Being a single parent can be difficult. It can feel isolating, lonely and tough at times. I was a single parent for about 6 months after I had my first son. As much as I loved my son and enjoyed being a mother, it was still hard doing it alone and experiencing all your child’s milestones alone. 

Being a single parent can be difficult. It can feel isolating, lonely and tough at times. I was a single parent for about 6 months after I had my first son. As much as I loved my son and enjoyed being a mother, it was still hard doing it alone and experiencing all your child’s milestones alone.

Here are a few tips I found to be helpful in managing as a single parent:

• Accept any help you can get! I know, as parents, we like to show and prove we are capable and able to do it alone, but we’re not superheroes. We still need a break from time to time so if someone offers to help, let them and don’t feel guilty about it!
• Get involved in as many child-friendly activities as possible. This is a great way to make friends with other parents and you won’t feel as lonely. Try to find things like local parenting groups or baby classes. 
• Don’t feel guilty about being a single parent. Your child won’t know any different and they most definitely won’t blame you for it. They will grow up to admire you even more for doing such a great job on your own. 
• Make time for yourself. Sometimes as parents it can be easy to forget about your own needs, especially when you’re parenting alone! When your child is in bed or is being looked after, try to switch off from your role as a parent and relax! Run yourself a bath, read a good book, light some candles, watch your favourite TV show. Just do exactly what you want with zero guilt!
• Don’t compare yourself to other couples and families. This was something I did a lot when I was a single parent. I would be so jealous of other couples who stayed together and had a family. What you need to remember is, everyone has problems and not everyone is perfect! Just because you see what you perceive to be “the perfect family”, it doesn’t mean it is perfect! 
• Don’t be afraid to date again! If you have a good support system around you, like family and friends, you could ask them to watch your child for a couple of hours while you go on a date. Just be careful about introducing your child to someone you’re dating too soon.