthier en*iron#ent than a bro/en t1o"parent household.

Children 1ho are constantly e(posed 1ith do#estic *iolence are #ost of the ti#e. unhappy and depressed and 1ould find an outlet to release hidden e#otions #ost of the ti#e. in school and 1ith friends. Children 1ho obser*e undesirable adult relationship carry different outloo/ in life

1hen they gro1 up. They tend to see relationship in a negati*e or beco#e pessi#istic about ha*ing a relationship or e*en starting a fa#ily.

9y residing in one"parent ho#es. all these can be eli#inated and #ay actually pro#ote better and healthier relationships bet1een the custodial parent and the children. A single parent 1ill actually ha*e #ore ti#e for their children as the circu#stances eli#inate a spouse in the eDuation.

While finances #ay be tighter. a single parent ho#e has a lo1er cost of li*ing co#pared to a t1o parent ho#e. as the for#er eli#inates the e(penses you shared together. Children 1ill ha*e to e(perience peace that pro*es to be a *ery i#portant part of gro1ing up.

+ften. parents 1ho separate beco#e better persons and disco*er #ore about the#sel*es. )n #ost cases. separated parents build better relationship a#ong each other 1hen they ha*e their o1n places. Children on the other hand 1ill be able to spend ti#e 1ith their parents in a #ore positi*e 1ay.

A single parent ho#e is not the best place for children to gro1. )f t1o parent house is no longer possible and is beco#ing #ore and #ore destructi*e for children. it is the best to accept that there is nothing #ore you can do than separate. Although separation should be considered as a last resort.

it is al1ays i#portant to eDuate children 1hen #a/ing this crucial decision. )n the end. it is your future and the future of your children that is put on the line.

Single Parenting. Post"Separation And '#otional )ssues

Separation fro# your e("spouse does not end in the courtroo#. What follo1s is a roller coaster ride of e#otions that co#prise of guilt. anger. depression. and panic. 8uring this stage. it is *ery i#portant to focus on addressing e#otional issues that affect you and your child. So#e of the things that can help are0

;o to therapy sessions 1ith your /id. Therapy sessions assure children that 1hat they are e(periencing happen to other people and /ids too and that they 1ill e*entually beco#e o/ay. You. on the other hand. get to ha*e the ti#e and tools to heal your e#otional 1ounds.

Tal/ about it. This does not happen right a1ay. but once you beco#e co#fortable 1ith disclosing 1hat truly happened to your friends and your /ids. you 1ill start feeling li/e the e#otional baggage you are carrying can be lifted fro# your shoulder. Tal/ing

also allo1s your /id to understand 1hat e*ents led to the separation of their parents. An i#portant thing to re#e#ber 1hen tal/ing 1ith your children is that you 1on>t #a/e the# feel guilty about the failure of the relationship. '#phasi?e that it is not their fault and that there is nothing they can do about it. 6e#e#ber. children al1ays hope for happy endings. They 1ill not stop hoping that so#eday. their parents 1ill get bac/ together.

;et on 1ith your o1n life. The 1ife or the husband is gone. Stop figuring out 1hat happened. There is nothing #uch you can do no1 e(cept to allo1 yourself to recuperate 1ithout beco#ing bitter about your e("husband or e("1ife and to start loo/ing for1ard to the future.

6estructure your ne1 life as a single #o# or dad. =o1 co#es the huge responsibility. As a single #o# or dad. you do not only beco#e the pro*ider for the /id. you also ta/e on the responsibility of nurturing the /id. This could #ean long hours at 1or/ and long hours at ho#e. What you 1ant to do is to organi?e e*erything.

Ho1 do you do thatF Start 1ith si#plifying things li/e setting up a structure around the house.

The #ost difficult part of the day is the #orning. This is 1here Duestions li/e IWhere>s thisFI or

IWhere>s thatFI pops up. +rgani?e your /id>s things and you 1ill ha*e half the proble# sol*ed. 9uy a dra1er for soc/s. s/irts. shorts. t"shirts. for e(a#ple. Thro1 out things that they don>t 1ear any#ore to sa*e yourself so#e clutter around the house. Set up a schedule for 1ashing the clothes and fi(ing the laundry. Si#ple things li/e these can #a/e your life as a single parent less stressful. #ore organi?ed and fulfilling.

Single Parenting0 Practical Ad*ice to 2a/e 9oth 'nds 2eet

When #oney is tight and the #onthly budget is inconsistent. single parents tend to loo/ for big 1ays to sa*e #ore #oney. =ot all reali?e that sa*ing on s#all things each day can add up to a considerable a#ount. Put these s#all sa*ing ideas into practice and you 1ill be putting #oney on the ban/.

no1 ho1 #uch grocery you can really afford " So#e single parents often treat the#sel*es #ore as IsinglesI and not as Iparents.I What usually happens 1ith this #indset is that they tend to buy things that are really unnecessary or outright useless. While not all single parents are li/e this. anyone can pic/ up good things about /no1ing ho1 #uch grocery you can really afford. no1 that it is not about getting the best. 2ost of the ti#e. buying 1hat you need is enough. So hands of fro#

pre#iu# products. especially toiletries. 1hich ta/e a large chun/ of your grocery budget.

2onitor your current spending " 4earn ho1 #uch you spend on housing. child care. schooling. food. grocery. gasoline. and utilities. )dentify ho1 #uch is going to1ards each category and identify areas 1here you can reduce your spending and 1or/ your 1ay fro# there.

Tal/ to your child BchildrenC " )f your /ids are old enough to understand 1hat>s going on. ha*e an honest discussion 1ith the# about the fa#ily>s financial standing rather than pretending to li*e e(tra*agantly. 4et the# help in curbing the fa#ily>s spending.

Pac/ lunch. #a/e your o1n coffee and drin/ 1ater " 6estaurants and fast foods are lifesa*ers if you are really busy !uggling responsibilities at ho#e and at the office. ho1e*er these can be *ery costly too. ;our#et coffee is really unnecessary. Soda is a big #oney 1aster. )nstead of li*ing 1ith these. #a/e lunch at ho#e and carry it to the office. #a/e your o1n coffee. and drin/ 1ater. 2ultiply the #oney you sa*e fro# doing this practice e*ery day 1ith the nu#ber of days you go to the office and you>ll see a considerable #onthly sa*ings.

