Single Mom: Six Ways to Live a Happy Life

Should we name all the challenges any single mom has to face with? There are only 24 hours in a day, and they are supposed to get all things done in time, things which are sometimes difficult to be handled by two parents. They have only two hands but are to do the job where four hands are not enough. So the greatest challenge they have to deal with is desperation.

It has happened, or it was your decision, that you’ll be parenting alone. Don’t get frustrated! There is absolutely nothing guilty, or shameful about it. Here are some tips which, we hope, will help make your life easier, more interesting and fun.

1. You Are Not Alone

Single moms often feel isolated. You absolutely have to break through it. You need to mix with many people and have your small circle of close and loved friends. They can make things a bit easier for you: your parents may help you look after your child and your friend may take your child from kindergarten if you have to stay over at work. Although this kind of support is important, it’s more crucial to look for moral support. Find room in your life for Friday night fun with friends and grand Saturday shopping with other moms and their kids. Bake cookies on Sunday, attend yoga classes, go to parties and make parties yourself. And try to make friends with other moms (and dads!) who are parenting alone.

2. Ask for Help

Many single moms are embarrassed to ask for help. They are afraid of approaching even close friends and think that they must handle everything alone. Hiring a nanny is costly, but you can’t leave a child unattended. If your family or friends offer their helping hand, don’t refuse it. Surely, there are people who simply want to do something for you, but they don’t know what. Meet your neighbors who have kids of the same age as yours. You can scratch each other’s back. Today they’ll look after your child; tomorrow you’ll return the favor.

3. You Are Not a Super-Mom

Many single moms are convinced they have to be super-moms. They keep their house sparkingly clean, make strawberry pancakes for breakfast and never cook the same dish for dinner. They give their child all attention and work like mad. Stop it! You’ll never find a room for yourself if you go on like this. Don’t even try it. It’s ok if you wash the floor once a week instead of moping it every day. This will give you more time to spend with your child and rest. Corn flakes for breakfast is also not the end of the world, you know.

4. Say No to That Sense of Guilt

Sense of guilt is the main satellite and enemy of all single mothers. Whatever the reason you are bringing up your child alone, you’ll be overwhelmed by worries that you work too much (or too little), that you are strained for time or money, that you have tensions with your ex-partner, that you want more kids, that your family is incomplete.

It’s very easy to fight those anxieties. Don’t you realize that problems are inescapable and exist in any family? But there are always bright sides, too. Instead of thinking like “if only my child had a father”, think what a great time you have with your child and how you love each other.

5. Your Small Achievements

You’ll feel more complete and successful if you always strive for small achievements. Many single moms aim at losing weight, finding new husband, moving into bigger house. These targets can be very hard to hit. Simplify your tasks. Try to go to the theater once a week, write a new post in your journal, jog in the mornings. This is not that difficult and a lot of fun. And every time you succeed to do what you’ve planed, you can feel great about yourself.

6. Put Up with Your Past

It’s important to find peace of mind. For single mom it often means reconciliation with the father of her child. Ex-husband is the major source of stress for many divorced women. So let the past go. It’s easier to say than do, but you must give it a good try.

Source of the image: Photl.