Check out our previous blog for more ideas on how to provide assistance to a single parent in your life.
6. Holidays suck
The holidays are all about traditions, family and getting together with loved ones. When you are a single parent holidays are often shared with another parent. Every year, single parents across the country wake up on Christmas morning to an empty house, rather than to the fun filled excitement of opening gifts.
Want to help?
Invite the single parent over for Christmas dinner or to sing carols with you. There is a good chance that she will turn you down, because watching other families enjoy being together sometimes makes it even harder to be alone. However, knowing that you took the time to ask will help her remember that she is loved and cared about.
7. Single parents are not invited to hang with other adults
The couples night is something that many adults enjoy and couples get together to do various activities. However, the single parent is not invited to these events. Some of the reason is because single parents don't have the time or the funds to pay a sitter on top of covering the cost of the event. Girls night out sometimes presents its own problem because this also requires hiring a babysitter.
Want to help?
If couples night included watching a football game or other family friendly activity then single parents would be more likely to attend. It may create an odd number of females to males, but typically this doesn't matter in group settings anyway. Just try to be aware and occasionally include your single parent friends in your group activities.
8. Single parents have questions about raising children of different genders.
Fortunately most single parents know at least one adult of the opposite sex that they can call to ask 'personal' questions. As a female with no brothers, when my boys began needing things like cups for sports I had no idea how to ensure they were fitting properly or where to find one. On more than one occasion I had to ask the coach or my brother in law these questions.
Want to help?
If you are asked an odd gender specific questions, try to recognize why you are being asked and answer it as honestly as possible without any snide remarks. If you know the parent well enough to know they won't take offense at a little dash of humor, then lighten the mood with a joke or two.... otherwise keep the comments to yourself.
9. We don't get enough sleep.
For two parent families the late nights are shared between two parents. However, single parents face these long nights alone. The morning always comes too early and there isn't anyone else to get up with the kids after a long night. The single parent has so much responsibility that it is unlikely there will be a chance to "sleep in" for another few years.
Want to help?
Help her remember the joy of coffee that someone else went to the effort to bring. If you know a single parent is going to have a long night, bring her a cup of coffee on your way to work. It doesn't matter if this is pricey store bought stuff, or the day old Foldgers from your coffee pot take a moment to let her know that you are aware she had a tough night.
10. Take a moment to ask how their day was.
Single people don't go home to a partner and talk about their day. They might discuss the day with a favorite 4 legged companion, but in general they don't get much feedback from other humans.
Want to help?
Take a moment occasionally and check in with your single parent friends. Even if they are unable to talk, it will warm their heart to know you think about them and cared enough to see how their day went.
6. Holidays suck
The holidays are all about traditions, family and getting together with loved ones. When you are a single parent holidays are often shared with another parent. Every year, single parents across the country wake up on Christmas morning to an empty house, rather than to the fun filled excitement of opening gifts.
Want to help?
Invite the single parent over for Christmas dinner or to sing carols with you. There is a good chance that she will turn you down, because watching other families enjoy being together sometimes makes it even harder to be alone. However, knowing that you took the time to ask will help her remember that she is loved and cared about.
7. Single parents are not invited to hang with other adults
The couples night is something that many adults enjoy and couples get together to do various activities. However, the single parent is not invited to these events. Some of the reason is because single parents don't have the time or the funds to pay a sitter on top of covering the cost of the event. Girls night out sometimes presents its own problem because this also requires hiring a babysitter.
Want to help?
If couples night included watching a football game or other family friendly activity then single parents would be more likely to attend. It may create an odd number of females to males, but typically this doesn't matter in group settings anyway. Just try to be aware and occasionally include your single parent friends in your group activities.
8. Single parents have questions about raising children of different genders.
Fortunately most single parents know at least one adult of the opposite sex that they can call to ask 'personal' questions. As a female with no brothers, when my boys began needing things like cups for sports I had no idea how to ensure they were fitting properly or where to find one. On more than one occasion I had to ask the coach or my brother in law these questions.
Want to help?
If you are asked an odd gender specific questions, try to recognize why you are being asked and answer it as honestly as possible without any snide remarks. If you know the parent well enough to know they won't take offense at a little dash of humor, then lighten the mood with a joke or two.... otherwise keep the comments to yourself.
9. We don't get enough sleep.
For two parent families the late nights are shared between two parents. However, single parents face these long nights alone. The morning always comes too early and there isn't anyone else to get up with the kids after a long night. The single parent has so much responsibility that it is unlikely there will be a chance to "sleep in" for another few years.
Want to help?
Help her remember the joy of coffee that someone else went to the effort to bring. If you know a single parent is going to have a long night, bring her a cup of coffee on your way to work. It doesn't matter if this is pricey store bought stuff, or the day old Foldgers from your coffee pot take a moment to let her know that you are aware she had a tough night.
10. Take a moment to ask how their day was.
Single people don't go home to a partner and talk about their day. They might discuss the day with a favorite 4 legged companion, but in general they don't get much feedback from other humans.
Want to help?
Take a moment occasionally and check in with your single parent friends. Even if they are unable to talk, it will warm their heart to know you think about them and cared enough to see how their day went.
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