Have you ever had one of those stretches where you were so busy and distracted that it dawned on you that it had been a couple days since you really sat down and talked with your child? When this happens we get filled with guilt and remorse and wonder how on earth we could let such a thing happen…
As busy single parents, we really have to make the extra effort to foster discussions with our kids–the older the children get and the more busy we all become, the harder it can be to carve out the time to chat. If you have a hectic work schedule or have to do some traveling away from home, it can be downright impossible.
I remember conversations in the car or while waiting on line at the grocery store–as a single mom, I learned to use any opportunity I could find for a chance to connect and communicate with my kids. As they got a little older, I would make “lunch dates” with them and take them to lunch individually. Since I had flexible lunch hours, I could meet them or take them to lunch and we could have time to talk in the midst of a busy day. This was often easier than trying to find them in the evenings since they all three had plenty of extra-curricular activities going on too.
I also think that phone conversations count! If you are away for work or your child is staying at the other parent’s house, being able to call and chat is a good thing and a way to stay connected when you are away from each other (whether across town or in different states or countries.) Making every effort to chat whenever possible will keep those lines of communication open even in a busy, hectic single parent family.
Also: Ten Ways to Make Your Communication More Effective
Promoting Communication in Your Non-verbal Child