General

For the Single Parent

No matter your story, being a single parent is tough. When you become a single parent, you are instantly thrown into a never-ending cycle of trying to balance the maintaining of your household, your kids, your job, and your self-care. This delicate, juggling act can be overwhelming and downright exhausting.

Moments of joy often come matched with feelings of loneliness, leaving a sense of longing for a helpmate.

In the times of chaos, exhaustion, and loneliness, it is important to remain close to Jesus and have Scripture hidden deep within your spirit on which you can lean.

Several great verses to commit to memory are:

• “[B]ut those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary,” Isaiah 40:31 NIV.
• “ But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weakness, so that Christ’s power cam rest on me,” 2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV.
• “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds,” Psalm 147:3 NIV.
• “Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible but with God all things are possible,’” Matthew 19:26 NIV.

When our heart is right, our head can begin to clear. Meditating on Scripture allows your thoughts to align with God’s will and you begin to realize your earthly purpose and the incredible responsibility of raising a child to grow and love Jesus.

While parenting is not an easy task, and single parenting can be even harder, it is not impossible through Christ. Remember to lean on the strength that is available to you through the Lord Jesus and seek Him daily for guidance and strength and peace.

Additionally, taking practical steps to establish an atmosphere of peace and joy within your home will reduce tension and stress that can easily build in a single-parent household. Consider these three steps to establishing a successful single parent home:

1. Examine your routine. Many families today live in a constant state of “go”. Rushing from one activity or event to another, many parents spend the majority of their free time acting as a shuttle for their children. To help ease the hurried pace, consider breaking up your week to escape monotony. When we become “stuck in a rut”, days and weeks become long and seem like a never-ending cycle of busyness.Consider planning small activities throughout the week that you and your kids can look forward to doing together. Some ideas may be going out to eat, having a picnic in the park, hosting a friend for dinner, or staying in and learning a new game together. Whatever you choose, make sure it is something that is stress free and fun, something that everyone will genuinely anticipate with excitement as the special day draws nearer.
2. Take care of yourself. Self-care is important for parents, and it is essential for single parents. If you aren’t taking care of yourself, you won’t be able to care for your kids to the best of your ability. You may be thinking that you “don’t have the time”, but self-care can be done in as little as 15 minutes. Pick at least one evening a week to give yourself a “self-care” break. Treat yourself to your favorite coffee drink, listen to an audiobook while the kids play outside, watch one episode of your favorite sitcom after the kids go to bed, or schedule a 10-minute phone call with a friend just to catch up. These quick and easy self-care moments are a great way to maintain your physical and emotional health.
3. Set the tone. What does your home environment look, smell, and feel like? This may sound silly and unimportant, but the aesthetic of a home can set the tone for those living in it. Homes don’t have to be spotless, pristinely organized, or visually stunning to create a healthy, joyful environment. The space a family lives in should be a space where the family feels comfortable and finds refreshment and rest. This is hard to accomplish in a house that is littered with trash, toys, dirty dishes, and poor lighting. Simply putting toys in a pile, making beds, opening window blinds, or lighting a candle can completely change an atmosphere. Try incorporating one simple change, such as committing to opening the windows for an hour each day, or start making everyone’s beds in the morning, or even doing one load of laundry or dishes before bed in the evening, and see what kind of difference you feel in your home.

In the end, the role of a parent is to make lifelong disciples of Jesus Christ. When you build in time to intentionally create healthy memories, take good care of yourself, and create a lifegiving home environment, discipleship becomes much easier. These healthy habits lay the foundation for pouring your faith and values into young hearts and minds who are able to receive and process what is being imparted to them.