5 Ways to Manage a Single-Parent Household

When you don’t have a partner to share parenting with, it can be a bit overwhelming having to make all decisions yourself and juggle different responsibilities. Read on to see five ways in which you can successfully manage a single-parent household and make the most of it.

1. Set Aside Time for Your Children

While it may seem that all you do revolves around your kids anyway, a big part of this time may not be quality. To avoid having them feel ignored, set aside some time each day, depending on your schedule, that you will dedicate fully to them. This may be time to help them with homework and school projects or to simply relax and catch up on each other’s day. If you take them to a private school, which makes up one out of every four schools, you may not end up having to cover a lot of schoolwork with them. This is because they will most likely already be covered at school thanks to enjoying more attention from their educators. In this case, you have more time to spend on alternative activities, and this is the only way you will be able to truly bond with your children.

2. Ask for Help Whenever Possible

You don’t have to bear the whole weight of being a single parent. You can seek help from other single parents, your own parents and other family members, and even neighbors. Ask someone to show you effective ways to do things around the house if necessary so you can become handier. If you feel like you’re reaching the end of your limit, don’t hesitate to ask or pay someone to take care of your kids for you while you take a much-needed break. This way, you will be able to keep at it and enjoy the process more.

3. Split Chores Among Everyone

If you have children who are old enough to take on chores, assign them something whenever you need to get chores done. This will not only help you get a lot more done in a shorter time but it will also provide a common activity to bond over and also teach your kids important life skills. Something like landscaping, which can add a whole 14% to your home’s resale value, is something that you can have your kids all participate in. Make sure to take the necessary precautions and you will all be more gratified at the end of the day when you look back on your handiwork.

4. Keep Things Simple

Parenting can be a lot of work at the best of times, so it’s a lot to do by yourself. Keep this in mind and simplify your life as much as you possibly can. Do things in a basic way and generally aim for practicality rather than flair. If you can do this well enough, there will be enough time and resources for the fun later on. Cut back on some activities, and for those that remain, try to run them simultaneously with yours. This way, you will have more quality time to share with your kids and you will all be a lot happier.

5. Come up With a Schedule

Finally, coming up with schedules and following them routinely will be a lifesaver for you. This is because it will be possible to predict what needs to be done at a certain time and plan for it. You will find it possible to put things on autopilot sometimes if you need to do so with no serious consequences. If you have a pet, you may split up the amount of food you give your dog between two to three meals each day depending on your schedule, and over time, you can even assign different feeding times to a different kid.

Follow these tips to improve your life as a single parent and you will enjoy the benefits that come along with it.