Single Parent Challenges - How To Face Various Problems

Being a single parent involves many difficult challenges. It’s even harder than it looks. Single parents deal with challenges all day, every day. Many of those challenges arise from being not only single but a parent. There are children to care for and take care of. And because you are the only parent, everything you do carries greater weight.

No matter what you do, as a single parent, you must think of its effect on your children. You must be diligent in keeping up with their activities and their thoughts as they grow up in a single-parent home. In fact, the biggest challenge of being a single parent is the effect of your status on your children.

The transition to a single-parent family is difficult for kids. They may feel abandoned or insecure. They may feel isolated and different from other kids, even if there are more single-parent families than ever before.

Your children may resent you for the loss of your spouse, or they may have unresolved issues with the missing parent. As a single parent, it’s your job to keep them talking about what’s going on with them and what they think. Even though they may resist, you need to get them to talk to you about their worries, their fears, and their anger.

And you need to let them know they’re all right. They’re normal kids despite their circumstances. They aren’t responsible for the change, and they don’t have to make up for it. You should give them as normal a childhood as possible and be a role model. Even when they don’t act that way, they look to you as their example of what a grown-up is and does.

Your kids need to know you’re there for them, no matter what. You have a busy schedule trying to earn a living and manage the household. But you must never be too busy for your children. Even when you are in financial trouble, the job can’t take priority over the kids. They need to know how important they are to you. They need to know you love them more than anything else.

You’re going to have to build a new relationship with your children. As a single parent, you’re the only source of affection and guidance in the home. Even if you weren’t close before, you’re going to have to get close now. One good way to do that is to do lots of fun family activities.

Another way that will help the whole family is to assign specific chores to your children that will help keep the household running efficiently. Giving them responsibility will help them feel that they belong and that they are important. It will also give them a sense of accomplishment necessary to build a healthy self-image.

Single parents need to admit that they need help and then get help. You can’t do everything by yourself. Trying to may ruin your health, your attitude, and your relationships with your children. Getting to know your neighbors is a great way to find people who can help you look after the kids when you must be away. Neighbors can also help with household repairs and yard work.

Your neighbors may also be adult companions and role models for your children, but you must be careful. Get to know your neighbors well before you allow your children to be alone with them. Remember that the world is a more dangerous place than it was when you were a child. There’s no substitute for good parental judgment.

Time is the enemy when you’re a single parent. You probably have to work, and that means being outside the home a lot. Unless you have help, it also means your children may spend a lot of time at home alone. You’ll need to take extra precautions and lay out specific rules for time you’re not there.

Children who are alone a lot are vulnerable to drugs and criminal behavior. Gang activities are sky-rocketing. You’ll have to find a way to monitor your kids while you’re not home. This difficult challenge must be met head-on or your children may pay for it with their very lives.

You may have a challenge with your children’s attitudes about you as well. They may blame you for their situation or think you’re not doing things right. They may not show you the respect you want and expect. And they may feel cheated if you can’t attend special events like birthdays, PTA meetings, parent-teacher conferences, recitals, and other events that parents usually attend. These time pressures are especially difficult for single parents.

If you can’t make the time to make at least some of these events, it’s time to have a talk with the boss. Maybe you can work out a special work schedule or do some of your work at home. If you can’t find a solution with your current job, you may need to look for other more flexible working arrangements. If both are impossible, it’s important that your children know and understand why you can’t be with them. Be honest. They’ll understand the truth better than no explanation at all.

It’s important to remember that you can’t just give time to your kids. It must be quality time that helps them grow and mature. They need to know that you love them and that you need them. Never give them the idea that they’re a burden to you. Tell them often how much you love them. Listen to them. Ask them questions and listen to their answers. Show your interest in them as individuals. Even when time is limited, you can make the time you spend with them special and positive. It’s worth the trouble. And your reward is the love and respect of well-behaved, responsible children.

Even when life deals you and your children a bad hand, you can make life together enjoyable and productive. You can build healthy relationships with your kids and watch them become happy, productive young adults.

Despite the many hard challenges of being a single parent, you must always maintain your perspective and honor the most important priorities. It won’t always be hard or unpleasant. You’ll have many happy times and lots of love and laughter in your single-parent family as long as you keep a healthy positive attitude and keep on working toward a better life for you and your children.

