Life can be overwhelming sometimes, especially when you are raising children alone. There is so much to do and never enough hours in the day. On top of that, it’s just hard to remember everything you need to do.
In the course of raising my girl I found a few things that were indispensable if I wanted to keep some type of order in my life.. I could tell the difference when I used them and when my life seemed more insane than usual I would realize that I had stopped following my own guidelines. Here is what helped me.
A schedule is absolutely essential. Buy a calendar with large blocks for everyday. Write down all birthdays, anniversaries and the like that you need to remember. Then go through and write down reminders at specific times of year, things like having the furnace serviced or getting your oil changed. Now use the calendar to write down all the things that need to be done every week. PTA meeting, it’s on the calendar, write down when you need to put money in your child’s lunch account, when a book report is due for your child or a work presentation for you. Put everything on this calendar, the more you use it the smoother things will run. Have a different colored marker for each family member so you can see at a glance who’s busy and when. Make sure you schedule down time and playtime, both for the kids and for yourself.
Planning out our meals and doing all the shopping and cooking on one day makes the week days go much smoother. Plan two weeks worth of meals, shop and prepare them all in one day. Freeze everything and you are ready to go. The best way to get started with this is to make double batches of things your family loves. If you have prepared meals in the freezer you will save money by not stopping to get fast food, and your kids will eat better.
Most importantly, a friend. We all need someone to talk to and have fun with, find a friend who understands what you are going through and nurture that friendship, even when it’s difficult to find the time.
It’s usually the little things that make a difference and when you are a single mom the little things you do to make your life run smoother make an amazing difference.