Ta/e freelance !obs " 6e#e#ber ho1 you used to babysit 1hen you 1ere in college. or did so#e

errands in e(change of e(tra buc/sF You can do the sa#e thing 1hen you are a single #o#. There are se*eral freelance !obs you can find online fro# doing si#ple fa*ors fro# your neighborhood to ho#e" based clerical !obs. Any of these can aug#ent the fa#ily>s financial standing.

Single Parenting Proble#s +f Single &athers

4et>s face the truth. Single #others and single fathers are treated by society *ery differently.

Single #others are gi*en all the support. or at least #ost of the support. they need. There are the rights that the state and country pro*ide the# as 1ell as support fro# *arious ci*ic"oriented groups. Single fathers. on the other hand. are gi*en no #ore than a loo/ of suspicion.

This should not be the case. but sadly it is. Single fathers need as #uch help and assistance as single #others do. They raise the sa#e type of /ids. they spend the sa#e ti#e. effort and #oney. and they suffer the sa#e /ind of physical and psychological proble#s that acco#pany single parenting.

Here are a fe1 suggestions that can help you sail through the challenges of single fatherhood0

Search for assistance. 2en ha*e the innate tendency not see/ assistance. especially if that assistance co#es in #onetary for#. 9ut. for your sa/e and your child>s sa/e. loo/ for assistance. This 1ill not #a/e you loo/ less of a #an. this 1ill only reflect 1hat should be understood about single fathers J that you are !ust as disad*antaged as single #others.

)n order to sa*e yourself so#e troubles. try to first search for assistance online. There are #any agencies. go*ern#ent and ci*ic. that o1n 1ebsites you can use to find out infor#ation about the#. Paper1or/ can also be acco#plished off site. 9e sure to loo/ for the for#s online as 1ell.

Ad*ance the cause of single fathers. There>s so #uch attention being gi*en to single #others. but not as #uch is gi*en to single fathers. What better 1ay to help other single fathers li/e you than to be pro"acti*e about ad*ancing the issues that affect you. What better help you can gi*e to yourself than acti*ely see/ing help for single fathers li/e yourself.

9e 1ith your /ids. There is al1ays the social stig#a about single fathers. Society. as a 1hole. loo/s at single fathers as either parents 1ho ha*e no need for an

e(tra hand and can do 1ell by the#sel*es and as people 1ho did tric/s in the court to get the custody of their children. Although this is 1rong and certainly irrational. this is the 1ay things go 1ith the society.

9rea/ any #isconception about you and other single fathers li/e you by going out in the public 1ith your children. 8o 1hate*er appropriate acti*ity you can 1ith your children and your neighborhood 1ill instantly get the #essage you are sending across. that you are the best parent your child 1ill e*er ha*e.

Single Parenting0 The ;ood Things About 6aising Children )n A +ne"Parent &a#ily

While single parent fa#ilies are often seen as less than ideal for raising healthy children. it is ne*ertheless not al1ays true that nuclear fa#ilies offer the best ho#e en*iron#ent.

)t is often the case of a fa#ily in conflict prior to the decision of one parent to fly solo 1ith his or her /ids. )t #ay be the result of a di*orce or the death of one of the parents. =o #atter 1hat brought single parents to their current situation. the co##on deno#inator for #ost single parent fa#ilies is the conflict that ha*e forced one of the parents to #o*e out of the relationship.

&ro# this conflict co#e #any other proble#s. Ta/e it out and you 1ill ha*e a nurturing en*iron#ent that gi*es #ore attention to the needs of the /ids than 1ith the stress of endless argu#ents and fights.

Studies suggest that children actually benefit fro# li*ing 1ith only one parent or 1ith t1o separate parents. This is especially true for those children 1ho constantly see conflicts bet1een the adults at ho#e. =ot only does this rob children the full attention of their parents. this also gi*es the# an unhealthy *ie1 of adult relationships fro# 1hich they 1ould e*entually pattern their o1n relationships as adults.

Children of single parent fa#ilies also recei*e benefits beyond those that are pro*ided 1hen there is no discord around the house. )t has long been established that children 1ho li*e 1ith single parents are far #ore responsible. #ore independent. and #ore capable of ta/ing care of the#sel*es and their needs than those children 1ho ha*e stay"at" ho#e parents to see to their needs. Since their parents !uggle their hours bet1een 1or/. ho#e and their personal li*es. the /ids ha*e #ore opportunities to e(ercise responsibility around the house. They learn at a younger age and faster pace.

There are benefits fro# li*ing in t1o separate ho#es. Children can e(perience different approaches

around the house fro# 1hich they can later pattern their ho#es after. While this #ay be confusing for the /ids at first. in ti#e. they 1ill be able to !udge for the#sel*es the best things about both ho#es and bring these lessons 1ith the#.

Single parenting often in*ol*es e(tended fa#ily #e#bers to help 1ith raising the /ids. 9ecause grandfathers. grand#others. aunts. and uncles are in*ol*ed 1ith raising the child. the children fro# single parent fa#ilies learn to build #eaningful adult relationships along the 1ay.

You #ay not be raising your child in a so"called >ideal fa#ily>. but thin/ about it. raising a /id in single"parent fa#ily is not that bad after all.

Single Parenting Tips " 2a/ing :oint Custody And <isitation '(changes Wor/

When ha*e that 1ill

!oint custody and child *isitation e(changes been ruled by the court. there>s one issue beco#es ine*itable. ho1 difficult the process be for the child.

ids need the presence of both their #o#s and dads. They need father and #other figures that can gi*e the# a sense of fa#ily. Children of di*orced couples are no e(e#ption. 9ut these children.

al#ost al1ays ha*e to undergo processes that are out of their hands and are too difficult for the# to understand. To say the least. they 1ill ha*e to go bac/ and forth fro# #o##y>s place to daddy>s house. This #ay see# li/e a good arrange#ent for parents and their children. but it still re#ains a *ery difficult process. Here are so#e suggestions that can #a/e s1apping a little less troubleso#e for the /ids.

Co##unicate 1ith your e("spouse. '*en good di*orces ha*e their share of conflicts 1hich #ay #anifest during e(changes. Try to 1or/ out solutions to #a/e co"parenting and child *isitation and e(changes as har#onious. peaceful. and si#ple as possible. =o one suffers #ore fro# pent up ani#osity bet1een e("couples than the children bet1een the#.

Wor/ out a default plan. Conflicts. discord and argu#ents 1ill certainly arise during the course of child *isitation. )t is not a bad idea to create a fully i#ple#entable default plan that ha*e been agreed upon by you and your e("spouse 1hich 1ill be used in case of dispute. This lessens a lot of confusion and #ini#i?es the possibility of further proble#s that #ay se*erely affect the relationship bet1een you. your e("spouse and the child or children bet1een you.

