By Hannah, who created JoyBundle – a gifted cleaning service, supporting families.
While raising children, there are often days or weeks when you find yourself parenting solo. There are single parent families who dance the “solo parenthood” rhythm with unwavering courage and determination. There are families with two parents, navigating life logistics, which with sickness, shift work, work trips, sporting commitments, etc., mean one party is holding the fort down for varied periods. Amid this fast-paced world, parenthood calls for a resourceful and thought-filled approach to meet the needs of our little loves.
Amid this fast-paced world, parenthood calls for a resourceful and thought-filled approach to meet the needs of our little loves.
Here are some ways you can add that “extra hand” in a “one parent period” (in no particular order):
1. Intervene and redirect the slightly annoying thing your child is doing (sooner rather than later). This way you can stay calmer and parent with ease. You don’t have that extra adult to step in when you get to the end of your tether, so make sure you protect that tether point.
2. Routines create great rhythms to walk in step as a family. Patterns are predictable and save you directing the day verbally.
3. Visiting friends is good for the soul, worth the routine sacrifice.
4. Click and collect groceries, shop at night when the kid is sleeping. Shopping math is 100 times harder with a toddler in tow. When shopping in the flesh, TV trollies are worth the $2. (Weigh it up though if your child finds the transition tough at the other end of the shop).
5. Invest in a great preschool – low staff turnover, qualified teachers and good ratios will make your preschool experience easier! These places become an extension of your family so choose wisely.
6. Screen time…pick shows that don’t irritate you. Choose your time for this – right before tea can be painful with a capital ‘P’.
7. A preschool with cooked lunches, need I say more.
8. Find a gym with a creche or kid-friendly fitness classes. Get them endorphins.
9. On trickier days together, add water. Baths, showers, waterplay, “dishes” and watering the garden are great experiences to relax and regulate a child without a heap of input from you. Handy if you too need a moment to regulate! Haha….
