The number of single -parent families continues to increase in France. Between homework, races, work and the house, the life of a solo parent is a real marathon! Our tips for simplifying your life.
According to the latest figures published by INSEE, 25% of families are single -parent or one in four. On a daily basis, these solo parents Faced with many difficulties, both organizational and financial. So how do you get out of it on a daily basis when you are alone in raising your children? THE single mothers Who testified on the Women’s Journal agree on one point: organization and mutual aid are their watchwords! Indeed, difficult to reconcile everything when one is alone in taking charge of the education of children, to exercise a professional activity and to manage the stewardship of the house. Moms and solo dads compete in ingenuity to juggle all the roles they have to hold during a day!
1 – Maintain a social life
Mothers often forget it, it is important tomaintain a social life. Invite friends or colleagues to dinner, answer “yes” to the invitations of friends, have fun … So many little things necessary for the personal balance of all women. Take (a time) just for you ! If you are in alternate custody, take advantage of your solo week to recharge your batteries.
2 – Be benevolent towards yourself!
Despite appearances, the solo parent is not a superhero. He too has his weaknesses, his doubts and his moments of discouragement. Accept not to be perfect and try not to add additional constraints by setting excessive objectives. If the youngest did not have homemade puree with organic vegetables, it does not matter! On the contrary, began!
3 – Make a schedule and a to -do list
Without falling into the drifts of a military organization, write a schedule that you will stick to the fridge so as not to forget anything: from the elder’s appointment to the dentist at the meeting of the parents of the cadet. Nothing is more scary than not knowing what will be done the week when you already spend your time running! Same thing for children’s clothes: prepare them the day before to avoid the crisis when dressing. Finally, go to the basics, depending on the priorities.
4 – Teach your child to become independent
Put your coat or shoes on your own, get rid of your plate, make your bed, put your dirty linen in the basket, so many small harmless gestures that can really make your life easier. Remind your children that you are training a team and that it is important to help each other … like real champions!
5 – Join a network of solo parents
Parents of children’s friends, neighborhood associations, a neighbor who can help you out in the event of a hard blow, the grandparents who live near you … Create your own solidarity network ! And never say no to the help you are offered! Have you also thought of Service barters between mothers ? You collect the children at the end of the school, and in exchange, the mother accompanies your boy at her sports class on Saturday. Finally specialized sites for single -parent families, Like the Parents-solos-compagnie.org site or www.uniparent.com allow you to exchange between solo parents in order to break the isolation. In particular, you will find announcements for childcare, good plans and tips to best manage your budget.
6 – Ask for help and delegate
In the event of complicated divorce, delicate financial situation, or heavy conflicts at home, contact competent staff. Social services, town hall, psychologists, educational team, doctors and associations will be able to give you valuable advice to help you get out of this difficult situation. Remember that you are not alone.
7 – Take advantage of solo parents aid
Retract the aids to which you are entitled according to your situation and your income: family allowances, precariousness bonus, social housing, back -to -school allowance, assistance in the recovery of food pensions, family support allowance, etc. Do not forget to find out about the advantages that your municipality can bring you (loan at 0 %rate, large family card for transport and family outings at reduced prices, etc. In addition, job-service-service checks (CESU) allow you to benefit from home services (cleaning, nanny or baby sitter) which will allow you to blow a little.
8 – Unexize the good deals
You only have one salary to provide for your children, so all savings will be welcome. Take part in clothing barters, sell childcare articles or baby clothes that have become too small for your child, and take the time to study promotional offers to do your shopping.
9. Think of your love life
With a family to manage alone, difficult to find time to think of love! And yet, remember that you are not just a parent. There are now Dating sites specially dedicated to single parents Like papamamacelibani.com or meeting-parents.fr. You can meet parents who share problems similar to yours, and especially men and women to whom family life is not scary! Lack of time can obviously be an obstacle to a meeting. But why not try to wedge a lunch rather than a dinner? This will prevent you from having to incur fees for a baby-sitter!
10. Trust an application designed for you
COOT is an application specially designed for single -parent families to help them manage their daily lives. COOT has a large number of features intended to make life easier for parents. Thanks to a shared agenda, it is possible to know the timetable of each child, to have personalized follow -up of the expenses incurred by each parent, to have a shared contact space, to have access to all administrative documents directly online (super practical to avoid losing identity documents, family book, health book or school bulletin from one house). The app, which offers several formulas (free, 48 euros or 72 euros per year) regularly has new functions. Available on the App Store and Google Play.
