mama and papa bears need to coparent even after separation or divorce

There is no denying; single parenting isn’t easy. There’s lots to consider and “juggling” is a word which springs to mind.

Single parenting help is available, when you know where to find it.

Single parents throw all the balls up in the air and catch them, on a daily basis. If you were never great at multi-tasking, then you’d better get good! It’s essential for the smooth running of your home and keeping the kids in happy and in-check.

Get organised

You may be single parenting as a co-parent or flying completely solo. There’s no real difference apart from the fact that you get more time-off, (if you have an ex who has the children at set-times). In this instance, you get a short break and a little bit of time to pull yourself together for the next run. However, you probably find that this “free” time simply means clearing up all the mess and laundry from your parenting time and getting ready for the next episode. Try not to feel down, there will be some free-time. Getting organised for the next time the kiddywinks are home, means a more pleasant experience for you and them

Chat anonymously about being a single parent in the Forum/Chatroom

Can single-parented children really be ok?

We are told that children who are raised by single parents can be as happy as children who live with both. They can do just as well academically and go onto lead a positive adult life. However, this doesn’t just simply happen on it’s own. All children need a positive parental role model. It’s also said that children from single parent homes who have two loving parents, build resilience to deal with different situations in adulthood.

Experts say that if you spend good quality time with your child, they are less likely to have mental health issues in the future. Show your child that you are interested in your own life and that you grasp opportunities. More importantly prove that you want to be a part of your child’s life and interests. Regularly reading to or with your child, going to the park, walking in the woods and observing what’s around you, kicking a ball around the garden or playing their favourite video game. All these things show your child that you are interested in what they like to do. Engage with your child. This can be more tricky with a teenager, so you may really have to find yourself loving the xbox!

Stay positive – you’ve got this!

The most important thing when you are a single parent, is to build a strong positive base. Surround your children with positive role models. Try and engage your child in conversations with friends and family about the jobs they do. Discuss how they help others and how they may be dealing with a tricky situation. What children hear, rubs off on them. Being part of a positive environment leads all of us to sunny thoughts, child or adult.

Show your child that you work to your full potential and want them to be as happy at your house as they are at their other parent. Even if you think the other parent is a total loser, never say that to your child. Simply explain that you both like to enjoy different things. If your ex doesn’t have a work ethic, explain why you do, rather than putting the other parent down. Explain why you feel your life is more fulfilled working hard to earn money to play hard!

Routine and time management

Routine is also key. As a single parent, life will be much easier if there are boundaries. Provide your child with a secure emotional nest and these rules will lead to trust. Think about a colleague who always changes his or her mind. Do you have confidence in them?

Guidelines are great for kids. Bedtime, cleaning teeth, putting their plate in the dishwasher after a meal, eating with manners at the table, please and thank you, gaming time limits. All these small things show that you are in control of the situation. You may meet some resistance, but stand by what you say and you will see the rewards in years to come. Children feel protected in this kind of environment. They know where they stand and what is expected of them.

A faher can feel that his role is diminishing through divorce

But what about my ex?

Your routine is bound to be different to your ex partners, but don’t get wound up. Don’t fall for the “we are allowed to do that at Mum’s house”.  Make it quite clear that you have one set of rules and Mum has another. Children are very clever at attempting to play parents off against each other. At the end of the day, different teachers have different rules. When a child goes from one classroom to the next they know what is expected of them. Children know how to behave and what is going to happen, so be consistent. Don’t get into a drama triangle with your children or your ex. Make the rules and boundaries very clear.

Naughtiness and anger

Of course, in times of stress and anxiety there will be changes in behaviour. At the very beginning of a separation you may have to deal with tantrums, baby talking, bedwetting and anger as your child is unable to express themselves in any other way. Stay calm and comfort your child. It’s not easy and you may also be dealing with your own emotions Encourage good behaviour. Ensure you acknowledge that your child is sad or angry but also remind them that the bad behaviour is not acceptable. Teach them that it is better to talk about their feelings and get them out in the open than to bottle them up and have an angry outburst.

Grandparents as a childcare choice?

Make sure everyone feels important

It’s not always easy to fit in time to talk when you are a single parent, so try and converse in the car on the way to school or have a chat at mealtimes. Switch off the TV and have a chat. Play word-games in the car and be interested in their life by talking about a book they are reading or a video game they are playing.

Positive parenting involves you smiling lots and talking positively about life; and don’t forget the hugs and kisses. If you have several children ensure you put time aside to have some quality 1:1 with each. This could mean you putting each sibling to bed 15 minutes apart or that you have a chat or go to a café when one of your children is doing an activity. Make each child aware that they are special to you in their own individual way and for their own qualities.

Tell them you are proud of the way they are coping and pleased that they told you when they were feeling sad.

Eeeek! I had a meltdown!

Your children will witness you expressing your feelings more as a single parent than maybe they would if you were with your ex partner. It may be impossible to hide away in the bathroom and have a cry. If you do have an adult meltdown. it is ok to express that you, for example, had a bad day at work and your manager was mean. If you shout at the children it is good to say you are sorry and that you made a mistake. You are only human.

Where can you find help?

If you are struggling, there is a wealth of help available. It’s always worth looking under child services for your local authority to see if they run parenting courses. There are many highly skilled Parenting Coaches in The Hug Directory too. They can give you tips on how to deal with tricky situations and many of them specialise in divorce and separation. Type “parenting” our website search.

Single parenting can be fun

Coaching gives you a set time each week or month to focus on your parenting and can really help. You know what to do, but sometimes you just need to be consciously focused on what needs to happen. It’s very easy for your rules to slip. Life is busy and stressful and the demands from school can seem endless with bookdays and homework to deal with. A therapist, psychologist or coach will give you the tools to be the parent you aspire to be.

There may be other times in the future where you want to get some help

  • Teenage years and the arrival of those dreaded hormones
  • Introducing the children to a new partner
  • Coping as an ‘only every other weekend’ parent
  • Dealing with parental alienation

Remember – you are not alone

Build yourself up with a good support network, you won’t be the only single parent at school. Even if you currently are, sadly, you won’t be for long.

Ensure your child’s school is aware of the situation and if they have any concerns make sure they let you know immediately.

With a good plan in place, Single Parenthood can be fun and rewarding.

Chat to other single parents about the stresses and strains in The Hug Forum/Chatroom/Community – JOIN HERE