KZN#29

Moms
10
Single Mom
Secrets
"How do successful single parents keep it all together? Author,
blogger and single mom Christine Coppa shares her advice for
surviving (and thriving) as a single parent"
Seek Out Role Models
Single parents and their kids
can flourish, and there are
plenty of examples to prove
it. Make a list of single parents—or
children raised by a single parent—
who inspire you, and refer to it when
you’re having a rough day. Some of
the people on my list include President
Obama, who was raised by his single
mom and grandparents; President
Clinton, who was brought up primarily
by his mom; and actress Bridget
Moynahan, who went through her
pregnancy alone after splitting from
Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. I’m
not just inspired by celebrities though;
my real life friend Matt who blogs at
mattlogelin.com about unexpected
single fatherhood is another confidence
booster for me. Seeing all of
these success stories and many more
unfold before my eyes is proof that
single parenthood is not only managelowable,
but an incredible gift that allows
me to shape my son into a wonderful
human being.
Find A Work Schedule That Suits
Your Family
As a freelance writer, I’m
lucky to work from home,
but it wasn’t always this
way. I used to be on staff at a magazine
where I worked long hours that
didn’t really match up well with JD’s
daycare pickup. So, I took a deep
breath and asked my boss if I could
work a slightly different schedule
where I came in earlier but left in time
to get my son from daycare. My boss
was understanding and allowed me to
work a more convenient shift. Don’t
be afraid to express your needs to your
employer, or reveal you’re a single
parent, because most bosses want to
work with you, not against you. You
can also check out the best companies
for working mothers to target your
job search to companies with familyfriendly
benefits.
Schedule Kid-Free Time
I’m not saying you
have to go on a date,
or even out for girls
night. But I am saying
there is no harm in getting
a babysitter so you can
enjoy a pedicure or trip to
the bookstore when you
don’t go near the children’s
section. You have
to remember that married
couples have their date
nights, or at least times
where they hand the kids
off to each other. Single
motherhood is hard work
and you deserve time off
every once in a while.
Can’t spring for a sitter?
Arrange a childcare swap
with a mom friend you
trust.
Don’t Obsess About
Things You Can’t Control
No one can force
your child’s
other parent to
visit. You can’t help it if
he promises to show up for
your child’s big game and
doesn’t. These are the other
parent’s issues—not yours,
so don’t lose sleep over it.
Instead, focus on what you
can control and that is what
kind of parent you are.
6 Kzn Lifestyle Magazine • Issue 29
Count to 10
It’s easy to lose your
cool when you have
to be “on” all the
time. Single parents have
no one to trade off with
when they’re about
to
lose their marbles
over yet another
bowl of peas
thrown on the
floor.
Don’t yell, because it’s
not healthy for the child and
you’ll regret it afterward.
Instead, walk away and
count to 10 or just laugh it
off. You’ll feel better in a
minute, and ready to face
the peas.