Adopt a business"li/e attitude 1ith child e(changes and child *isitation. When >s1apping> your /id bet1een your houses. it is best to adopt an positi*e attitude that can be helpful in #a/ing the process as s#ooth as it can be. This should not be the platfor# to be used for discussing and negotiating *acation ti#es and child support.

eep your child>s best interest a priority. This is not bet1een you and your e("spouse any#ore. )t is an issue that directly concerns your child. When #a/ing e(changes. al1ays prioriti?e your child>s best interest. not yours or your e(" spouses. This #eans that you 1ill ha*e to co#pro#ise your interest in e(change for 1hat your /id truly 1ants.

eep the transition s#ooth. Prepare the /id beforehand. Allo1 hi# to be 1ell" rested the night before the e(change. 6eady his things. Ta/e the child o*er to the recei*ing parent>s place. A*oid the dra#a by allo1ing another person to act as #ediator bet1een you e("spouses Bthis #ediator is. for e(a#ple. responsible for shuttling the /id bac/ and forth the house of both parentsC. 2ost i#portantly. #a/e the /id feel happy about the e(change. )f this is i#possible for you to do. it is best that you !ust a*oid discouraging your child fro# going to his other parent>s house or a*oid #a/ing hi# feel guilty about spending the 1ee/ends 1ith his other parent.

Single Parents and =on"Custodial <isitations

Single parenthood can be *ery co#plicated. The process can ha*e financial. physical. #ental and e#otional effects on both parents. including the #issing one. and the child. )t is i#portant that you understand the roles of each. so that the child can continue to gro1 and beco#e a *ery stable and independent indi*idual. Children of single parents can still see their non"custodial father or #other. pro*ided that the li#itations and rules are 1ell set.

9eing Allo1ed to <isit

)n the case of separation or di*orce. parents are still allo1ed to *isit their children. pro*ided that there are already set rules and regulations to help the child gro1 up to be *ery independent and stable. )f the parents did not go through the !udicial syste# or a legal process to for#ali?e the di*orce or separation. then the parents the#sel*es #ay set their o1n rules and regulations. There are also se*eral cases 1herein the parents stuc/ 1ith the ter#s and agree#ent. thereby letting the child de*elop fully e*en 1ith !ust one custodial parent. )f the di*orce 1ent through a trial court. then the in*ol*ed parents should strictly follo1 the ter#s and other conditions of the agree#ent.

<ia a Trial Court

A di*orce or separation *ia a trial court 1ill #ean that the parents 1ill be categori?ed as either custodial or non"custodial. The custodial parent 1ill be responsible pri#arily for rearing and caring for the child. The non"custodial parent 1ill be responsible for certain tas/s and duties. particularly financial #atters to help assist in the different needs of the gro1ing child. The custodial parent 1ill be responsible for pro*iding the ho#e. the education. food. clothing and other needs. The court 1ill also reDuire the pri#ary parent to spend ti#e 1ith the child for a #ini#u# nu#ber of hours. 9et1een the t1o parents. the pri#ary parent 1ill need to ha*e #ore ti#e.

The non"custodial parent #ay no longer be responsible for pro*iding #ost of the basic needs. He or she 1ill pro*ide financial assistance and other types of help should the child need it. )n the case of e#ergencies or accidents. the non" custodial parent can still represent the child if the pri#ary parent is not a*ailable. The non" custodial parent #ay be pro*ided 1ith ti#e 1ith the child. 1hich e(plains 1hy so#e single parent /ids spend ti#e 1ith their non"custodial parent on 1ee/ends.

About <isitation 6ights

The di*orce rate in the @nited States has risen by #ore than %7G. A lot of adults are actually struggling to balance the established state la1s and the di*orce decree. <isitation rights are being considered thoroughly to ensure that the /ids gro1 up to be *ery balanced. The child can suffer fro# #ental and physical health co#plications if the *isitation rights are not properly arranged.

To beco#e healthy. the children #ay need to discuss the #atter 1ith the separating parents. '(perts do not ad*ise parents to let their child choose 1hich parent they 1ant to li*e 1ith. This can ha*e *ery big co#plications and profound effects that 1ill last for a lifeti#e. The state la1 1ill finali?e the outline of the *isitation rights of each parent. =on"custodial parents 1ill find that the outline is easier and can beco#e non"co#pliant 1ith the orders gi*en. Co#plications can de*elop a#ong children if their non"custodial parent fails to *isit the# regularly.

The 8uration

9ased on the ter#s of the child *isitation order. the days and hours of *isitation 1ith the child 1ill be established. &or #a!ority of /ids. the ter#s of the *isitation are e(plained fully so that the child can relie*e stress and to pro*ide structure to the schedule. When a non"custodial parent fails to be present for the designated

*isitation or if the non"custodial parent does not return the child to the house during the established period. profound distress and an(iety can result. Children suffering fro# this /ind of stress can de*elop poor beha*ior. health co#plications and unstable e#otional responses.

2odifying the Plan

)f the child de*elops se*ere stress. pain and an(iety as a result of the non"co#pliance of the non"custodial parent. the pri#ary parent #ay see/ help fro# the court and other agencies. The rules and #ay change. reDuiring the non"co#pliant parent not to see the child to ensure that the child does not suffer fro# further stress and other #ental and e#otional proble#s.

Single Parents>

ey To Happiness

There are single parents by choice. but #ost beco#e single parents out of necessity and una*oidable circu#stances. 'ither 1ay. ta/ing on the responsibility of both #other and father is not really 1hat #ost people ha*e in #ind.

9eing a single parent is a big challenge. &or #any. this is too #uch to handle and can lead to the feeling of e#ptiness and unsatisfied life. 9ut

rather than choosing to feel negati*ely about yourself and life in general. you can al1ays go at the brighter side of life despite the difficulties and the responsibilities presented in front of you. )f you are a single parent and you 1ant to change your perspecti*e in life. here are so#e tips that 1ill help you succeed in doing !ust that0

Acceptance " There are things beyond your control and things do not al1ays go as planned. )f you are going to insist that things should happen this 1ay instead of that. you are coo/ing a perfect recipe for #isery. 6igidity #ay help in so#e 1ays. but if the situation presented to you is so#ething that is beyond your control. !ust accept it. The #ore you fight the current. the #ore difficult it is for you to #o*e on. ;o 1ith the flo1. Accept 1hat you ha*e and do not loo/ for so#ething that is not there.

