When baby arrives, it’s only natural for your friends and family to want to pay a visit and spend some quality time with the new arrival. However, as well-meaning as they are, these visits can quickly become overwhelming.
The phone just doesn’t seem to stop ringing, you’re exhausted, and you’ve already forgotten what sleep is. So, how can you tell your loved ones you’re just not up to visitor right now? Here, we’ll look at some of the best ways to handle visitors after giving birth.
Being a parent is hard enough when there’s two of you to share the responsibilities. So, being a single parent with only yourself to rely on, can feel downright impossible. It’s challenging, yes, but it’s also totally possible to be a single parent without losing your mind.
If you’re facing bringing up your child alone, it’s understandable you may feel scared and overwhelmed. However, there are ways to make single parenting a lot easier. Here, you’ll discover some of the top single parent life hacks which can make your life so much easier.
One of the key challenges of being a single parent is trying to juggle everything. If you work, it can be really tough finding the time to match your child’s schedule, while also doing your job effectively. However, did you know you may be entitled to flexible working hours?
It’s definitely worth having a chat with your employer to see what kind of flexibility options they can provide. Would they consider letting you work from home some days? Or maybe you could have a flexible schedule where you can take time off as and when you need it if something crops up with the kids? You lose absolutely nothing asking for better flexibility and if granted, you’ll be amazed how much easier it makes your life!
It’s common for single parents to feel like they have to do everything. In some ways, you do need to do more than two-parent families. However, you absolutely don’t need to do everything. In fact, it’s impossible to try and do everything yourself.
Trying to do more than you can comfortably handle will only lead to frustration, stress and burnout. You’ll never be happy if you’re trying to be a super parent! So, accept there’s some things you just can’t take on by yourself and don’t stress out over the chores or tasks you haven’t had a chance to get around to completing.
Childcare Can prove essential for any parent. However, when you’re doing it alone, having a good range of childcare options is essential. More importantly, you need to ensure the childcare you do opt for is reliable.
The last thing you need is to be stuck if a childcare provider let’s you down. So, always have a range of backup options on hand, and be sure to choose your childcare wisely. Tur to friends, family, local daycare and babysitters – there’s so many childcare options out there these days so you really don’t need to do it completely alone.
Heading out to the store with young children can be an absolute nightmare. Your life as a single parent is stressful enough, so why make it harder than you need to? Most grocery stores offer an online delivery service these days. All you need to do is sign up, add what you want to your basket, book the delivery and then wait for it to arrive at your door.
This online delivery system has made it so much easier for single parents to get the groceries they need without having to prepare for a military-style mission.
Getting all of your chores done on top of everything else can seem like an impossible task. However, if you get the kids to help you, it will make life so much easier. Even very young children can help you with basic tasks. Toddlers for example, can help fetch things and tidy up their toys.
For older children, you could even create a Rota system. Each day they are assigned several chores and after a week or a month, they receive a reward. This doesn’t have to be a monetary reward, it can be anything from extra gaming or TV time, to days out.
One thing that’s going to help you keep on top of your chores, is keeping the home clutter free. You may need to take a few hours to de-clutter each room, but once it’s done you’ll find it easy to keep on top of.
A cluttered house doesn’t just make it look untidy, but it can also pose a safety hazard. You won’t feel as relaxed either, so if you want to actually enjoy your home environment, keeping it clutter-free is a must.
Don’t try to serve up homecooked meals every night. While they are better for you and your kids, the pressure to cook every night can become overwhelming. Instead, allow yourself to have a night off.
This could mean getting fast food, or simply sticking something in the oven. You don’t need to spend hours cooking up a storm in the kitchen. Go easy on yourself and when you don’t have the time or energy to cook from scratch, don’t!
It’s really common for parents to compete with one another. However, when you’re a single parent, it’s especially easy to compare yourself to others.
Do you look on social media only to find other single parents appear to be managing brilliantly? If so, it can make you wonder what you’re doing wrong. However, the truth is, social media isn’t a reliable source to see how well people are doing. Very few parents post negative things about themselves or their children’s behavior. What you’re actually seeing is their “highlights”. So, just because it looks like they’re doing an awesome, easy job, it doesn’t necessarily mean that’s what’s happening in reality.
What you need to remember is that every parent’s journey is unique. You can’t possible compare yourself to other single parents because the circumstances are entirely different. So, stop competing and instead focus on enjoying your family and doing the best that you can do.
Overall, it truly is tough being a single parent. There are days it will feel like it’s way too much than you can handle. However, the above tips can really help to simplify your life and make the job that little bit easier.
Do you have your own tips which help you out as a single parent? Share them below!
Bullying is largely associated with middle school. However, it can actually occur at any age. It’s not uncommon for children to experience bullying in elementary school, or even prior, for example. However, just because it’s common, doesn’t make it acceptable.
Discovering your child is being bullied at any age can be devastating. You want to help and put a stop to the problem, but you’re unsure how you should handle it. If you’re trying to help your child deal with bullies, below you’ll discover some of the best ways to handle the situation.
It’s official, 2019 is over. It’s that time of year where we begin thinking about the things we’d like to change in the New Year. If you’re looking to make your home a healthier, happier place to be, you may want to consider adjusting your parenting habits.
By making changes which benefit everyone in the household, you’re guaranteed to have a great year ahead. The question is, what type of changes could you make in the year ahead? To help, here, you’ll discover 10 healthy parenting habits to start in 2020.
Dream feeding is one of the newest parenting trends, though it’s actually been used for decades as a method to help babies sleep through the night. Many people get it confused with the vivid dreams some moms have of breastfeeding, where the dream was so real they wake up not knowing whether or not they did breastfeed in the night. This isn’t what dream feeding is however.
Here, you’ll discover everything you need to know about dream feeding, from what it is to its pros and cons.
Christmas is a magical time of year, so what better time to announce your pregnancy? There are so many great ways you can reveal a Christmas pregnancy, adding to the excitement and joy of the season. Imagine how excited your loved ones will be when they find out there’s going to be a new edition to the family next year!
If you want to give your friends and family a surprise they won’t forget, why not check out the awesome ways to reveal your pregnancy this Christmas!
The weather is getting significantly colder and there’s magic in the air. It can only mean one thing – Christmas is coming!
If you want to make the festive season with your toddler extra special this year, now’s the time to start planning ahead. Nothing is more heartwarming than seeing your little one excited for Santa. So, why not start your Christmas countdown now?
Here, you’ll discover some great ways to get your toddler excited for Christmas.
Spending your first Christmas with baby is undoubtedly exciting and magical. However, it can also be extremely stressful! There is so much to do and organize during the holidays, making it a hectic time, even for those who don’t have a baby to look after!
So, how can you ensure you enjoy your first Christmas with your little one without having a nervous breakdown? Here, you’ll discover some of the top tips for surviving Christmas with a baby.
Want to make Christmas extra magical this year? Why not start your own tradition? There are lots of great Christmas traditions you can start with your toddler. Helping to make the time you spend together even more magical, the traditions you begin this year will potentially carry on throughout the generations.
So, what traditions could you introduce this Christmas? Here, we’ll reveal 10 awesome ideas to help inspire you.
Christmas time with a toddler can be both magical and stressful! There’s nothing cuter than seeing your toddler becoming increasingly excited for Santa to arrive. However, as any parent will testify, decorating the home and creating a magical Christmas atmosphere when you have a toddler isn’t easy.
There are a lot of things which can go wrong during the festive season thanks to your hyperactive, destructive toddler. So, if you want to enjoy a toddler-friendly Christmas this year, below you’ll discover some top tips which can help.
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