Coping Skills for Single Parents

Sara* 31, is in the middle of making dinner for her two kids, Tayler, 3 and Marcus, 7, when the phone rings. It's her supervisor, asking if she'll work overtime next week. Sara's mind races as she searches for an answer. As a single parent, she needs the money, but who will watch the kids? Will she make enough working overtime to cover the additional childcare expense? How much time will that give her to finish a paper that is due for her once-a-week night class? Sara is afraid that if she says no to the overtime, it could reflect badly on her work record and she may get passed over for promotions or more overtime in the future. Sighing, she agrees and hangs up the phone, emotionally exhausted from a two-minute phone call.

Sara's situation isn't unique. In the midst of single parenting, the mildest breeze on the pond can cause a tidal wave of consequences. As in Sara's case, one phone call can throw an entire week out of order.

In addition to finances and childcare, single parents face, loneliness, legal issues and the constant struggle to communicate with the other parent, all while seeking to build a strong foundation with their kids.