Appreciate " You are not placed in that situation by chance. You are 1hat you #a/e of yourself. So instead of feeling sorry about ho1 difficult it is to singlehandedly support your /ids. appreciate e*ery #o#ent you ha*e 1ith the#. )t is you 1ho has the po1er to change your life. but if you do not appreciate the things you ha*e. you 1ill re#ain blind of 1hat you can beco#e.

Support ;roup " Single parents cannot tac/le life alone. they #ust see/ support of a person Bor peopleC. The adage. a proble# shared is a proble# hal*ed re#ains true in this situation. eep a

support group by your side 1hether it is your fa#ily. relati*es. or friends.

Ha*e a positi*e outloo/ in life " Although life can play tric/s on you. it should not stop you fro# drea#ing of a better future and aspiring to beco#e a better person. This is the only 1ay that 1ill #a/e you stri*e despite of e*erything. Stay #oti*ated. drea# big. and life for the sa/e of your children and especially yourself.

Statistics About Single Parenting

Statistics has a lot to do 1ith the nu#ber of single parents today. Single parenting has also increased significantly throughout the years for se*eral reasons. There are pros and cons to the approach. depending on the parties in*ol*ed and the issues. You ha*e to /no1 #ore about the figures then deter#ine if single parenthood is the right 1ay to go. You #ay be able to obser*e the trend across the 1orld as globali?ation triggers the changes.

A#ong 2en and Wo#en

The @S Census 9ureau released so#e facts in August 277-. 1hich re*ealed that there are around 1$., #illion single parents li*ing in the @nited States.

These lone parents are responsible for the care of 21.2 #illion /ids. 1hich is about 2,G of all the /ids aged under 21 in A#erica at present. About 34G of all custodial parents are 1o#en or #others. and 1,G are #en or fathers.

A#ong the 1o#en. 44G are either separated or di*orced. $$G are ne*er #arried. 22G are #arried or ha*e re#arried and 1G is 1ido1ed. A#ong fathers. %-G are either separated or di*orced. 24G are no1 #arried or ha*e re#arried. 13G are ne*er #arried and 1G is 1ido1ed. These nu#bers sho1 that death is not a *ery li/ely cause of single parenthood.

The &inancial 8igits

2a!ority of #others B-5GC are e#ployed and earning co#fortably. %7G of the 1o#en 1or/ full ti#e all year"round. 1hile 25G 1or/ only part"ti#e or during certain periods of the year. 52G of all single fathers are e#ployed and li*ing co#fortably. -4G 1or/ all"year round 1ith full ti#e !obs. 1hile 13G only 1or/ part"year and part"ti#e.

Custodial single #others and their /ids li*ing in po*erty in certain parts of the @nited States B2-GC. 1hile 11.1G of custodial single fathers and their /ids are categori?ed as poor. $1G of all parents raising their /ids alone get public assistance. but only ,G get TA=& or the Te#porary Assistance for =eedy &a#ilies.

2ore Conditions

A#ong all custodial #others. $-.-G are aged 47 years old or older. 2a!ority of custodial #others B%,GC are ta/ing care of one child fro# the #issing parent. 44G of the single #others ha*e 2 or #ore /ids li*ing 1ith the#.

2ore 'ffects

People 1ho try to raise their /id independently are #ore *ulnerable to beco#ing poor co#pared to couple fa#ilies. Single #others are also obser*ed to be unhealthier co#pared to 1o#en 1ho li*ed 1ith a partner. Single parenthood is highly lin/ed to an increased ris/ to negati*e beha*ior. social s/ills and e#otional responses a#ong /ids. 2a!ority of /ids. ho1e*er. 1ho co#e fro# single parent fa#ilies still fare 1ell. So#e of the factors that affect the de*elop#ent of children in single"parent fa#ilies include the inco#e of the fa#ily. the support of the fa#ily. friends and other significant others to the children. the education le*el. age and current occupation.

Across the ;lobe

S1edish research has sho1n that /ids 1ho gre1 up in single parent ho#es are #ore li/ely to co##it

suicide or atte#pt suicide before they turn 2, years old. co#pared to children 1ho gre1 up 1ith t1o parents. About 2.2G of girls and 1G of boys co##it suicide because of the effects of gro1ing up in a single parent fa#ily.

The nu#ber of single parents has also significantly gro1n all o*er the 1orld. &ro# 2771 to 2773. the nu#bers ha*e increased by 11G. A decade before that. the gro1th has gro1n by 2$G. Se*eral factors are obser*ed to trigger the gro1th of single parent fa#ilies. such as ne1 national and local la1s. #odern lifestyle and the decreasing nu#ber of fertile couples all o*er A#erica and the 1orld.

+n Adoption

The @S 8epart#ent of Health and Hu#an Ser*ices has re*ealed that $$G of adoptions is by a single parent. About .%G to 4G of indi*iduals 1ho successfully adopt are single. 8uring the 1537s. about 3G to $4G of single parents adopted. The nu#bers continue to increase. although options no1adays ha*e 1idened to inter"country or international adoptions.

2a!ority of single adopti*e parents are 1o#en. and tests sho1 that they prefer to adopt /ids ages 4 to - years old than babies. Applicants for adoption are usually self"selecti*e. 2a!ority or independent but #ay ha*e support fro# friends and fa#ily.

Single parents in the @S preferred adoption special needs /ids 1ho 1ere described as older. a #inority race or handicapped.

The 8isad*antages of Single Parenting

Single parenting. 1hether by choice or out of force of nature. is a challenge. The responsibilities that should be shared by couples are all placed on the custodial parent. The #ost pro#inent of these is the finances.

Securing that there is a stable finances that 1ould co*er the needs of the fa#ily can be difficult. especially if there is no financial support on the part of the spouse. This isn>t #uch of the case for the fathers as it is for the #others as #en often ha*e better chances of landing a !ob 1ith better pay than 1o#en. According to the @.S. Census 9ureau. as of 277-. there appro(i#ately 1$., #illion single parents in the country. 34G if 1hich are custodial #others. A#ong these. only -5G are gainfully e#ployed B%7G 1or/ full ti#e and about 25G 1or/ part"ti#e or part"yearC. As a result. custodial #others are forced to 1or/ #ore than 1hat is reDuired !ust to support their children. 2any custodial #others tend to li*e 1ith their parents as it is #ore econo#ical than li*ing separately.

