Being a Single Parent

Stone · 04-08-2008, 12:12 PM

Before we have children I think we picture a loving home with our children with two parents, not juggling housework, being a provider, a time manager, being compasionate and a disiplining children alone.

Since in our day in age being a "single parent" seems like the norm I wanted to start a thread where we can give eachother tips or sanity savers on parenting alone or maby parenting peirod.

For example: I want to keep a clean house and work all day so everyday when I come home I set a 15 minute "Clean Up" timer, we crank up the music, and me and they kids have a contest on how much we can clean in 15 minutes, whoever win's get's to pick the movie for the night. YOU WOULD BE AMAZED what can get done in 15 minutes!!

What things do you do?

Luba · 04-09-2008, 04:10 PM

I think that's ab-so-lu-te-ly wonderful what you do with your children, Stone! I don't have children at home; this is a GREAT topic so I will ask around at work because there are many single parents there.

Zil · 04-12-2008, 06:08 PM

I barely make it thru each day... I wouldn't know what advice to give - I just do my best and usually I don't get everything done that I originally planned and I end up passing out from exhaustion.

TKDLady · 04-12-2008, 06:40 PM

But you are with your kids so who cares if the house is spotless all the time. What's more important?

Zil · 04-13-2008, 11:02 AM

Very true... which is why my house will never be spotless! lol

Luba · 04-13-2008, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zil

Very true... which is why my house will never be spotless! lol

Good for you, Zil! Your children will NEVER have to worry about putting something out of place, but just being near their Dad and relaxed! How wonderful is that? I think the generation of having a spotless house instead of playing with your kids is gone! Tidy is one thing, but being spotless, IMHO, is being 'over-the-top'!

Is there such a thing as 'spotless' anyway? I watched a show where a woman cleaned and cleaned; had a shower right after Work before she even took her child in her arms. A Professional "Bacteria Catcher" (that's my word for it

) STILL found Bacteria in her house....there you are!

Star · 05-15-2008, 01:34 PM

stone, i'm going to have to give that a run with my daughter and erika here at home and see if it works. what an awesome idea! i have to fight with kassandra to do anything around this house. she creates more mess then erika does for crying out loud! drives me insane!

i like a clean house. seems that people come over more when the house is a mess and that embarasses me so, i try to keep it clean always. there are times when i just say to myself, leave it alone and let the mess get bigger but i do end up cleaning it up the next day.

i'm not a single parent, i never was but i can appreciate how hard that would be to be one. I'm now in between jobs so the house is in order but when i do work full time, i spend my weekends cleaning. i HATE that!

why is it that a 16 year old makes more of a mess then a 3 year old?!?

TKDLady · 05-15-2008, 10:36 PM

Teenager comes to mind. Erika still wants to do things to be helpful. Kassandra is a teenager. Enough said!!

Star · 05-16-2008, 09:53 AM

this is why i'm not a huge fan of teenagehood. can't wait until it's over to be honest. LOL!