3 Ways to Get the Most Out of Your Life as a Single Parent

As a single parent, you are the most important individual in your children's lives. 

Keep yourself in good physical condition. 

If you have young children, you realize how important it is to keep yourself in good shape to deal with the needs of your active offspring. 

If getting a membership at the local health club or YMCA is out of the budget, then find a way to at least get an exercise bike and work out at ten minutes a day and eat a balanced diet.

Now, here are 3 ways to get the most out of your life as your children become grownups:

1. Visualize and pursue a rewarding future that you can realize once you have an empty nest.

Do not allow yourself to be in position of acceding to your grown children's demands because you have an unfulfilled life. Grown children generally have no qualms about asking you to babysit your grandchildren or becoming an unpaid chauffeur.

However, if you have pursued a new direction prior to having an empty nest, then you can easily let your grown children know that on certain dates and times they can come by with the children for a visit, to have dinner, or to enjoy a pleasant conversation. 

But, they will know that at an agreed upon time they will be expected to go home. With this understanding, your grown children will have increased respect for you.

2. Develop and keep quality friends and relationships. 

Good friends and quality relationships are good for your mental health. However, it is essential to make the distinction between friends and acquaintances. 

A friend is someone who cares about your well-being and loves you unconditionally. And furthermore, a friend is supportive of your goals when your goals are in your best interest and will let you know when they are detrimental to your best interest.

Acquaintances often do not have your best interest at heart. Moreover acquaintances are likely to waste your time with idle and useless conversation and get you involved in wasteful activities. 

As a final point, acquaintances often want to use you to meet their own needs whereas in a friendship you and your friend are mutually supportive.

3. Consider your interest and skills and build on them.

Life is worthwhile when you continue to grow throughout your time on this earth. Think about the interests you had when you were in your teenage years that have remained in the back of your mind and never pursued. 

Perhaps you want to own your own business, go back to school to get your degree, become a nurse, social worker, or teacher, or even become a singer or motivational speaker if you have the talent.

The point is to consider your interest and your skills. If you have one or more interests and some skills which match those interests, then build on those interests and skills and let them take you to some new self-fulfilling goals.

When your children are young your most important obligations are to make sure that their needs are met and that they learn the self-reliant skills sufficient enough to become responsible and productive adults. 

While you are providing the required love and discipline for your children, you should have fun with them. 

When they become adults, your role as a parent changes. You become more of an advisor and a confidant. 

Make sure that they understand your new role and boundaries and begin to use the 3 Ways to Get More Out of Life. 

5 Ways All Single Moms Can Get On With Living

Start Living

Breaking up with a spouse or boyfriend should not be viewed as a devastating experience. On the contrary, it should be viewed as a liberating one.

If you were to take a step back, to take a deep breath, and to reflect on how the circumstances fell in place that led up to the break up you will have to admit that you saw it coming. 

You may have resisted accepting it because of fear of being alone and having to start all over, but if the relationship had been characterized by constant arguments, demeaning language, and consistent lack of cooperation, then the absence of this type of stress should be well received. 

It is indeed time to get on with living.

Here are 5 ways to do so:

1. Eliminate the other person entirely from your life. 
Cut the ties completely. Make up your mind that you will not accept any phone calls or any other type of communication from this former relationship. 

Get rid of anything the other person left behind -- pictures, clothing, and any other type of memorabilia. This is making sure that the breakup is complete.

2. Don't rush to replace this person with someone else. 
Pause, take time to understand and appreciate yourself. Make sure that the next individual is someone you to can talk to and is compatible with your values, goals, and lifestyle.

3. Beyond intimate relationships, begin to choose your friends wisely. 
Make sure you understand the difference between friends and acquaintances. A friend is someone with whom you can trust with your secrets; someone who is willing to help you in different ways; and, someone, who has your best interest at heart and vice versa. 

In contrast, an acquaintance is someone with whom may occasionally have a pleasurable conversation and attend some events but don't offer you the same benefits that come from a friendship.

4. Consider acquiring a new skill, taking up a hobby, and going to new and different types of events. 
If you have been thinking about learning line dancing, then do so; if you have been thinking about learning to garden, then do so; and, if you have been thinking about going to a jazz, folk, or country music concert, then do so.

5. And, finally work on acquiring the attitude of self-reliance. 
Begin enjoying your own company. Make yourself a more interesting person and you began to attract the type of person with whom you can have a satisfying relationship.

Most of all get on with living!

Are you ready to get on with living? Leave your comments below.