Should the custodial #other choose to #aintain a

separate ho#e. there are the issues of daily e(penses. housing. utilities. health care. education. college plan. retire#ent fund. and daily grocery. Any custodial parent also has to struggle bet1een Duality ti#e 1ith the /ids and 1or/ing e(tra hours to earn #ore. eeping the balance bet1een ho#e duties and financial security is far difficult than e*er. not to #ention other concerns regarding the fa#ily.

Then. there is the factor of bro/en fa#ily. Whether the children li*e 1ith the father of 1ith the #other. 1hether the non"custodial parent is allo1ed *isitations. and 1hether the parents are in good non"#arital relationship. the fact still re#ains 1herein the children li*e under the less desirable and non"ideal setup. This creates a negati*e i#pact to children.

=onetheless. being a single parent is a proble# only if you let it be a proble#. Yes. it is true that there are difficulties in carrying out the responsibility of being both the father and the #other. 6e#e#ber this though0 all good things are not easy to co#e by. With all the things said about the difficulties of being a single parent. in the end. you are the only person 1ho carries your destiny. The choice is yours to #a/e the situation 1or/ for you or not.

The &our Types +f Parents That Are =ot ;ood &or

Single Parenting

=ot all parenting styles are good for single parenting your /id. 6aising your child in a single parent ho#e is *ery #uch different fro# raising hi# in a fa#ily 1here both the father and the #other are present. =o1. there are parenting styles that #ust not be applied in a single parent ho#e to a*oid co##itting #ista/es that can affect the child>s de*elop#ent.

The Patient With '#otional 9aggage )t is not 1rong to #a/e friends 1ith your /ids. That>s a good parenting style. This is not a good e(cuse to turn the# into your e#otional support syste#.

Sure. your separation fro# your e("spouse or the death of your spouse is a de*astating. e#otional roller coaster ride for you. 9ut it is also for the#. They are going through al#ost the sa#e e(perience that you ha*e.

)f you feel that you need a syste# that 1ill help you to #o*e on. don>t turn to the# because they. too. need that. You can #a/e the# feel that they can confide their proble#s 1ith you but you can ne*er do the sa#e. Tal/ to your friends or counselor about your proble#s instead. but ne*er to your children unless they are already #ature enough to loo/ at the proble# 1ith so#e ob!ecti*ity.

The ;uilt"Tripping Parent There are #any things that you #ay feel guilty about as a single parent. There are the proble#s that you are not al1ays around for the# because you ha*e to go to 1or/ or that things 1ent badly bet1een you and their other. and so on.

While you don>t intend to reflect your guilt feelings on your /ids. the constant lo1 feeling can #a/e your children thin/ that it>s their fault 1hy you are unhappy and 1hy they lost their other parent. Try to refrain fro# doing this.

The Per#issi*e Parent To co#pensate for the troubles the fa#ily is suffering fro#. parents tend to a*oid correcting their children. This is a 1rong parenting style. 9eing a single parent does not #ean that you are po1erless to set fir# house rules.

The 2artyr Parent 4ife as a single parent is tough but you don>t ha*e to #a/e it a little harder on you by ta/ing all the responsibilities around the house. @nderstand that your /ids are capable of ta/ing care of the#sel*es. of preparing their o1n #eals. of ta/ing their baths alone. You don>t ha*e to ha*e a hands"on approach all the ti#e. Allo1 your children to gro1. co##it #ista/es. and learn fro# the#. This #a/es the# #ore

independent as they gro1 up and this allo1s you e(tra ti#e to ta/e care of other things.

The History of Single Parenting

Today. #ore and #ore single parents are co#ing out because of a *ariety of reasons. You #ay belie*e that things did not truly start out that 1ay. Certain la1s and the lifestyle of the #odern era has spurred #ore people to try li*ing out on their o1n and ta/ing care of their /ids the 1ay it 1as not done before. You should /no1 #ore about the history of single parenting and then decide 1hether it is the right choice for you in the years to co#e.

About the Single Parent

The single parent is /no1n as the sole or lone parent 1ho is described as the person 1ho cares for one child or se*eral children 1ithout ha*ing to as/ assistance fro# another parent. Single parenthood can change depending on the la1s of the city. state or country. Single parenthood can happen for different reasons. Pri#arily. the parent chooses to care for the child singly because of adoption. di*orce. surrogate #otherhood. e(tra#arital or pre#arital pregnancy or artificial inse#ination. So#e occurrences can also trigger single parenthood. such as the death of one parent or

abandon#ent.

The Arrange#ents

Single parents can li*e 1ith other people in one ho#e. The child #ay gro1 up 1ith se*eral other /ids or adults 1ithin the sa#e household. )n the case of abandon#ent. separation or di*orce. one party 1ill function as the #ain parent for #ost of the child>s life. So#e obligations. responsibilities and financial issues 1ill be shared by both parents until the child can independently carry on.

6egardless of the ter#. the child 1ill al1ays ha*e t1o parents. because it ta/es t1o persons to #a/e a baby. The pri#ary care gi*er 1ill then be referred to as the single parent. )n the case of separation or di*orce. the pri#ary care gi*er can ha*e #ore benefits or can get #ost of the assets because of the corresponding responsibilities that co#e 1ith raising the child alone.

Where )t Started

Single parenthood began thousands of years ago. )n ancient history. so#e #others 1ere forced to care for the /ids alone because the father had to go to 1ar or #ay be gone for se*eral years at a ti#e because of certain ci*ic responsibilities. 8uring #odern ti#es. certain la1s 1ere #ade 1hich allo1ed

#arried couples to separate or di*orce. thereby triggering the gro1th of #ore single parents. Se*eral fa#ous single parents ha*e been docu#ented throughout history. such as 2urphy 9ro1n. an actress and for#er @S *ice president 8an Kuayle.

Single Parent 6esponsibilities

Single parents are faced 1ith #ore responsibilities since they ha*e to fulfill the duties of the #issing party. So#e #ay e*en be forced to do acti*ities that they 1ould not nor#ally do if the other parent 1as a*ailable. &or e(a#ple. fathers had to learn ho1 to coo/. clean the house or 1ash clothes to ensure that their /ids are 1ell pro*ided for. 2others #ay e*en need to ta/e t1o !obs !ust to #anage the bills and other household reDuire#ents.