Responsible Parenting (Halloween)

Responsible parenting skills. Halloween Edition. I make my living as an artist. So please visit my websites. www.primitivecustoms.com http Free MP3 downloads of my music at: www.garageband.com

ATS:Surviving Marriage-Parenting Hallie-Episode 6 [51]

Sorry it took so long. I think my writer’s block is gone, now. Enjoy = ) Songs: Intro-With Arms Wide Open by Creed 1st-Little Bit of Life by Craig Morgan 2nd-Right Here, Right Now by Vanessa Hudgens and Zac Efron 3rd-Even Angels Fall by Jessica Riddle

Understanding the Food Pyramid for Kids

In 2005, the US Department of Agriculture released the new food pyramid plan. Kids and adults alike no longer need to follow the same horizontally sectioned food pyramid. Adults now have their own pyramid while there is also a new food pyramid for kids. What does this say now about food, nutrition and diet?

The new food pyramid for kids basically implies that kids have different nutritional and diet needs as adults. Kids need to follow the specifications in the new food pyramid for kid so that they can grow up healthy and strong.

The food pyramid for kid is telling kids and parents that kids should eat a variety of food items from all the food groups. A healthy meal according to the food pyramid for kid should therefore contain lean meat, beans, nuts, fish, milk, dairy products, fruits, grains, vegetables and some fats.

The food pyramid for kid however is not telling kids to eat everything in the same amounts. The same age old advice still holds about eating more grains, fruits and vegetables than other food types. Oils and sugar should be eaten in smaller portions. Parents should also note that some foods in each category should not be eaten in great amounts. Fruit pies and tetra pack juices for example do not necessarily contain the same nutrients as real fruits and should only be taken occasionally.

The best way to encourage kids to follow the food pyramid for kid requirements is to set a good example. Parents and other family members should vow to eat only healthy food. It would also help to keep the whole house free of junk food and other food items that are less in nutritional value.

The new food pyramid for kid is also trying to tell us that kids should be given a lot of time to exercise. Good physical play for example is advisable for kids to stay healthy. Parents can also encourage kids to follow the physical exercise advice of the new food pyramid for kid by being a good example and engaging in physical activities as well. Parents can keep kids active by participating in family camping activities or family sports games.

The whole business of eating and living healthy may be a difficult concept to teach children. The food pyramid for kid also suggests however, that healthy living and eating should be taught slowly but surely.

High Quality Shoes from Start-rite

While children’s feet are still growing, parents need to be careful what shoes are worn on the feet. For footwear at home, loose-fitting slippers or moccasins are suitable; but for outdoor everyday use, such as school shoes, choosing comfortable, well-fitting shoes for your child’s feet is critically important. Avoid fancy fads and high-heeled shoes for your child. It is best to consider rubber-soled, snugly-fitting shoes that have a little bit of room for growing and movement. Avoid tight-fitting shoes that inhibit toe movement.

A terrific place to get superior-fitting shoes is Start-rite Shoes. They’ve been in business for over 100 years, and they know children’s shoes! Over the years of offering well-made shoes, Start-rite has become synonymous with stylish, well-fitting, comfortable children’s shoes. There is the shoe for every child’s foot: high-quality leathers for durable use and excellent fit; riptape fastenings for ease in putting on and taking off; flexible rubber and non-skid soles for stability and traction; whole- and half-sizes with a variety of widths so your child’s feet always have a perfectly-fitting shoe; and superior customer service and quality. See the award-winning Start-rite for the very best footwear for your child.

Maury Updates: The Tears of Unfathomable Sadness! / 1-888-45-MAURY / Teen Mom Parenting Tips

February 4, 2009 Descriptions from the Maury Show website: 1. Jor-Dann was so sure that he wasn’t the father of Chelsea’s baby, Jori-Ann that he decided to call The MAURY Show… from the hospital delivery room! But it turns out that his suspicions were correct. MAURY revealed that Jordan was not the father. But what would happen after Jordan and Chelsea left the show? 2. We were all shocked when we met fourteen year old Kimberly. Desperate for help, Kim’s mother, Kerri, came to MAURY for …

Reading, Writing, ’rithmetic.and the Role of Mom & Dad: an Inspiring New Book Spotlights How Much We Matter in our Kids’ Education

By Tom Bloch

It’s no secret that schools across the nation are in trouble. Teachers are overstressed, overwhelmed, and unable to get students to cooperate. If you’re a parent of school-aged kids, this is a distressing reality. In the whirlwind of work, household chores, social commitments, and everything else that sucks up your time, it’s incredibly hard to take an active role in their education. I’ve realized two things: 1) without parental involvement, kids are far less likely to live up to their potential, and 2) with encouragement and caring, even kids from the toughest homes can thrive. So just imagine what your own children can do.

