List of related family life links.

Family Life

Family Life Blog

Balancing Work And Family Life

Family Life Insurance

Parenting Resource

Christian Family Life

Stories about a disturbing number of parents abandoning their children in Nebraska have captured national headlines. A safe haven law with an unfortunate loophole allows parents to drop off their children at any hospital in the state without consequence. Although the law was initially designed to protect infants in unwanted circumstances, parents of older children are using this law as a way out of difficult situations. These types of stories shine a negative light on all parents across the nation, stealing the spotlight away from truly newsworthy parents.

Headlines rarely feature the small group of dedicated single parents willing to give up everything to provide the best education possible for their children. This growing group of single parents may not get the recognition that they deserve, but the movement continues to expand. It seems impossible that a single parent would be able to home school their children when in fact they must work full time to support their family. Bearing in mind a few vital factors, this difficult task can be accomplished.

Flexibility Factor

When children attend a traditional school they must conform to the school curriculum and schedule. However, when a child is home schooled, there is much more flexibility. For example, classes can take place at times convenient for both parent and child such as on evenings or weekends. That flexibility is possible because a home schooled child may not require as much time to learn a lesson as a whole classroom of students. In addition, there are curriculum available where older children can work independently, then review with an adult.

Family Factor

A single parent needs to secure the assistance of friends and families in order to be successful with a home school program. Some fortunate parents already have a close knit support group within their own communities. Other parents may need to relocate in order to be closer to family members who are willing to help. Churches are also filed with people who are more than willing to lend a hand to single parents in their attempt to educate their children. Some churches even have programs for home schoolers. Often, participating families are happy to include children of single parents on trips and special events. Even some babysitters may be willing to work on academics while watching the children. It is possible to find support by simply reaching out.

Faith Factor

Some home schooling parents are willing to take the risk of working from home. For some, a career change is necessary in order to be able to work from home. For others, it means working out a work-from-home deal with their company. Wise financial planning and budgeting play a major role in successfully implementing a home schooling program. Shopping at yard sales, consignment shops and good will stores may be a necessity. Other sacrifices such as downgrading a vehicle or moving into a smaller home may also be necessary in order to afford less hours of work. Parents need to have faith in themselves and know that although these are significant sacrifices, they are well worth it.

Behavioral Issues

Death and divorce are the main reasons why a person might be left a single parent. Although behavior issues rise in all types of children, those who have experienced a death or divorce are more likely to exhibit behavior problems. For these children in particular, home schooling is the best option. Children who have lost a parent crave stability and need to feel like they can trust the adults who are still in their world. A parent who is present consistently will have more insight into their child’s behaviors and know how to best handle them. It’s hard to provide consistency when you are a single parent responsible for handling all things, without taking a break. But, single parent home schoolers consent that their children are worth all the sacrifices.

Support for Learning Disabilities

Just because a child has a learning disability does not mean that they must be enrolled in public school. One of the most common childhood learning disabilities, ADHD, had been proven to be best taught in the home. The advantage of having children with learning disabilities taught in the home is that parents can tailor the curriculum specifically to their needs. In a classroom of 30 children, the teacher will not be able to give a child with a learning disability the time or attention necessary for their success. When parents teach their children, they give them their undivided attention, which leads to understanding their unique needs and better addressing those needs.

If you think your child has difficulty learning, have your child evaluated by a professional. Finding out the specific disability will help parents research the nature of the disability and the most appropriate practices for teaching the child. Knowing the specific disability will also help parents get connected with support groups made up of other parents. Support groups can often be found online. Seminars are available to empower parents to deal with specific disabilities. Never believe that children with disabilities are better off in public school. A special education teacher deals with such a wide variety of disabilities that they only scratch the surface of each. As the parents of one child with a disability, you would become a subject matter expert in your child’s disability. Your love and concern as a parent qualifies you as the best teacher.