There are a nu#ber of organi?ations and agencies that focus on helping single parents cope 1ith the different de#ands of their position. They #ay undergo group therapy session and psychotherapy. +ther acti*ities that can benefit lone parents include self"actuali?ation techniDues. self" rela(ation #ethods and stress"relief techniDues.

Then and =o1 Single parents no1adays are #ore generally accepted co#pared decades ago. 9efore. 1o#en 1ere fro1ned upon if they 1ere not #arried and had children. 'thical issues 1ere the #ain forces that dro*e the

change. Today. there are thousands of 1o#en 1ho cra*e to ha*e /ids. but feel that they no longer need to ha*e a partner. The gro1ing nu#ber of e#ployed 1o#en allo1ed the# to belie*e that if they had enough financial resources to raise a child. then they 1ould opt for it instead of ha*ing to deal 1ith a difficult partner.

Adoption is another thing that has risen in popularity today. 9efore. there 1ere so #any children li*ing in shelters and orphanages. =o1. the nu#ber of foster ho#es is gro1ing 1ith #ore and #ore people choosing to adopt. Statistics sho1 that fertility rates a#ong couples in the @nited States ha*e significantly decreased. thereby spurring #any households to adopt instead. Se*eral celebrities are /no1n for adopting /ids 1ithout #arriage. li/e Angelina :olie.

Tips &or Single 8ad " 6aising A 8aughter

Single dads. in general. can be categori?ed into t1o types " *ery per#issi*e. silent and 1ithdra1n or *ery strict and o*erprotecti*e. 'ither is good and either helps a little girl gro1 up into a lady.

)t is natural for single dads to panic 1hen they ha*e a girl under their care. >What should ) do 1hen she>s already a teenagerF>. >Ho1 should ) tal/ 1ith her about datingF> and other Duestions pop up.

6aising a girl is. indeed. challenging but definitely not i#possible.

&irst things first. do not be o*er protecti*e or o*er per#issi*e. 2ost single dads turn into either of this because of t1o reasons. they thin/ it is the best for their daughters and they are not co#fortable raising a daughter. The /ey is to be fir# 1ith rules and e#phasi?e responsibility and independence.

2atch your co##unication style 1ith your daughter. There are #any dads 1ho cannot co##unicate the#sel*es 1ell 1ith their daughters. 2ost are used to tal/s that are brief. straightfor1ard and direct. Young girls aren>t e(actly straightfor1ard co##unicators. They lo*e to tell stories. #a/e long introductions. and use as #any 1ords as possible 1hen e(plaining things. Single dads ha*e to 1atch out for getting i#patient 1ith these attitudes. You should e(ercise your 1illingness to hear the end of the story and not cut your daughter>s tal/ and !u#p to conclusions.

When it co#es to resol*ing proble#s and issues. daughters in general don>t 1ant the solutions gi*en to the#. They 1ant options fro# 1here they can choose the right course of action or a hand in finding out the solutions that 1ill 1or/ for the#.

9e 1ith your daughter e*ery step of the 1ay. )t is

natural for dads to be #ore interested 1ith the acti*ities of their sons. As the sole protector of your daughter. you #ust see to it that you are there 1hen she 1ants to shop. 1hen she has lessons to attend. and e*en 1hen her friends are around. &or daughters. you are both the #o# and the dad and so#eti#es. they don>t really understand that you are incapable of ta/ing both responsibilities. Still. it is best that you do your part.

As/ for help. " Puberty is the #ost a1/1ard and #ost difficult part for single dads. You #ay ha*e to find a good #other figure to help guide your daughter. The #other figure could be anyone. fro# your o1n #other. a fe#ale friend. to the #o# of your daughter>s close friend.

Tips &or Single 2o#s " Ho1 To 6aise A Son

2o#s ha*e al1ays been fearful that their sons 1ould turn out effe#inate if there are no #ale role #odels around the house. While it is true that so#e boys really turn out to be hea*ily influenced by the characteristics of their single #others. there are actually #en 1ho ha*e been /no1n for their great #anly characteristics 1ho 1ere raised by single #others.

Accept that you and your son are different. " There are #any things that you can>t do as #other for

your /id. Acting li/e a #an for one. )f you are raising a son. it is best that you a*oid car*ing out your o1n personality on his.

=e*er i#pose on hi# that he is the #an in the house. " Although you can tell hi# that he is the >little #an> around the house. you can ne*er e(pect hi# to act. beha*e. and ta/e up responsibilities that are supposed to be ta/en up by gro1n up #en. You can ne*er force hi# to be your confidante. your rescuer or the one 1ho 1ill ta/e care of you. He>s !ust not up for that yet.

Try a little creati*ity. " Sons tend to get bored because the high spirits they ha*e need to be e(hausted. )f you don>t /no1 1hat to do 1ith your child>s energy. try to find #ore creati*e 1ays to #a/e hi# learn guy stuff. See/ the help of a guy friend 1ho can #a/e hi# learn the ropes of being a guy. 9uy hi# toys that can gi*e hi# ideas of 1hat guys do. 'ngage hi# in outdoor acti*ities that can e(pose hi# to #ale acti*ities. 9etter yet. try to learn guy sports and play 1ith your child. 4earn ho1 to play bas/etball. for e(a#ple. and introduce hi# to the ga#e. 4ittle by little. he 1ould be able to tell that your acti*ities are different fro# his.

Teach your son your o1n *alues but let hi# e(ercise it in his o1n style. " He is funda#entally different fro# you. so try to let hi# learn your *alues at his o1n pace and allo1 hi# to apply the#

according to his preference. 8o not i#pose 1hat he should do and ho1 he should do it. Teach hi# ho1 to do it and let hi# do it on his o1n 1ay.

Allo1 hi# to interact 1ith other /ids his age. " Single #others often feel guilty that their sons are #issing out on #any things. )f you feel this 1ay. your best recourse is to allo1 your son to play 1ith children his age. Allo1 hi# to gro1 up and learn the 1ays of the >boys> 1orld>.

Tips &or Successful Single Parenting

6aising a child alone can be both inti#idating and stressful /no1ing that you 1ill li*e under a less ideal ho#e and you no longer ha*e the other"parent to help you do e*erything in and around the house. )t is not i#possible to beco#e a successful single parent as long as you belie*e in yourself and follo1 these tips0

Create a healthy en*iron#ent A single"parent ho#e feels inco#plete only if you per#it it to be inco#plete. While there is no longer the presence of the other"parent. you can still fill the house 1ith friends. relati*es. and fa#ily 1ho are #ore than 1illing to pro*ide help and support.

