Finding time to focus on the kids
November 7, 2012
Going to school takes up a lot of free time, no matter what a person's status in life may be. For single moms, this is even more the case, as time spent at home can leave kids at a distance while studying takes precedence. Coming up with strategies to do activities with children can be as simple as taking kids on shopping trips or picking them up from school. Eating meals together can also encourage communication and bonding.
Time to play
While at school, single parent scholarships may make Mom feel like she has no time for anything but going to class and studying. Adding a job to the mix in some cases can severely limit the amount of free time Mom has, but carefully planning out events that can be shared with the family and sticking to those scheduled activities can promote better relationships.
Southern Connecticut State University recommended that moms come up with a list of things they need to do and determine which must be completed immediately, which can wait, and what doesn't really need to be done for a while. Doing so will help figure out where and when there is extra time for the family.
Talk about school
Single moms have something in common with their young children in some cases: They are all in school. Discussing classes can help refresh memories, adding to the overall impact of courses for single parent scholarship holders, and it can encourage more communication with kids. Coming up with ways of explaining what they learned that day will challenge moms to be critical thinkers, requiring them to break down the lessons into bite-sized chunks, depending on how old kids are.
Establish quiet time
This is a great way to maintain a college scholarship, offering plenty of studying time, and it helps get kids away from the television. Have a period set aside each day for reading together or doing quiet activities, but be around, Distance Learn recommended. Even if moms aren't talking to kids, just being at home and present can be reassuring and add to the overall feeling of a cohesive family unit. As the only parent in childrens' lives, a single mom must be able to balance school with quality family interactions.