Child-focused Curriculum

Single parents home schoolers have found that the best curriculum for them is the child-taught one. Robinson Curriculum is one such curriculum that has proven results throughout the years. It was developed for her children by Laurelee Robinson, whose husband was left a single-parents home schooler after her passing. The children began to teach themselves with much success. These types of curriculum’s give single parents the freedom to guide their children in their learning, without the hassle of preparing and teaching lessons.

Being a single parent requires great strength, commitment and support from others. No one plans to be a single parent. But when caught in that situation, many parents are choosing to sacrifice even more in order to provide their children the best education possible. In the end, these parents have no doubt that they are doing the best for their child.

Over the last few decades, there’s been a dramatic increase in the number of single-parent homes. As you might expect, the number of children in single-parent homes as increased as well. Many people believe that separation and divorce are very bad for developing children, while others argue that nothing’s worse for them than constant arguments and even violence in the home.

Social scientists have come to conflicting conclusions on the positive and negative impacts of single parenting. Some studies conclude that living with a single parent results in low self-esteem for the children. Others find no impacts different from two-parent households.

It’s clear, though, that single parents can make all the difference in helping their children adapt and cope with the change to a single-parent household. How single parents deal with their children at this time can mold family dynamics for the future and determine the well-being of both parent and child.

Here are a few ways the newly-single parent can be a positive supportive force for their new family.

1. Help your children understand why you are now single.

Before a separation or divorce, the chances are that the home life wasn’t too pleasant. The children may have overheard fights or witnessed personal violence that you don’t know about. It’s also likely that you weren’t as sensitive to their feelings as you might have been if you hadn’t been going through so much yourself.

Children who don’t understand the realities often assume that they are the cause of their parents’ problems. Now that the fireworks are over, it’s time to be honest with them. You don’t have to go into graphic detail, but you do need to make them understand that they are not responsible for the break-up.

Without blaming the absent parent, explain as much as you can about the basic conflict between you and why you couldn’t work it out. Your openness and honesty will help them put it in perspective and will tell them you respect their feelings. Hopefully, this will also reduce any resentments they may be holding against you.

2. Spend more time with your children.

You’ve all been through a very hard time. Tensions during the break-up may have been intense, and your children may have been aware of and affected by the stress. They probably are very familiar with screaming, fights, and cold silences. They know hostility well.

Now that you’re single and your home is getting more stable, it’s time to invest some time in your kids. Doing things together helps re-establish communications and help you get to know each other outside the conflict and tension of the old life.

Take time to talk to them about your hopes and dreams. Ask them about theirs. Plan and go on vacations, week-end trips, and quick trips to the beach or nature preserve. Have a special family night to “celebrate” the week’s accomplishments. The important thing is spending time together to help heal old wounds and build new healthy relationships. It will produce a happier, healthier family.

3. Become part of your community.

Single-parents have busy lives and many responsibilities. Depending on the age of your children, they may be able to help. But it’s important that you find nearby support. Get to know your neighbors. Where they have children near your kids’ ages, encourage them to play together.

Ask your neighbors for help when you need it. Don’t be too proud to ask for help. You have neighbors who’ll be more than happy to help you out with some baby-sitting or household chores. Neighborhood kids may want to earn a few extra dollars by helping you in your yard.

And don’t just ask for help, get involved. Take part in neighborhood and community events. Volunteer, as a family, to participate in and contribute to block parties, community flea markets and yard sales, community watch programs, and other organized activities.

It will help both you and your children establish new relationships and keep you from feeling isolated or lonely after the dramatic changes you’ve been through.

4. Give your children new experiences.

Your kids may be having a difficult time, especially if their time is divided between parents. They may be trying to adjust to a new school and make new friends. Life may seem overwhelming to them right now. It’s important that they feel that life is still an adventure, and they that belong.

Be sure to ask them about what they did when away and do not, under any circumstances, use it as time to criticize your ex. Show your interest in what your kids did and what they accomplished. Encourage them to participate in events for children, join local sports teams, and learn new things. Keep them interested in the bigger world so that they don’t become self-absorbed and overwhelmed by their personal troubles.

