This is not going to be an article about how to get people to do things for you or how to be opportunistic about using people. Instead, I want to talk about how important it is for single parents to be open to, and seek out those individuals who can add to our lives in different ways. Not just those people who can connect us to a great job or provide childcare, but having people in our lives who can be helpful can make all the difference!
We all need a hand now and again. It took me a long time to learn that and I still wrestle with my defensive independence. For me, the first step was learning how to accept help when it was offered, then I had to start learning how to actually ask for help when I needed it. Of course, learning how to ask does not ensure that someone will say “yes”—but it is a good skill to learn. Finally, expanding our lives and getting to a healthy place where we can not only give and share help, but can invite it into our lives is the goal.
Think beyond the obvious when you consider who in your world can be helpful. We all tend to look to grandparents and long-time friends for help when we need it, but there are probably other people who can help too. Additionally, by expanding your world to include more helpful people, you can ask less of those people you have been heavily dependent on. A friend of mine recently told me that a person needs a minimum of 10 people in their life on a regular basis to meet their needs and provide for all of the fluctuations of an ordinary life. I thought this was a great tidbit of info and it inspired me to think about how more helpful people can make a single parent’s life richer, easier, and more fulfilling.
See Also: How Your Bank Can Help You Save