28 Apr 15 Ways a Single Mother Balances Work and Raising Children
Single mothers are typically great at multitasking, and it’s probably because they juggle several responsibilities and normally don’t get much assistance from the other parent or other relatives. Although it’s not always easy to do, single mothers can balance work with raising children if they plan ahead of time and prioritize the things that are most important. Sometimes it’s just a matter of finding time in your day to do whatever’s important to you. Here are 15 ways single moms can balance work and child-rearing.
1. Meal Planning
Single mothers have to work long hours and odd days, making food preparation difficult at times. One of the best ways to ensure that you and the kids eat well each day is through meal planning. Stores like Walmart, Whole Foods Market, Safeway, Trader Joe’s, and Harris Teeter all offer grocery delivery that helps you focus mainly on the planning and cooking of your meals. Write a list of recipes that you eat the most, then make a ton of it one day. Freeze the meals, and you’ll have something to heat up for the next two weeks. The best thing about meal prep is that you can do it whenever you have time available to do so!
2. Accept Others’ Help
There’s nothing wrong with seeking or accepting help when life gets hectic. If you try to do everything yourself, you’ll suffer both mentally and emotionally. When your toddler’s tantrums are out of control, or you’re in the process of looking for a new job after a recent layoff, try calling your parents, siblings, other relatives, or good friends to get assistance. Sometimes just venting to these supportive people can help you relieve stress. It takes a village to raise a child, and single mothers benefit from having a supportive village around them.
3. Get Adequate Sleep
Don’t underestimate the importance of a good night’s sleep. Even if you pride yourself on getting a lot done without feeling too tired the next morning, not sleeping enough will catch up with you over time. When you go multiple nights without proper rest, you’ll get cranky, and you’re likely to take the frustration out on the kids.
4. Pamper Yourself
Don’t let your entire existence be just about your kids; it’s important that you take time out for yourself during the week. Leave the kids with your parents while you visit the spa for a massage and pedicure, or call some friends and eat lunch together for a few hours. Use the free time you get during naps or baths to relax.
5. Create a Schedule for the Kids
Without a regular schedule, your kids won’t know how each day will go, and that can stress you and them out. Getting everyone in the house on a routine makes the day run smoother. Type out the schedule, and post it on the doors of the kids’ rooms or on the refrigerator. If your kids have chores, create a chore chart so that they’ll know which chores they need to do on certain days.
6. Do Some Prepping the Night Before
Speaking of a schedule, it helps to make preparations the night before for the next day. These preparations include:
- Ironing clothes and hanging them up
- Making breakfast and packing everyone’s lunches
- Cleaning the living room, kitchen, bathroom, and bedrooms
- Signing field trip permission slips and other papers from school
When you do as much as possible the night before, the next morning goes smoothly.
7. Check Your Social Media Addiction
When you’re not working and you have extra free time, don’t remain glued to a screen. We talk about how kids spend too much time on devices, but parents are also guilty of doing the same thing. Focus on having undistracted time with your kids. If necessary, delete apps that take your attention away from your kids. You can distract yourself by going outside for a few hours and riding bikes or playing with chalk. It also helps to place your devices in a room where it will take more time to access them when you want them.
8. Involve Kids in Your Chores
Don’t brush your kids off just because you need to do chores. Try to get them involved in household duties instead. This teaches them responsibility, and you can make it fun. Have older kids do things such as chopping vegetables, turning on the oven, mixing the ingredients, or peeling eggs. Younger kids can set the table and wipe down the countertops. Put on music and dance while doing the chores to add more fun for both you and your kids!
9. Let Go of Mom Guilt
Sometimes you’ll feel guilty about working so many hours and missing out on important parts of your child’s life. Remember that by working you are showing love for your child. Your income is providing for the child’s favorite snacks, his cool outfits, school supplies, meals, and a home to live in. Your child will always love you in spite of working a lot, and he or she will appreciate the times that you two spent together.
10. Consider Telecommuting
If your employer offers telecommuting options, inquire about working from home on certain days of the week. If this is not an option, then start looking for new home-based employment elsewhere. When you work from home, you typically have a better work/life balance.
11. Take a Day or Two Off
Who says you need to work so much that you don’t take any days off? If things get too overwhelming, request one to two days off. Use those days to take the kids to do their favorite activities or even visit grandparents together. Your life shouldn’t just be about work and no relaxation.
12. Set Working Hours
If you work from home full time, then set hours for yourself to dedicate to working. If your kids are at school between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., then these could be your working hours. When your kids come home, shut down the home office, and focus on time with them. This helps you maintain balance as a work-from-home mom.
13. Revisit Your Schedule
There are times when you’ll have to revisit your schedule in order to make your home run smoothly. If you just moved your elderly parents in with you, you might need to adjust your routine to accommodate the time needed to care of them as well as to take care of your kids. Adjusting your home schedule around your working schedule can help you feel more relaxed when you’re at home.
14. Go for a Walk
There’s something relaxing about going for a walk outside. You can disconnect from the daily grind and have peace and quiet time. Use this time for prayer, reflection, or just enjoying the outdoors.
15. Be Grateful
We live in a time when job security is no longer an absolute guarantee. People are losing their jobs every day, and the job market has gotten incredibly competitive. When things get stressful, be grateful that you have employment that lets you take care of your family. If you can work from home, be grateful that you have the opportunity to earn an income while still being there for your children.
In conclusion, these strategies can assist you with achieving the best work/life balance as a single mother.