5. Let your children grow up with you.

Children need to feel that they have successes, just like the rest of us. You can encourage their feelings of accomplishment by giving them responsibility. Assign them specific chores in the house, and then leave the tasks to them. Don’t supervise or criticize. Let them fail, and learn, on their own. But do praise them when they do a good job. Let them know how much you appreciate their help and how important they are to your family. And try to find a job for each child that is visible to and supportive of the family unit.

6. Balance your life by prioritizing your life.

Single parents can be overwhelmed by responsibilities and the things that must be done after a break-up. It’s important that you learn how to use your time to make life better for everyone, including you! If your job is too demanding, you may need to find something else so that you can focus on your family. If financial obligations are difficult, maybe a new job’s not the answer. Perhaps trying to negotiate a new working schedule with your boss will be the key.

Begin to think about and create family schedules that are flexible enough for those inevitable unexpected events yet structured enough that your bases are covered. And include recreation and family entertainment in your schedule. Let your children help you develop a schedule. This will be another opportunity for some quality conversation and getting to know each other better. You never know, your children may have some great ideas that will make everyone’s life easier.

7. Make decision-making a family affair.

Now that you’re a single parent, it may be tempting to rule with an iron fist. But that would be a mistake. Your kids need the reassurance of knowing you respect and need them. When decisions about the home or family need to be made, include them in the process. Help them understand your decision-making parameters and the pros and cons of different decisions. This will them become more self-reliant and responsible within the family and afterward as they become adults.

These are just a few things you can do to help your children accept you as a single parent and start your new family life off on the right foot. You should seek advice and guidance from several sources. Internet research may give you a lot of ideas, but you may need to get some personal counseling or face-to-face discussion time for your specific issues.

You may be able to find a support group for single parents that will be very helpful. Other single parents can share with you their experiences and lessons. And you can have some support from people who really do understand your situation.

Single parents and teenagers – these two words bring to mind the most challenging phases of life. I know because I was raised by a single parent, and not so long ago I was a teenager. I remember the life challenges my own mother encountered as a single parent. Here are 5 tips to help you navigate the ever changing challenges of being a single parent:

1. Remember you are still a family

Regardless of the circumstances your family is still a family – even if it does not have two parents. There are many single parent families that are emotionally healthy. It is a matter of choice, not luck. They choose to make their families emotionally healthy, fun and one that is filled with positive memories.

Parent Tip: Think about the ideals that you want your family to be known for, and write them down. Perhaps make a door hanger or craft that contains symbols of these ideals to remind you of them.

2 Talk with your teen about their feelings

As you may know, your teen may also be experiencing feelings of loss. Regardless of the age and circumstances, your child may have feelings of sadness or anger or just feeling different than their peers. Allow your son/daughter to talk to about how they are feeling. This will also help the relationship you have with them. If you are concerned about your teenager’s adjustment to the divorce, then I suggest you find a qualified professional counselor to help your teenager.

Parent Tip: Look for teachable moments. Those special times when you know your teen is really listening to you, and is engaged, and take advantage of it. Teachable moments are a rarity, so seize the moment. Fina a qualified professional counselor for your teenager to talk with to help adjust to the divorce.

3. Stay involved.

As best you can, continue to be involved in their lives. Show them you are still committed to them despite your stresses. Consistency in your behavior will shout louder than your words.

Parent Tip: Attend school functions. Find those things you both have to do anyways throughout the week and do them together. Eat meals together. Go for a morning or evening walk together.

4. Teach responsibility

Teenagers are usually begging for parents to give them their independence. One of the best ways to teach responsibility is to give them chores to do around the home. Address chores not as something you are nagging them to do, but an opportunity for your teenager to show he/she is responsible to handle more independence.

Parent Tip: Start with small responsibilities and then work into more independence with greater responsibilities. For example, you may begin with teaching them to do their own laundry before letting them drive your vehicle.

