With every separation or divorce that involves children, it's usually the case that one parent becomes the primary care giver and the other one gets off the hook of responsibility.
Or in other cases one parent is solely responsible for one hundred percent of the parental duties.
Although this seems hardly unfair, the bottom line is that it's all about what's best for the children.
Chances are if you're reading this article then you are most likely the primary care giver.
Being the primary parent in a separation has millions of rewards and I personally wouldn't trade my position for anything in the world.
However, these rewards do not come without a cost.
It is quite possible that you are experiencing many self sacrifices for the betterment and advancement of your kiddo(s).
But, it's important to remember that raising a little one is more of as marathon as opposed to a sprint.
My point is that you must be certain in order to maintain balance in your world.
I've included below a few examples of simple strategies that I've incorporated into our life.
These simple strategies ensure that I am 100% focused on the well being, but also ensure that I have a bit of space so that I can breathe and connect with myself.
I hope that you find at least one of these strategies useful in your own personal life: 1.
Keep a tight schedule - It's important that you keep an extremely tight schedule.
By doing so allows you to carve out and set aside personal time for you.
If you have really young ones, this tight schedule can best come in the form of a mandatory bed time.
Let's assume that you retire for bed at 10-11:00pm that means that the little ones must be in bed at 8:30pm.
By doing so, you will create for yourself a few hours of personal time at the end of the day.
If you or your children and not used to keeping such a strict bed time, you may need to ease into the process and expect a bit of resistance from the little one(s).
However, once the system is set, you should be certain to take full advantage of the personal time.
This time could be used for exercise, meditation, reading, writing, or whatever you find pleasurable.
2.
Get a support system - Without a doubt the single most important factor in achieving success as a co-parent or a single parent is to get a support system.
Friends, family, or even other parents in similar circumstances is a great resource.
Offer to set a schedule of day and/or days in which you will watch their kiddos in an equal exchange for them to watch yours.
I know this sounds a bit like getting a baby sitter, but what I am referring to is much more than that.
I'm referring to a routine that is constant and ongoing.
By having a set schedule of alternating kiddo duty, you can set a personal schedule that you can set far in advance.
You can use this time to plan future events or even return to night school and take that class you have wanted to take.
3.
Remind yourself often and frequently - Being a parent is the toughest job that you will ever love.
But let's not kid ourselves, raising children is hard work.
But it's important to remember that raising kiddos is not work, it's an investment.
You are investing into the life of someone who is counting on you to develop them in the best way you know how.
At the end of the day, this may not be the ideal situation.
But you can do your best to make it a rewarding and fulfilling journey.
Not only for yourself, but also for the little one(s) who are counting on you.