Making sure you have a network of positive, supportive people around you who want to be part of your baby’s life can help limit the potential for ending up back in a bad relationship – and it’ll benefit your baby to have genuine, loyal friends and family around them too.
Give yourself a break
Whether it’s actually taking time away from your baby while friends and family make sure they are happy and well looked after, or simply avoiding looking at the laundry pile and treating yourself to a takeout, ensuring you have regular time to yourself to recharge and refresh is important. Even if you can’t manage it regularly, perhaps you can find a local parenting circle you can swap sitting duties with – and if there isn’t anyone you can call on for help, at least you’re the only one who’ll notice dirty dishes or odd socks.
Whilst letting go sometimes can be a great idea, remember the benefits of routine as well – having scheduled activities to do at certain times of day, no matter how small or insignificant they feel, can help you feel more in control and able to juggle your time effectively.
Although raising a baby as a single parent can feel like more of a struggle, if you keep expectations low, focus on the important things, and plan ahead, you’ll find you can spend less time stressing and more time enjoying your new addition. Building a network of positive relationships now can set the foundations for a bright future – for you, your baby and the friends and family around you.
Kylee Harris is an educator who has taught in elementary schools in Singapore and Hong Kong for 5 years. She lives in Florida and continues to teach life skills to young adults in her community.