Chances are, few readers will be able to identify with the severe challenges faced by some of the kids I’ve taught. Still, I believe all parents can benefit from what I’ve learned. My book not only showcases the grim dynamics of the inner city classroom, but it also illuminates the truth about what kids need to succeed. Having committed adults who care and push them to excel tops the list.

I ended up co-founding an inner city college preparatory charter school called University Academy, located in an area of Kansas City known for its crime and poverty. The school serves over 1,000 students in kindergarten through grade twelve. Over the last five years, all but two students who have graduated from UA went on to attend college, a remarkable accomplishment for an urban school.

Through my experiences I have learned techniques that help underserved kids from low-income, broken families discover their self-confidence, ambition, and a sense of accountability. Much of the success is due to the school itself, but in so many cases parental involvement makes the biggest difference. When parents of UA students get involved and stay involved, the kids succeed at high rates.

Keep reading for a few of my own tips on how to engage your children and prime them for optimum learning and success in school.

Brush up on your own reading, writing, and ’rithmetic. Perhaps the best way to guarantee that your kids succeed in school is to review their homework with them each evening. It is not at all uncommon for parents to have to re-learn entire subjects to help their children succeed. Help them grasp a concept they’re struggling with. Remind yourself that nothing else—no TV show, no housework, nothing—is more important than your children’s academic and character development.

Invest in more of the intangibles and less of the tangibles for your children. I have noticed that even low-income families send their children to school in the most expensive Nike shoes. What this proves to me is that materialism is rampant in society—not just in high-income families, but in all families. Kids need to learn to discover more value in enrichment activities and less value in status symbols. On holidays and birthdays, choose to give your children life experiences in addition to material objects. Take a trip to a historic site within a day’s drive. Or buy a musical instrument for your child along with the weekly lessons. One day he or she will be grateful for the memories and useful skills you will have helped create.

Don’t expect teachers to raise your child. Some parents expect schools to do all the work in educating and socializing their children. But this is both irresponsible and impossible. It must be a dual effort. When parents instill respect, responsibility, caring, and compassion in their children, teachers can enforce these values. Some parents who are disengaged from their children’s education also expect their kids to be passed along to the next grade regardless of their academic achievement. This kind of parental mindset transcends all socio-economic class boundaries. As a parent, it is your responsibility to teach your child to work hard and live according to a strong code of ethics. Otherwise, it’s like trying to build a house without first building a foundation.

Support teacher decisions. It’s perfectly natural for a parent’s pride to be wounded when his or her child fails in some way in school. And, unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for parents to react angrily towards the school when their children are punished for misbehavior. But this kind of reaction is almost always a big mistake and does children no favors. If you suspect a teacher is treating your child unfairly, then by all means sit in on a class or schedule a conference to get to the bottom of things. Children must learn to follow rules and to accept the consequences for not doing so. And by supporting a teacher’s fair decision, you create a united front that your child is far more likely to respect.

Commit to volunteer. The phrase is shop-worn by now, but it really does take a village to raise a child. Try your best to be not just a parent to your own child, but part of the “village” for all the children. Schools desperately need involved, committed, and dedicated parents. If you have a special skill that can be shared with your child and his or her school family, consider volunteering. The inner city school that I co-founded feels so strongly about parental involvement that it requires parents to volunteer a minimum of twice a year to enrich their school’s support network.

Parental apathy and even hostility are real concerns in today’s schools. The truth is, it’s very difficult for teachers to make children successful without the support of parents at home. Even in affluent households, where parents can afford private schools and tutors, kids are still kids. They need the involvement and commitment of their parents in order to develop the skills and values necessary to succeed in school and in life. It’s a principle that goes beyond socio-economics.

