Although raising a child as a single parent can be challenging, it can also be very rewarding. Believe it or not, as a single parent it’s quite possible to raise healthy, happy children and remain normal.

The life of a single parent can be very busy. You are probably juggling work, school and home in addition to parenting. Single moms usually find it most difficult to manage their households while having to earn a living eight to nine hours a day, while single dads usually have a problem knowing how to keep in-tune with their child’s feelings and emotional needs. As it’s important to find a way to balance all these different areas of your life, here are some suggestions that may help:

    • No matter how much and how hard you try, you can’t be both your child’s mom and dad. So quit trying. Just focus on what you need to provide or give to your child.
    • Accept help. When friends and family offer their help, take it! This can mean having someone play with your child while you do the shopping, joining a school lift club, or having someone to phone when you need to talk.
    • Stick to a routine, such as making your child’s school lunches the night before.
    • Enrol you child in a play group, crèche or nursery school, and have your child take part in after-school activities.
    • Attend parenting classes offered by organisations such as churches, or join a support group for single parents. You’ll meet others in similar situations and be able to share feelings, get advice and make friends.
    • Consider employing a reliable maid to help with the housekeeping and prepare healthy meals, or an au pair who can fetch your child from school and supervise his or her homework.
    • Don’t forget fun. Take a break from your busy schedule to plan something special for you and your child, such as a trip to the zoo or a movie.
    • Make time for yourself. You need a chance to relax once in a while, too! It can be as simple as taking 15 minutes to page through a magazine when your child is in bed, or letting your child watch a DVD while you sit with him or her and read a book.
    • Plan ahead. List your tasks and responsibilities. Highlight the things that are non-negotiable, and then put them in order of importance. For example: I must go to the paediatrician as my child is ill, I must stock the fridge for the week, I must have a 20-minute break every day. Then look at what is negotiable, for example I’d like to go to the dentist this month, but it doesn’t have to be today.

Our Employee Wellbeing Programme (EAP) is available 24 hours a day if you want to know more about parenting as a single parent.