Single moms have one of the most difficult jobs in the world if you ask me.
Raising a child is tricky enough without having to do it without the emotional, physical, and financial support of another partner and parent.
That being said, single moms are also some of the toughest people out there and there is a lot to be said for the beauty and joy of being a single mom, alongside all of the aspects that are tough going.
We love single moms and that is why we wanted to write this short blog with 5 of our favourite pieces of advice to offer them/you.
Keep reading to hear all about it!
And don’t forget to leave us a comment in the comment section below with any further pieces of advice you think single moms would love to hear. Let’s get a community of moms together, talking about the stuff that really matters.
Shall we?
1. You Aren’t Alone – Rely On The Community Around You
While being a single mom means that you don’t have a partner or a co-parent, it doesn’t have to mean that you are alone.
Regardless of your life experiences so far, there are lots of people out there in the world that you can lean on for support, quality time, advice, fun, and so on. If you have family members and friends already, they will be your first port of call. If you are someone who has lost people close to you, maybe moved far away, or had a difficult life so far, you might not have lots of family members and friends to easily turn to, and we understand that too.
One of the best things you can do is find out if there are any local groups or clubs for moms in your area and then go to them. If you feel like you don’t have anybody in your life right now, that doesn’t mean that there can’t ever be anyone in your life. There are always new people to meet and form bonds with.
Some of your best friends can be people you have never met yet!
Get out there and connect with other people. Especially people who can easily understand your situation and what you are going through.
2. Take Every Financial Break You Can
There are different streams of potential financial help for single parents out there and it is important that you take everything you are entitled to. Never let pride or appearances stop you from taking the financial help that you deserve.
Non-single moms have different resources and income potential, generally, due to having a partner. You don’t, so you are entitled to more help if you need it, simple as that!
No need to overcomplicate it or feel guilty about something you don’t need to feel any guilt for.
3. Build a Routine That Works For You and Your Child
A common issue amongst single moms is a feeling of overwhelm and stress. There can be an awful lot on your plate at any given time and this can be hard to manage long-term.
One of the very best things you can do for yourself and your child or children is to build an everyday routine that really works for you both. Stick to that routine as much as possible, and you should hopefully see these feelings of overwhelm begin to disappear over time.
There are some cool apps that can help if that is your kind of thing.
One of the easiest ways to do it is to work in terms of priorities. Sometimes you have to accept that you won’t get every single thing done a day, and I would say single moms know this all too well already. So, sometimes the best thing to do is to start your day with the things that really need done and accept that the things, in the end, can wait. Starting your day with your priorities, accomplishing them, and moving on can really help deal with this feeling of having an overwhelming list of tasks every day.
It is also important to incorporate nice and enjoyable things into your everyday routines as single moms. If you don’t schedule time to relax, it probably won’t happen.
So make it happen!
Once you get your routine down, stick to it. It can make a huge difference, trust me.
4. Work On Your Mom Guilt
Single moms, and all moms in fact, far too easily feel that they aren’t good enough and that they aren’t doing enough. “Mom guilt” is a very common problem and it can be really hard for moms to deal with.
If you want to feel much happier and healthier, working on your mom guilt is one of the most effective ways to do this.
Try talking openly to other people about it, reading up about the topic, practising self-compassion, and even talking to a counsellor if things are really getting on top of you.
Remember that to look after someone else fully, you have to look after yourself first. And accepting yourself as being good enough as you are is a critical step.
For more on this, check out our separate blog on the topic of mom guilt.
5. Remember The Hard Times Once Last Forever – Take It One Day At a Time
Listen to us single moms… It is tough, but you are tougher.
Any hard or trying times you experience will come to an end, and what you will always remember from your time as a single mom is the loving moments between you and your child.
While things might be difficult, having a little person to share your life with is a blessing.
Remember to take all the support you can get, reach out to others, look after yourself, and everything will work out in the end.
For now, keep hanging in there and applaud yourself for the great job you are doing out there single moms!
Don’t forget to follow us on social media to keep up to date with all of our brand new blogs!