;i*e ti#e for yourself With all the responsibilities of securing the needs of your children. rest #ay already beco#e a lu(ury that you can no longer afford. ;i*ing ti#e for yourself is *ery i#portant to your physical and #ental health as it dra1s you fro# all the stresses and gi*es your #ind and body a ti#e to rest and rela(. )t needs not to be a 1ee/end in an e(otic islandA !ust a couple of hours in a spa. an uninterrupted ti#e to 1atch a #o*ie. a rela(ing bath or a trip to the gy# is enough to reenergi?e your body.

Play 1ith your child Playti#e does not !ust gi*ing your child 1hat he needsA it satisfies your need for co#panion and interaction. Playing 1ith your child re*i*es the purpose 1hy you are 1or/ing so hard and 1hy you are still facing life>s challenges. So e*en if you are e(hausted and stressed out 1ith 1or/. spend so#e #inutes playing 1ith your child.

4i*e 1ithin your #eans &inancial issues are often the #ain concern of single parents. Hence. it is i#portant to reali?e your financial li#its and to li*e 1ithin these li#its. 4i*e in a house you can afford. 'nter your child to a school you can afford. 8o not rely on credit cards. 6e#o*e all unnecessary practices that contribute to the higher cost of li*ing.

9e a role #odel What you do around the house and the attitude you present to your child deter#ines the relationship 1ith hi# and his attitude in life. You are your child>s greatest hero. Whate*er you do has a big i#pact to your child. )f you are ha*ing difficulties 1ith your life. it is best to begin !ournaling regularly. Write 1hat you feel and the proble#s you ha*e. +nce you see the# on the pages in front of you. it is easier to find solutions.

Tips That Can 2a/e Single Parenting A 4ittle 4ess Tough +n You

A little ray of sunshine could help both you and your /id cope better in your current situation as a single parent fa#ily. Here are a fe1 tips0

8o not point your finger at your /id. it>s not his fault. )t is not the child>s fault that it didn>t go 1ell bet1een you and your e("husband or 1ife. That so#ething in your life happened 1hich ha*e left you struggling 1ith single parenting. You only ha*e yourself to bla#e. 8on>t go hard on your /id. 8on>t *ent on hi#. '*en 1hen your days are long. you ha*e no reason to shout your frustrations on your /id. 9e the best parent you can be for hi# e*en if you>re not really ready yet to ta/e on that responsibility. @nderstand his needs e*en if you

feel li/e it is you 1ho needs the understanding #ore. Pay hi# a#ple attention and be present for hi# al1ays e*en 1hen all you 1ant to do is gi*e in. thro1 your hands in the air and surrender.

He needs you as #uch as you need hi#. and he needs you 1hole. 6e#e#ber that he is going through al#ost the sa#e struggles as you do so he needs the sa#e /ind of support that you do. He is counting on you to gi*e hi# that.

Set aside your >2'> ti#e. 9eing a single parent #eans that you ha*e to sacrifice your personal ti#e in e(change for #ore ti#e on one or #ore !obs. your /id. and other struggles that co#e along 1ith the ter# >single parenting>. Sadly. once the need to sacrifice all this arises. the first thing that flies out of the 1indo1 is the ti#e that you spend only for yourself. your >2e> ti#e.

8on>t forget to set aside so#e ti#e for yourself. This is the ti#e for you to heal your personal 1ounds. to assess your current situation. to plan for the future. and basically. to un1ind and recharge yourself. =o #atter ho1 short it is. try to o1n bac/ so#e of your ti#e for your personal use.

Allo1 others to help you.

8oing it alone is not a good option if you are a single parent. Try to build a strong bac/up syste# that can gi*e you so#e for# of support. )nclude e*eryone you /no1. your parents. your siblings. your neighbor. and so#e good friends. =e*er thin/ that the 1orld has abandoned you. there are people out there 1ho are #ore than 1illing to help you out.

Why Ho#e"9ased :obs and Single Parenting are a ;ood Co#bination

6aising a child alone is a big challenge. especially if you are ban/ing on a single source of inco#e your full ti#e !ob. 9usy schedule. pressure at 1or/. li#ited ti#e for /id. and lac/ of rest are !ust so#e of the proble#s and the sources of stress single parents encounter e*eryday. That is 1ay. if there is such a 1ay to cut do1n on these stressors. any parent 1ould gladly ta/e it. ;ood thing. there are se*eral 1or/ fro# ho#e !obs that are perfectly fitted for single parent li/e you.

Ad*antages of Wor/ing fro# Ho#e

There are se*eral good things about 1or/ing fro# ho#e. &irst. you 1ill be able to cut on your daily co##ute and sa*e ti#e in the process. As a result. there is no need to spend #ore daily co##ute and spend #oney on restaurants or fast"food for lunch.

You also don>t ha*e to 1a/e up *ery early to catch the bus. Second. you don>t ha*e to spend on 1or/ing clothes. thus. gi*ing you further sa*ings. Third. you 1ill be able to spend on daycare. &ourth. you can #a/e your o1n 1or/ing hours and get to en!oy certain ta( brea/s. &inally. the best thing about 1or/ing fro# ho#e is that you get to spend #ore ti#e 1ith your /id and create close bonding 1ith hi#.

Self"8iscipline The #ost i#portant character you need to de*elop 1hen you decide to 1or/ fro# ho#e is self" discipline. since ho#e distractions can lead you to not 1or/ing at all. 6ecogni?e your needs. create a schedule. stic/ to it. set a target. and ai# for it. 6e#e#ber you are your o1n boss no1 so you ha*e to constantly re#ind yourself that you need to acco#plish your daily tas/.

Ho1 to start 1or/ing fro# ho#e

There are se*eral possible things you can do fro# ho#e that 1ill yield to a good pay. You can thin/ of certain ser*ices you can offer li/e babysitting. 1al/ing your neighbor>s dogs. tutoring. selling differing products 1ithin your co##unity. +r. you can go online and chec/ different 1or/ fro# ho#e !ob postings. You can 1or/ as a freelance 1riter. 1eb de*eloper. teleco##uter. and content #anage#ent de*eloper. You can also sell products online or offer different ser*ices in the internet. The

possibilities are endless.

Wor/ fro# ho#e !obs for single parents are great. but you ha*e to #a/e sure you /no1 that it is really for you. )t is a bit ris/y to resign fro# your current day !ob and establish a career at ho#e. Weigh things out and decide 1hat is best for you and your /id.