5. Live within your means.

As a counselor, I have often seen where parents incur a great deal of financial debt in order to “care” for their teenagers. They want them to have the right kind of clothes, have their own cars and other “necessities” the teenager says they “need.” This approach is lose-lose for everyone. Teenagers are not taught about proper spending, and the parents’ credit card bills stack up as does their financial stress.

Parent Tip: Educate your child on healthy spending habits. If they are of employment age, have them work to earn money to pay for their own “necessities.” Likewise, educate yourself on healthy spending habits.

Single parenting may not be the ideal parenting circumstances. However, it can be done right with children that are happy, confident, and achievers. Each parent can play an essential role in their children’s well being. How about you? Are you struggling being a single parent? Take the reigns of being a single parent to make a difference in the life of your teenager! Do it now before your teenager becomes a young adult.

Parenting has never been easy. Most of the time we do not see the work involved in raising children when we see them smartly dressed and good mannered. Behind those beautiful beings there are dedicated and loving parents. Life is not a rigid entity and it accommodates a lot of differences. There are single families where one parent has all the responsibility of bringing up one or more children. Dedication calls for time because the young ones take a lot of time. Every single parent likes spending too much time with the children that sometimes they seem to give up on their social life. There is still hope for single parent romance. The little time they can afford should be quality time spent with someone who is ready to dispense and receive love, romance and happiness.

Single parent romance is a challenge considering the tight schedule. They usually get up as early as possible to ensure that kids are not late for school and they have their breakfast and lunch ready all the time. They drive the kids to school, then go to work and work non-stop for an eight hour shift. Children hate to be the last ones to be picked up from school and so the loving single parent has to be there just in time. It is not cute to go out to look for love with the kids in the car and so they head straight home to go and prepare supper, supervise the homework and before they know it, it is time to sleep. The duties are so overwhelming that physical dates are impossible.

With the many online dating sites, single parent romance can be a reality because it only involves sitting down in front of a computer. It does not involve moving around. What can be more convenient for a single parent? In the top dating sites, there are many interesting single parent personals who you can hook up with a click of a mouse. The sites and the facilities offered have proved to be excellent tools for finding single parent romance. With online dating, every single parent is assured of success within the shortest period of time. There are people there in with all sought of experiences and different lifestyles. In such a mix you can’t miss someone who understands your situation perfectly.

For more fulfilling single parent romance, I advice that you get a trusted babysitter. The young ones always need someone to keep an eye on them and for you to have total relaxation, you need to know that your children are in good hands and everything is as it ought to be. Do not look at every relationship in a marriage point of view. The romance moments might not result into anything serious but you will have had your fun. For a healthy relationship with your children it is important for you to have sometime with another adult. A little romance usually goes along way. It affects how you treat yourself and more importantly your beautiful children.

In single Parents Dating, life does not offer perfect family settings that we imagine it should. Sometimes circumstances make us go our separate ways when we notice a missing ingredient. If you are alone again, you should know that you are supposed to walk back into the dating scene but only when you are ready. “Kids are no object” kind of mentality helps a lot in single parent dating. Normally as a single parent you will experience confused feelings and fears. Many are the times we ask “Is it me who is supposed to be busy playing the dating game or is it my teenage daughter? “You should not have such an attitude. You are going to afford time to date as well as take care of your family if it becomes one of your agendas. Dating for single parents can invoke guilty feelings. Some people start thinking that they are offending their children while dating.

Single parents who are in the process of gaining support and custody of their children are usually in dangerous emotional conflicts. The confusion, anger and frustration affect most single parents dating. This especially affects fathers who suffer from a condition popularly known as “fathers’ depression”. This is because they are mostly subjected to paying many child-support bills and the sad part is that they are usually deprived of being with their children as much as they would wish. With the escalating numbers of young girls who are producing babies outside marriage and the sky rocketing divorce cases there are many single parents dating. Dating for single parents is done with some hopes of finding a mate who would help them raise the children. Some single people appreciate the idea of attaining an instant family through marrying a single parent. “Ready made” families are fun to have. Give it a trial.

