HOW CAN YOU HELP YOUR CHILD AND YOURSELF WITH THE SINGLE PARENT STATUS

HOW CAN YOU HELP YOUR CHILD AND YOURSELF WITH THE SINGLE PARENT STATUS?

Becoming a single parent will be a hard choice and change for you as well as for your child. Juggling through so many emotions can be difficult for you, and when you have to take care of your child’s emotions as well, it can almost always seem like an impossibly difficult job. However, you can minimize the pain and damage it causes to both you and your child by taking some baby steps to help prepare you both for the change. Here are a few tips that can help you connect better with your child and also help you adapt better to your single parent status:

No matter what your time or financial constraints, make it a point to form a stronger bond with your child. Even though it can sometimes be emotionally overwhelming to sit and explain everything to your child, make sure that you address all queries that your child may have, as it will help your child understand you better.

If you are busy through the week and are not able to give as much quality time to your child as you would otherwise want to, make sure you set up a dedicated number of hours for each weekend that you will spend exclusively with your child. Plan fun activities for your child that both of you can take part in together. The activities do not have to involve spending money. Instead, you can plan lots of fun and interesting activities depending on your child’s age and interest. For example, both you and your child can spend a day in the kitchen doing simple yet super fun things such as kneading dough, beating eggs, making a batter for a cake, baking a cake, chopping and dicing vegetables under your supervision and many more such fun yet simple tasks in the kitchen. You can also try and make the weekends a special day to hit the beach or go to the park. Make sure that when you are there with your child, you plan it in such a way that you are not distracted by anything else.

Do not give up hope about yourself or about your future in terms of companionship or relationship. Give yourself some time to settle down as a newly single parent, where you can understand your child’s and your needs better. Once you have established a routine and your child seems a little bit more settled in the new life, you can start looking for people who have similar interests as you. If you are interested in books or theater, you can join a club or take up a new hobby course. If your time and finances permit, you can also take a quick weekend getaway with friends, where you will have the chance to meet new people or just be by yourself and clear your thoughts. Make sure that you first speak to your ex and make arrangements for your children to be taken care of before making any plans for yourself.

Watch out for signs of anger, confusion or distress in your child. As a single parent, you already have your hands full, and you are already doing all you can for your child. However, it is also very important for you to constantly keep a watch on your child’s mood and behavior. The initial few months are crucial for your child to adjust to the new setting. If your child is sensitive and emotional, it can be even harder to adjust. Be there for your child as a parent, as a confidante and as a friend.

Whether you have decided to become a single parent out of choice, or may have been forced to be one due to circumstances, but whatever the reasons, do not blame yourself or feel guilty about it. Embrace the status knowing that it will be a hard road to cover initially, but as time goes on, both you and your children will learn to cope better and also be happy with each other.