Parenting Tip " Ho1 8o You 4earn To 9e A Parent

Parenting is the toughest. #ost i#portant !ob #ost people 1ill e*er encounter and yet there is no license reDuired. no training reDuired. and no 24Hhotline. This is rather short"sighted on the part of society as the cost of bad parenting is i##ense. but in truth the situation is not as dire as it see#s. While no training is reDuired for ne1 parents. it is *ery easy for parents to learn the 1ays and #eans of good parents as 1ell as the traps and pitfalls of bad parents. All it ta/es for parents to learn #ore about parenting is to 1atch. listen. and learn.

Watching is a /ey ele#ent to learning #ore about parenting. Watch the parents around you and you can learn all sorts of lessons about ho1 to interact 1ith your child. ho1 to discipline your child. and ho1 to teach your child. Al#ost e*ery1here you ta/e your child there 1ill be other parents and their

children. Watching #eans obser*ing but also listening. Hear the tone of *oice as 1ell as the 1ords those parents use. So#e parents use the right 1ords but their tone and physical #anner contradicts those 1ords. Watch the children to note their response. So#e children respond #ore readily to their parents. WhyF What is different about that parent"child relationshipF What can you ta/e a1ay for your o1n parent"child relationshipF

4isten to ad*ice. You don>t need to ta/e e*ery piece of ad*ice that is offered to you. After all. there are #any people 1ho are free 1ith ad*ice and yet ha*e clearly de#onstrated they are in no position to offer it. Ho1e*er. there is often so#e really good ad*ice shared by people you /no1 and trust as 1ell as good ad*ice offered by passing strangers in the super#ar/et chec/out line or in the stands at a soccer ga#e. 9e a sponge. eep your ears open. You don>t ha*e to ta/e that ad*ice but /eeping your options open gi*es you the chance to sort out the !e1els and benefit fro# the#.

9e an acti*e learner. See/ out infor#ation 1hen you face a parenting challenge. Perhaps your child is acting out in a ne1 1ay and your old discipline techniDue isn>t 1or/ing. Search the internet. flip through parenting boo/s. and as/ so#e e(perts in your circle of friends. So#eti#es great ad*ice 1ill co#e to you but other ti#es you 1ill need to see/ it out. The #ore proacti*e you are about finding solutions to your parenting proble#s then the better parent you 1ill beco#e.

Parenting is a challenging !ob. no Duestion about it. but it also co#es 1ith 1onderful built"in re1ards. So#e ti#es parents are forced to ta/e a tough unpopular stand but in the end good parenting co#es 1ith its o1n re1ards. Those re1ards include a happy. successful child and a 1ar#. lo*ing relationship that 1ill e(tend long past childhood and span the rest of your life. So 1ho needs special training. )f you 1atch. listen. and learn then you can be the parent you 1ant to be and your child deser*es.

Single Parenting 2ade 'asy &or The 2odern Parent

Any parent 1ill tell you raising a child is ne*er easy. :ust i#agine ho1 #uch it 1ould be so raising the child alone. Single parenting can be *ery stressful. and single parents 1ith less resol*e are sure to brea/. )f you are one of the #any single parents 1ho are e(periencing a great deal of difficulty. no1 is the best ti#e to ac/no1ledge that you need help. and to loo/ for 1ays on ho1 to cope 1ith the pressure. The sooner one reali?es the difficulty and the pressure. the sooner one finds help.

+ne 1ay to cope 1ith the stress that co#es 1ith single parenting is to understand the challenges that are #ostly identified 1ith it. )n #ost cases.

single parents are o*er1hel#ed by being the sole financial and e#otional pro*ider of their child. so #uch so that 1hen confronted 1ith a situation. one #ay not be able to thin/ properly and identify i##ediately the proble# and the possible solution. With the #any aspects of parenting. situations that arise fro# child rearing #ay greatly affect ho1 you treat your child 1hich 1ill. in turn. result to beha*ioral conditions in your child. The financial aspect of raising a child is another #a!or proble# in #ost single parenting cases as 1ell. &or sure. there is no Duic/ for#ula to addressing all these concerns but here are a fe1 si#ple tips you #ay 1ant to consider.

Ta/e ;ood Care of Yourself

When you are 1ell and healthy. you are #ore li/ely to be able to ta/e care of your child as 1ell. +f course. ta/ing care of oneself does not necessarily #ean treating yourself to an e(pensi*e spa e*ery 1ee/end. )t could si#ply #ean paying attention to your basic needs. So#eti#es. the basic needs are the #ost neglected and o*erloo/ed. especially 1hen there>s no significant so#eone to point the# out to you. Ta/ing care of yourself si#ply #eans you eat healthy. get enough rest and sleep. and find Duality ti#e 1ith yourself 1hich. by the 1ay. does not al1ays ha*e to #ean spending #oney unnecessarily. When the child is asleep. getting a good e(ercise. catching up on a good boo/ or si#ply en!oying a rela(ing hobby are already cost"free 1ays of rela(ing the #ind and body.

2eet +ther &ello1 Single Parents

2eeting and befriending other single parents reassure you psychologically that you are not alone in the battle of raising your child. Aside fro# the e#otional and psychological reassurance it offers you. other single parents #ay ha*e a tro*e of e(periences 1hich you can learn fro#. and the other 1ay around. )t can be a healthy social acti*ity 1here e*en your child can de*elop a sense of belonging to a co##unity 1ith fa#ilies #uch li/e your o1n. This is #ost beneficial especially if #ost of the children in your child>s class belong to traditional fa#ilies consisting of both parents.

9uilding a healthy relationship 1ith fello1 single parents in your area could also #ean building a strong support syste# 1here each #e#ber can dra1 strength and inspiration fro# the others.

The abo*e"#entioned #ay sound li/e *ery si#ple tips that can be easily acco#plished but it ta/es ti#e and #uch conscious effort on your part to beco#e a healthy indi*idual. e#otionally and socially. for your child.

6esources

All About Single Parenting0 http0HHtinyurl.co#Hallaboutsingleparenting

8ating Ad*ice for Single Parents0 http0HHtinyurl.co#Hdatingad*iceforsingleparents

:obs for Single Parents0 http0HHtinyurl.co#H!obsforsingleparents

) hope #y tips and ad*ice 1as so#e help to you in parenting your children as a single parent.

) 1ish you ;ood 4uc/. and Than/ YouL Terry Clar/.