Dating for single parents means being purely selfless. It calls for a lot of perseverance and understanding. Jane who was a never married single lady with no kids got married to a single father of one girl. Soon she started becoming resentful towards her spouse claiming that he was spending most of his time with his ex-wife and the daughter. She felt so threatened that she quit. It all depends on how much the other person is willing to accept the change in responsibilities. Single parents dating should make a routine of communicating through their problems and making compromises. Do not reject your responsibilities as a parent though your partner resents you. Deal with the initial resistance and if it persists consider dropping the relationship.

All single parents want to be good parents to be emulated by there children. Dating for single parents make them fulfilled and this happiness always spill over and is mostly reflected with how they treat their children. They are psychologically prepared for all their children reactions towards their dating. Single parents dating are faced with a bad perception from the children that the new lover is a stranger who is out to sabotage their fantasy. Understand that your children will not be happy with the new catch since he will in one way or another steal some of your attention from them.

With divorce rates now at record high levels the number of children living in single parent homes is higher than ever and whether you’re a mom or a dad single parenting presents you with some unique challenges.

The first set of problems that a single parent faces are practical and, as most single parents these days have to work, these involve such things as finding suitable day-care, making arrangements when having to work late or at weekends and fitting in everyday activities such as shopping.

How you cope with these practical difficulties will depend very much on your personal circumstances and financial position, but many single parents are often able to rely on older children to care for younger ones and on help from family and friends. In most cases these problems are not too difficult to overcome and a reasonable solution can usually be found.

It is often issues beyond the purely practical that present single parents with the greatest challenge and the loss of a partner to discuss problems with, to use as a sounding board and to bounce ideas off can be difficult.

Some parents also find it difficult to deal with children of the opposite sex and, in particular, miss the input from the same sex parent who is able to draw on his or her own experience of childhood.

In many cases these problems can also be overcome by turning to other family members or friends for advice, but this is not always quite so easy or practical.

On the other side of the coin many of the problems posed by single parenting are balanced by what many see as often considerable advantages. The loss of a partner also frequently brings with it the loss of disagreements, arguments and tension in the household and can make it much easier to establish guidelines and rules for the children without having to debate them with a partner.

Many single parents both consciously or sub-consciously make a greater effort to spend time with their children and also find themselves talking far more to their children. The result is that single parents often grow much closer to their children and a much stronger bond develops between parent an children, to the benefit of both.

It is often the case that children in single parent households also mature at a younger age and develop a greater sense of responsibility. Studies also show that children of single parents suffer no detrimental effects in terms of both their personal and educational development.

While on the one hand it may seem that the loss of a partner to share in the care of the children would be detrimental, single parenting provides a unique opportunity for you to influence the development of your children without the hindrance that having a partner can often bring. Additionally, as long as you don’t allow yourself to become bogged down with the practicalities of raising your children alone, the benefits can often far outweigh the disadvantages.

We are living in a world where, because of varying reasons, single parenting is growing at a tremendously rapid rate. Being an “official” single mom for a little over 5 years now, I’m sometimes very sad about the situation. It hurts most when I see the position of my own children. But then I look back and realize how far God has brought us. And in the words of Darryl Coley – “I just can’t tell it all!” It is also very encouraging when you have people ministering to you who have been where you’ve been in some form or fashion. People to support and encourage you when you feel beat up and broken down. That’s where a Single Parent Family Ministry comes in.

Many times, people assume, scrutinize, misjudge and look down on single parents because they believe they are single as a result of having children out of wedlock. They assume that single parents are in that position because of promiscuity, lack of self esteem, and selfishness, to name a few. However, that is not always the case. Today, the leading number of single parent homes are as a result of divorce, death and abandonment. And in some cases, in order to save themselves and their children from physical and emotional abuse, women have had to run from their “stable home”. So don’t be discouraged. No matter why you’re in this position, God knows and his opinion is the only one that matters!

