How To Be A Single Mom Of 3
Being a single mom comes with its own unique set of challenges. If you’re a single mom of 3, your situation gets even more drastic.
I mean… it’s challenging enough to take care of a single kid by yourself, but 3? You surely need some superpowers.
While it might seem like an uphill task, it’s not impossible. I’m a single mom of 1 child, and sometimes I almost gave up.
Sleepless nights, toddler tantrums, constant demand for attention. All this while I tried to keep up with my work and give my family a good life.
But I was able to sail through, and that’s why I’m writing this article today. No matter how hard it seems right now, it can get better.
I’m going to share a few tips on how you can take care of your 3 kids well without losing your wits. Hopefully, at the end of it, you’ll learn a thing or two about how to make it as a single mom with your team of three.
#1 Manage Your Finances
If there’s one thing that gives millions of single moms a headache, it’s finances. Making a living nowadays is hard enough without having to balance it with full-time parenting too!
But all is not lost. With a clear strategy and a few hacks under your sleeves, you can improve your financial situation and not lack sleep anymore because of unpaid bills or debts.
Some of the strategies you can use to manage your money well include:
- Paying your bills on time.
- Opening multiple credit lines – this will help with your credit score.
- Budgeting for every single thing.
- Seeking the best offers and discounts available for products and services.
- Prioritizing your family’s financial needs.
- Getting health, car, home, and other essential insurance covers.
- Saving money, no matter how little you think you have – it’ll go a long way in the end.
With these and more tips, you’ll find that you’re in more control of your financial situation better than before. Many of these tips helped me clear my debts and save up, and I believe that they can be useful for you too.
#2 Seek Multiple Income Streams
While I was trying to figure out my financial situation, I discovered that looking for multiple income streams went a long way in securing my situation.
Now, I understand that it’s hard enough to take care of 3 kids with a full-time job, so there doesn’t seem to be much space for an extra job.
But, thankfully, we’re living in the 21st century, where you can make money while you sleep. If you have a 9-5 job but would like to supplement your income, there are tons of online jobs for stay-at-home moms that you can start today.
Some of the best that can give you a passive income is blogging and affiliate marketing. This is whereby you share content about things that you’re passionate about – for instance, single motherhood – while recommending products that your audience might find useful.
With an internet connection and an hour or two each night or during the weekend when you’re off, you can kick start your online business and earn extra dollars hassle-free.
Not only will you have more money to take care of your family, but you’ll also be able to save up more. And if you’re diligent about it, you might find yourself leaving your daytime job to earn solely from passive online ventures – it doesn’t get any better than that.
#3 Have Fun
Parenting 3 kids on your lonesome is challenging, but that doesn’t mean it cannot be fun. Even when you’re struggling with issues such as finances and work demands, you can still enjoy time with your kids.
You don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars on expensive amusement parks or holidays. Simple picnics at the local park, a short hike in the woods, or movie nights at home can go a long way in lightening the mood and allowing you and your kids to bond.
Your kids will definitely appreciate the little things that you do to entertain them, and they’ll be happier for it.
Here are a few other activities that you and your kids can carry out together for cheap, priceless fun:
- Play board games.
- Let them help you while baking cookies – you can be sure that they’ll look forward to this.
- Play soccer, basketball, or other games in the backyard.
- Tend to the garden together.
- Go to a museum.
- Learn how to dance.
If you’ve been going through any rough time, having such fun times with your kids can make you feel better and that you can overcome anything that comes along the way.
Having such activities will also contribute to your children’s social, emotional, and physical growth, so it’s all worth it.
#4 Seek Support
There’s only so much you can do when taking care of 3 kids on your own, especially when you have a toddler.
In such a case, you should remember that it’s okay to seek support whenever you need it. This can be in terms of babysitting from friends or family, among other needs.
You can also get toys or clothes from close friends and relatives to cut your expenses and provide a more comfortable life for your kids. A little help can go a long way, especially when you’re transitioning into single motherhood.
Besides receiving help from your loved ones, there are many resources that you can use to make parenting your kids easier.
These include books and apps that contain useful insights on all issues ranging from homeschooling to helping your toddler – and you – get a good night’s sleep.
I’ll go through a few of them next and hope that you find one that can make your life as a single mom of 3 easier and more enjoyable.
#5 Home Schooling Your Kids as a Single Mom
Early learning helps your kids get smarter and prepares them for school. Kids have an easy time soaking up information at an early age, so it’s a wise idea to get them started on reading even before they go to pre-school.
Fortunately, you don’t have to figure it out on your own. Also, you don’t have to resort to popular methods used to teach kids that don’t really help them learn how to read.
Instead, use innovative and scientifically proven programs such as the Reading Headstart Program or the Children Learning Reading Program.
The Reading Headstart Program
It is an award-winning reading program developed by Sarah Shepard, a teacher with more than a decade’s experience. If your kid has trouble learning how to read, this could be a good fit for them.
It contains various fun activities that’ll keep your child engaged and make learning more enjoyable for them.
This program is suitable for homeschooling from the earliest age possible and can help your child improve their learning ability tremendously by the time they join the school.
Children Learning Reading Program
Yet another program developed by a reading teacher, the Children Learning Reading Program, can help your kid develop the foundational skills that’ll help them to read fluently.
This one was created by Jim Yang, who’s also a father of 4 kids. His kids were able to learn the alphabet, words, and how to read entire sentences at a very young age, thanks to the step-by-step lessons provided in the program.
So, if you want your kids to become fluent readers as early as possible, this is another program that you could give a try.
Getting Your Toddler to Sleep
Sleepless nights are something that every single mom can relate to. And if you can’t, well, lucky you.
Having a toddler who can’t seem to be able to sleep soundly for a few constant hours drains both you and them, leaving you sleep deprived. And this can make way for all sorts of problems – fatigue, stress, irritability, and weight gain.
Baby Sleep Miracle is a book that contains vital techniques that you can use to make your toddler a sound sleeper. It means stress-free nights for you, and finally, you’ll be able to get the shuteye that you deserve.
It is a book by Mary-Ann Schuler that presents you with practical, safe, and natural solutions to get your baby sleeping better. If you have a kid below the age of 5, it can be a great help.
Conclusion
Being a single mom of 3 is not a walk in the park, but it can definitely get better when you use various resources to help you along. Whether it’s in relation to finances, bonding with your kids, or helping them get a step ahead at school, there are numerous hacks you can utilize.
And if you need support, don’t be shy to ask for it. If you have friends or relatives who’re willing to offer a helping hand, it can make everything more manageable for you.
It will ensure that you don’t strain or overwhelm yourself, which will make you an even better parent.