Still, the primary message of my book is one of hope. Because underprivileged kids are proving they can overcome terrible conditions, those of us born into more fortunate circumstances should never settle for less than our best. Many of the kids featured in Stand for the Best are rising to find their greatness. If they can do it, your kids can, too.

# # #

Tom Bloch

What is the effect of single parenting on a children psychic?

could you tell how does a child’s perception changes with regard to single/ divorced parents?

Kids Love Their Own Space to Learn and Create

In our basement is a place for our kids to learn and create. It’s not a fancy space, but it’s practical, spacious and kid friendly. A kids’ art and craft desk, a computer just for children, a piano keyboard, a bucket of instruments, an easel, and two kids’ tables with kid sized chairs fill the space. The floor underneath our “Learn and Create Space” is linoleum that holds up well against spills and abuse. Messes can be made here and explorations are welcome. It a good place for noisy play too. Our “Learn and Create Space” welcomes children to come, play and discover.

We call this basement space the “Art Area,” but a lot more than art is made here. The art easel is used to play school, our kid’s computer teaches keyboarding, the art desk sets the stage for creative exploration, a band plays using the available instruments, and the kid’s table and chairs are perfect for crafting and other projects. Once I filled the space my kids moved right in and began to play. Today, it’s a “hot spot” in our home. Everyone small loves to do what they do best in our “Art Area.”

When I was a kid I lived at the kitchen table. I liked the space the kitchen table gave me. I could go back and forth between activities there. At one end of the table would sit some test questions that needed review. At the other end a watercolor painting might be drying. More towards the middle of the table an afternoon snack would, perhaps, sit half consumed. I was a kid, so my stuff had a way of spreading like spilled milk. By the end of the day the table was often buried in all my projects. I’m lucky my parents tolerated my tendency to spread out. The freedom to fill the kitchen, with all the activities for the day, allowed me a greater opportunity to learn and create.

I am thankful that my parents allowed me to take over the kitchen table. Today I like to offer my own children the same freedoms. This is pretty easy since there are so many new ways to set up a space that’s just right for busy kids. My favorite new space maker is a kid’s table and chairs. Children don’t have to prop themselves at the kitchen table, or sit on their knees anymore. These tables are just the right size for comfortable sitting. The kid’s tables are just the right height for a child, and chairs that are “just right” are easy to find. Today you can find matching table and chair sets, or you can mix and match if you prefer. You can also bring home a child sized kidney shaped table just like the ones in a preschool classroom. These tables are just the right height for children and they have loads of space for multiple projects. Chairs that match are readily available. You’d be amazed at the options that are out there.

When I set up a space for our kids to learn and create I was deliberate. I considered everything I had learned about kids, because I wanted to give my own kids a really good place to grow. I traveled back to my undergraduate years, when I studied art and education, and I thought about what I had learned about environments that fostered creativity. I visited my graduate school days when I read text books filled with suggestions for helping kids learn to read and develop their basic academic skills. I reflected on the many classrooms that I taught within. I remembered the spaces I created for students and I remembered the students that filled the spaces. I drew on my own experiences as a teacher and a creative person. I pulled all of this knowledge together to make the perfect space for my own children to learn and create. There’s never been a day that I’ve regretted the energy and resources I tapped into to make our “Art Area.” My kids love their “Create and Learn Space” and they use it every day. It’s just perfect for them.

As I sit at my computer I can look at all the evidence. It’s the evidence that my kids are learning and creating. Their art desk is covered in paper airplanes, buttons glued to construction paper, pipe cleaners loaded with beads, and feathers poked into a three inch diameter Styrofoam ball. The art easel is dressed with a newsprint pad that is opened to a drawing of stick figure people playing roller hockey. There’s also a table, about two feet high, that’s stacked with unfinished crafts that will soon get attention. A little chair sits and waits for someone to fill it. It won’t take long before someone does fill it, because my kids can’t wait to use their space to learn and create. They know it’s just perfect for them, because they’re the ones that use it and they’re the ones that love it.

Take some time to make a “Learn and Create Space” for your children. You’re children will love it and they’ll use it. It’s an investment you won’t regret, and it will bring a lifetime of returns.

Co-Parenting Lovebird Babies

We let Dewey Sierra feed their babies again even though their babies have been pulled and are brooding and being hand fed by us.