Being a single parent, especially if you are the custodial parent, you have to take on the role of being both the good guy and the bad guy on most days. What I mean by this is that most discipline will come from you because your child lives with you and is with you the majority of the time. This is not easy.
In a two-parent family where there is both a mother and a father, children who misbehave will often seek the other parent out when scolded for something that they did wrong. They will generally run to the other parent to seek some sort of comfort and to smooth things over. This is not possible when you, the single custodial parent are the only one available.
It is easy to play the role of the good guy. No problem. Unfortunately, children need discipline from time to time in order to learn right from wrong. This is wherein the situation becomes a bit more difficult.
Disciplining your children is never easy. You want your children to learn, but your heart is breaking the whole time that you are punishing them. Usually it is the role of the father to assume the role of the disciplinarian, the bad guy. Not always, but most of the time, the mother can sit back and help to smooth things over. When a mother has to discipline her children her role must be two-fold.
You have no choice, but to assume this role. However, there are ways to be both the good guy and the bad guy and pull it off relatively easy.
Discipline with love always. If you feel anger, back away and calm yourself down before you attempt to do any kind of disciplining. Explain to your child about the situation, what they did wrong and why a punishment is in order. Give them a time-out, take away a much treasured privilege, or event that they are looking forward to. Give them extra chores, if that is the way that you discipline. Above all else, do not overlook this even though you would like to. Children need consistency in their lives and this is also true when it comes to the disciplining aspect as well. You can discipline and still be the good guy. It just depends upon on how you go about the disciplining.
Angel Lynn writes in weight loss, single parenting, and health.