Being a single mother is no easy task. I know. I was a single mother of two children less than six months ago, so I can say with some authority that being a single mother is a beast. It can drive you crazy if you let it. The insanity is not just that you have to raise children alone and be mother and father. The craziness gets worse when you add a full-time job, not enough money, societal pressure, not to mention being blamed for all of society's ill. How does a single mother remain graceful under pressure? How does she keep from wielding a knife at the next person that tell her "it's not that bad"? What keeps her from pulling her hair out at a minimum, and at a maximum keep from killing herself, her children, or just her spirit? The following five Sanity Savers offers some solutions that I find help get me through some really rough times. They may be a temporary, just for the moment fix, but then again sometime that's all a haggard single mother needs.
1. Music lifts the soul.
Listen to uplifting music that inspires, energizes, and praises God. When I am in a particularly deep depression I put on a upbeat gospel or jazz CD and dance like nobody's watching (nobody is). After a few moments of that I am feeling 80% better. I feel more energetic and positive and the problems seem small.
2. Journaling to get the cobwebs out.
Writing out my thoughts and prayers clears my mind and connects me to God (or whomever you believe in). It draws me closer to him. I feel a deeper connection to him because I am sharing all of my thoughts and feelings with Him. I find that the best time for me to write is in the early morning hours. My thoughts are fresh and I can concentrate better. I put the pen to paper and just write what comes to mind or I follow a specific order of giving thanks, confession and repentance, intercession for others, and petition. Which ever way I choose is fine as long as I am communicating with God.
3. Meditating
It calms my mind. I do it in complete silence or with soft music playing in the background. Meditating puts me in His sphere. I think about His goodness and mercy towards me and His love for me.
4. Talking.
Talking to others or to God through prayer is another way to maintain sanity. Speak to someone gets all the stuff that's bottled up out and clears your mind and body. Discussing problems and concerns can be done by phone or in person while driving along, standing at the kitchen sink doing dishes, or while cooking or cleaning. Talking to God can happen any time; particularly for me doing it in the shower seems to be the best time.
5. Reading.
Reading the bible or book of affirmations. Some of my favorite passages are in Psalms and in the New Testament. The words are my words, especially in the Psalms. I get hope when I read the scripture. When I am having a particularly hard time and I can't bring myself to read whole passages of scripture I just read one verse and meditate on it. It gives me what I need at the time and keeps me connected to God. A book of affirmations helps keep me positive about life when my outlook is negative. The power of positive thinking is priceless.
Hopefully you are a much saner single mother now. The tips outlined above are not hard to practice. It takes a few minutes to pop in a CD or jot down a few thoughts in a journal to decompress. Meditating for 15 to 30 minutes or just taking a five minute breather is simple. Phoning a friend or whispering a prayer does wonders to your stress level and finally reading a verse of scripture or one affirmation can bring calm to your sinking spirit. Please take the time to follow these tips. It could mean the difference between a padded room or a comfy chair. You owe it to yourself and your kids.
You are free to copy this article in it's entirety when you include the author's bio. Please send and e-mail if you choose to use it and receive a reciprocal link.
Samantha Gregory-Applewhite is a technical writer by day and a freelance article and busines writer/speaker/personal coach by night. Her business is Applewhite Communications http://www.applewhitecommunications.com and her writing website is Applewhite Spaces http://www.applewhitecommunications.com She lives and plays in Huntsville, Alabama with her Trinidadian husband Odel and her two children Lexi and AJ. Reading, traveling, internet surfing, and spending time with family friends is her passion.
detailed home cleaning Park Ridge ..As the new school year begins, parents play a pivotal... Read More
After giving up my profession to become a wife, a... Read More
We are all familiar with the stories that most students... Read More
The initial state of happiness about an own child is... Read More
This is one of the most common questions asked of... Read More
When a couple steps forth with a baby in tow... Read More
It's been said, time and again, that for a child... Read More
"I took care of Callie," my three-year-old announced.Callie had been... Read More
If you're a single parent or a married couple on... Read More
On one of her quarterly visits to see her grandson,... Read More
John was a 43 year-old sales manager at a large... Read More
If your child or teen has been diagnosed with Attention... Read More
Strollers offer a wonderful and convenient service to parents and... Read More
Words are truly powerful things. They are something that becomes... Read More
Pool safety should be on the minds of every parent... Read More
"Home Schooling ? Look Before You Leap"Are you considering home... Read More
Many people still think that the game of chess is... Read More
To every thing there is a season, and a time... Read More
One fantastic way to get your children involved in what... Read More
Time management is an organisational concept traditionally associated with adults... Read More
How many times have you flipped through the pages of... Read More
In the beginning, having children was just a byproduct of... Read More
If you really want to get your children to eat... Read More
Oh yes you have! Suddenly, "Where's Bobby?" You instantly realize... Read More
Direct Answers - Column for the week of May 31,... Read More
express cleaning service Des Plaines ..A tall, weary-looking mother with glasses, walked into my counseling... Read More
We need a grass roots campaign targeted towards parents to... Read More
So you're going to become a father. Now is not... Read More
One of the most powerful tools that parents have for... Read More
Children and teenagers are relentlessly bombarded with merchandise that entices.... Read More
If you had to spend 4 or 5 hours in... Read More
Having been a parent educator and a PBS consultant for... Read More
Your child's first year of school should be a fun... Read More
Do you ever wonder what is behind the occasional nasty... Read More
Winifred or Willow? Thomas or Troy? The name you choose... Read More
As the father of a toddler, I am an expert... Read More
It's been raining for a week and the kids and... Read More
For every season, check, check, check, There is a chart,... Read More
Imagine having no television for an entire season. Such was... Read More
When my oldest daughter was born, I walked the floor... Read More
You may think once your child has gone off to... Read More
There are a lot of sophisticated parenting theories and techniques... Read More
They Spur Members To Grow EmotionallyTatiana Tannenbaum grappled with a... Read More
Detox To Conceive.. If you're having trouble conceiving... Read More
Children are notoriously bad at drinking enough liquids. They are... Read More
I wanted to share with you one of the most... Read More
When planning a child birthday party, just a little bit... Read More
Teachers know that children thrive in an environment with routines,... Read More
If you visit search engines you can find several resources... Read More
How well do you really know your child?There is so... Read More
Parenting |