Search Results for: blog consistency is big for single parents too

Too Busy for Consistency?

As single parents, we are often just “too busy”—too busy to attend all of the functions we are invited to; too busy to stay after hours at work; too busy to shop around for the best bargain. I have even heard parents explain that they would be better parents and provide better limits and more consistency if they just were not ‘too busy’… For some single parents, there is an assumption that setting rules and limits and being consistent about it takes nonstop diligence. For a working, busy, single parent, it can just be too daunting to think of overseeing … Continue reading →

Shifting Bed-Time Schedules (and Other Schedules Too)

We all know by now that consistency and routine are important for a healthy, functioning family. BUT, change is constant—our lives change, our schedules change, and we also have to be flexible and capable of adjusting. For a single parent, figuring out how to cope with big schedule changes like a shift in bed-time schedules or routine, and still maintain consistency and limits can be a big challenge! With only one parent, if you have work shift changes, or if your child changes his or her sleeping habits, it can send the household into spin cycle. Trying to make sure … Continue reading →

Consistency Doesn’t Always Go Both Ways

As parents, we have heard how important it is for us to be consistent with our children. Setting limits and establishing rules and then sticking to consistent reactions and consequences is what it is all about when it comes to solid parenting. If you are expecting that same consistent behavior from your child, however, you may have a long, long wait… With many children, consistency definitely does NOT go both ways…in fact, if your children are anything like mine—just when you think you have got their behaviors figured out and come up with a reasonable response, they change; just when … Continue reading →

Single Parents Must Watch Out for Redundancy and Duplication

Let’s face it, as single parents our time is precious and wasting time or energy just is not a welcome option for most of us. I have found that one of the biggest time-wasters can be duplication and redundancy—whether it is doing something that is already been done, or lack of communication between myself and other people in my children’s lives that results in doubling up and duplication of stuff and adult “coverage.” It takes planning, scheduling, and sheer determination to try to cut out the redundancy and duplication. The trick to stamping out duplication is in understanding that our … Continue reading →

Problems Don’t Always Have to be Due to Single Parent Status

Popular culture and the mainstream press tend to want to turn to the increase of single parent households as an excuse for all sorts of things. When our children have a hard time, go through a rough stage, or get into trouble, people often turn to the “single parent” status of our families and try to place the blame. I admit that there are statistics that prove things like single parent families have lower incomes and thus there may be problems that result from this, but I do not always think that single parent status is to blame for everything … Continue reading →

Consistency is Big For Single Parents Too

Consistency is one of those things that comes up again and again in parenting manuals and books—but the reality of life for a single parent can be that trying to set up schedules and remain consistent with reactions and discipline can be tough. Often, we find ourselves just reacting and trying to get through the day. I think it can be double important for single parents to focus on consistency—especially in important areas like rules, expectations and discipline. Let’s be honest—who among us hasn’t “given in” and let our child stay up later or eat cookies for breakfast just because … Continue reading →

A Thanksgiving to Remember

It will be a Thanksgiving to remember for the Reyes family this year. Despite the fact that they lost their home plus all of their belongings in the recent wildfires that scorched thousands of acres in Los Angeles County, mom Jan says the family will be counting their blessings tomorrow. Jan and the rest of her family, including her 7-year-old son Jonathan were able to escape the wind-blown blazes without suffering major injuries. That’s the good news. The bad news is that Jonathan, who has autism, lost every single one of his beloved Hot Wheels. The boy had reportedly spent … Continue reading →

The Rules Should Apply to Everyone

I have confessed before that I am not a parent with a huge rule book. I have always had some very clear and basic standards and family guidelines that have been the glue that holds our family together. One thing I do believe very strongly about, however, is that whatever rules you have in your house and whatever way you have of parenting—it needs to be fair: the house rules should apply to everyone and the expectations need to be age-appropriate, yet consistent. There should not be different rules for different children. I know that this can be challenging in … Continue reading →

Celeb Splits: Mark and Sabrina, Andy and Marla, and Suri and Her Bottle

MARK AND SABRINA The other day I made the comment that more successful hook ups take place on a single season of “Dancing with the Stars” than on years of ABC’s other reality series “The Bachelor.” I counted pro dancer Mark Ballas and his former Cheetah Girl celebrity partner Sabrina Bryan among the “success” stories, but alas I may have spoken too soon. According to US Magazine, the sizzling hot couple, who met in November 2007 when they were partnered together on season five of DWTS, split a few weeks ago. “We are just friends now,” Ballas told US following … Continue reading →

Meeting Them Where They Are

In my role as a single parent, I have had a tendency to treat my kids the way I WISH they would be, or expect them to be further along in terms of development than they are. I also have a tendency to panic and assume that if they haven’t reached a certain developmental stage “by now” they might not EVER get there. I imagine that I might be this way if I wasn’t a single parent, but I do think that the fact that I feel like I must expect more from my kids probably exacerbates the situation. Over … Continue reading →