Search Results for: blog keeping track of everyone without losing your mind

Dividing Time—the Single Parent’s Task

We often talk about time management here in the Single Parents blog—especially as it relates to multi-tasking and getting all sorts of different things done; but I think that dividing our time between often competing factions is another reality for the single parent. We may have to divide our time between work and home, or between children, or if we are dating, we may have to figure out how to divide our time between our date(s) and our children. For many of us, each day is like a pie we have to divide up to make sure that everyone is … Continue reading →

Tips for Sharing Information

Making sure that everyone gets where they are supposed to be and that all the details are taken care of is challenging for a single parent family. Coming up with communication systems to make it easy for family members to share information can make single parent family life a lot more efficient and smooth… It might seem obvious–but bulletin boards and notepads are still a fine way to communicate in a busy household. Setting up a whiteboard (dry erase) or chalkboard where family members can leave notes for one another (and to themselves) is another tried and true way to … Continue reading →

I Can’t Think for All of Us

I wrote yesterday while pondering just how much a single parent can cram into his or her brain without having the benefit of writing it down. The flip side of this is that the truth is—we CANNOT cram it all into our brains. I know with my children, I can remember telling them when they were younger that they were going to have to manage some of their own things because there was no way that I could “think for all four of us!” I can actually recall one day one of my daughters saying to me: “Mom, I know … Continue reading →

How Much Can You Keep in Your Head?

While I couldn’t imagine living without my calendars and datebook, I also realize that single parenting has expanded my brain capacity in many ways. There just seems to be things that I HAVE to keep in my head. I’m not sure if this is actually good for me and will help me ward of dementia, or if it is wearing my brain out long before its time… Now don’t get me wrong, I make my share of blunders and I can remember clearly forgetting to take care of something I was supposed to take care of, but on the whole, … Continue reading →

It Isn’t Just About Coping, But Positive Coping

When I hear the word “coping” I think of just getting by. People tend to say “I’m coping” when asked how they are handling a particularly difficult situation or a crisis. I think that life a single parent shouldn’t just be about coping, but I prefer to think of “positive coping”—finding positive, productive, and spirit-lifting ways to face the challenges and joys of life in a single parent family. I had a friend who used to refer to “adult coping skills” as being things like drinking, going out dancing, etc. Of course, this was someone who was/is childless and free … Continue reading →

Keeping Track of Everyone Without Losing Your Mind

If you are single parent like me with multiple children (and even those of you who may only have one child, but also have work, house, family, and other obligations to juggle), there may be those days when you think it is absolutely impossible to keep track of everyone. As children get older and head off in all sorts of different directions, just keeping a tally on who is where, which permission slips you have to sign, and the phone numbers for all the friends’ houses can seem like a full time job! I think the sooner you can put … Continue reading →