Family Law

Seven Tips for Single Parents - How to have a Healthy Relationship with your Child

By Erin Kelley

For single parents, the weight of day-to-day responsibilities can be overwhelming. Taking time to develop a healthy relationship with your children may seem like a luxury you cannot afford since you are trying to handle all the responsibilities two parents would typically share. But the truth is, you cannot afford to not spend time building strong relationships with their children.

One concern of most single parents is the emotional stability and wellbeing of their child. By developing and maintaining a healthy relationship with their child, parents can foster and protect the child’s emotional health.

7 Tips to Help Single Parents Develop Healthy Relationships with Children

1. Budget your time wisely. Without a clear schedule, you can easily spend every free moment taking care of household responsibilities, rather than taking time out for your children. Just as you budget your finances, you should consider budgeting time and prioritizing quality time with your child.

2. Let go of bitterness. After a difficult divorce or breakup, it’s natural to harbor ill feelings towards an ex; however, you must always keep in mind that the ex is still one of the child’s parents. Children can be hurt by being in the middle of disputes between parents. If at all possible, it’s best for you and your child to let go of hard feelings.

3. Set a good example for your child. If you have a negative outlook on life, you are likely influencing your child with your negativity - even if you don’t realize it. It is far better to be an upbeat, positive-thinking role model for your child.

4. Let your child be a child. Single parents must keep in mind that children are not peers. In developing a healthy relationship, you should not confide in your child about adult matters.

5. Be consistent. Consistency breeds security. It’s especially important for single parents to be consistent with rules and discipline. A child is much more secure in a household where there are rules and boundaries.

6. Listen to and respect your child. In order to show your children that their thoughts and feelings are important, you should pay attention to what your child tells you and encourage open communication every day.

7. Have fun! The duties and responsibilities of a single parent can seem never ending; however, it’s important to take the time to just have fun. Take the time to laugh with your child and forget about everything else for a while.

To get more tips about parenting after divorce, visit Total Divorce.

Full post as published by The Divorce Blog on February 18, 2009 (boomark / email).