Tips for Single Parents

• Single parents often form closer bonds with their children. Fathers who are single parents may end up being more nurturing, and the mothers are frequently more involved with their child's social activities.
  
  
• You can raise your child according to your own beliefs and traditions without the possibility of conflicting input from your spouse.
  
  
• Children from single-parent homes often become much more independent and mature, because they have to learn to deal with greater responsibility within the family unit.

1. There are many resources and sources of help available to single parents. Take advantage of them.
   
   
2. Stop feeling guilty. Too many single parents feel guilty about being the only one raising their child. That's looking at it the wrong way: You are a loving and caring parent – that's something to be proud of! Don't forget that there are lots of families out there in the same situation as you are – so there's no reason to feel down about it.
   
   
3. Do not look for problems where none exist. If you can't stop yourself from feeling guilty because you are a single parent, it's easy to start to imagine that there must always be something wrong within your small family unit.
   
   
4. Look after yourself and your health. Not just for your own sake (and even thought that's reason enough!) but also for your family's sake. Eat healthily, get enough exercise, and see your doctor on a regular basis.
   
   
5. As a single parent sometimes it can be very easy to get into the habit of being more lenient or having less strict rules with your kids. However, you should not be afraid to set firm rules with your children and enforce them. Just because you are the only authority figure in the house does not mean that the rules should be any less strict than if there to be two parents available.
   
   
6. Find some time every single day to be with your child. Play with him, talk with him, or read a book together. There is no better way to spend your time as a single parent other than being there for your children.

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