Then there’s the assumption that single parents are the reason that America’s children are undisciplined and lacking in morals. For example, have you ever been called to your child’s school when they’ve gotten in trouble and been asked – “Is there a man in the house that can talk to your son?” I have. And someone once said to me that because I am a woman, I cannot possibly raise my son to be a man. At first it bothered me because I know that young men need their fathers. I know there are just some things about being a man that I do not know. But then I prayed about it and looked at other single moms who raised their sons to be pretty decent men.

The vast majority leaned on God to be the “head of household”, the “man” in charge, so to speak, in their homes. And I remember what God said in Psalm 68:5 – “I will be a father to the fatherless”. He is the best example that I can give to my sons. And I came to realize that even if there are two parents in a home, without God being the “head of household”, a child can still head down the wrong road. And if a biological father is not allowing God to lead him, how in the world can he raise him to be a man like unto Him? God is the example we must all follow.

I read a lot on single parenting for encouragement when I start to feel down. I bought myself the Mom’s devotional bible and was blessed to receive Dr. Tony Evans’ booklet entitled “Tony Evans Speaks Out on Single Parenting”. I would encourage you to do the same, if you haven’t already. Pastor Evans says that God is the God who sees you. He says, “the greatest thing a single parent can do is to have a passion for God, because when you have a passion for God, you have Someone who can be a Father to your children and a husband, a protector, to you…” Dr. Evans’ book also brings to mind the passage a friend of mine told me to read whenever I get discouraged. Maybe you know it. Isaiah 54. Specifically, verses 4-7. Oh, my sister, my brother, as I write this article, if you could only see the tears that overflow from my eyes when I realize where I was and where I am now. God has been so faithful! Even when I would throw my hands up in despair, God knew the plans he had for me! He knows the plans He has for me. Just sitting here being able to write these words is such a blessing for me!

If people would open their eyes and hearts, look deeply, they would realize that the vast majority of single parents are as a result of varying circumstances. Did you know that there are even single parents who are – married? I was shocked to see these words leap out at me from my devotional bible – “For various reasons, we find ourselves without a mate. Mothers without mates. Parents without partners. Whether through…emotional abandonment by a husband who still shares our house, we may find ourselves without the husband we hoped to have.” All I could say, is, God, I know you truly know what I went through!

To be honest, even while I was married, I actually felt like a single parent. Although my husband provided financially, he didn’t provide emotionally or spiritually. The reason is that in order to provide financially, for the lifestyle he wanted for us, he had to be away from home for months at a time, leaving me to be – a single parent. But, you see, God had a plan for me while I was going through that. I couldn’t see it then. But when I look around me, when I see where I am today, I know that had I not gone through that situation, I don’t know that I would’ve been prepared for single parenting after the divorce.

But even deeper still… What about women who run for their lives from men who beat them to a pulp in front of their children? No money, no family to support them, nowhere to turn, maybe not even to a homeless shelter. Oh, there are so many variances of single parenthood that people don’t see, or, don’t want to see. If a person is a single parent because of any circumstance, who can judge? Isn’t that God’s job? The bible clearly says, “Judge not, lest you be judged”!!

So I say to single parents, do not feel ashamed of being a single parent, or let anyone else make you feel that way. Be encouraged because God has great plans for us!! Although the single parent family is not “God’s Original Design”, we are still a very integral part of His kingdom and there is much work for us to do. We have to encourage one another. We have to be strong and wise and trust in the Lord for all of our needs. Even when it seems He’s not there, He is!

For those who are not single parents, look past your assumptions, and do not judge us harshly. You don’t know the circumstances which brought us to this point. Pray about your feelings, ask us how we are feeling, you may be surprised at how closely you are to the same circumstances which brought us here. You might even be a “married” single parent in the new millennium.

Irregardless of who you are and what station you are in this life, God does not discriminate. He continues to be our provider, He is our shelter in the time of storm, He is our healer, our protector, our strength, our guide, our Comforter and He is the rock of our Salvation. And, if you’re reading this and don’t know Him, you should be willing to accept Him into your heart right now and become all that you can be for His kingdom!!!