by Kevin Lamb

Created on: January 27, 2009   Last Updated: August 15, 2009

In the life of a single parent it's very easy to lose a sense of self. The children's needs are met and accomplished, but what about the needs of the parent? Most of these needs are usually left at the bottom of the emotional barrel. The ability to maintain a healthy feeling of self is sometimes lost in the single parent household.

When the parent's physical and mental needs are neglected or left unnoticed, the family's main source of inspiration and security is now in jeopardy. Without the head of a household working in good order with both "mental and physical" abilities the rest of the family suffers greatly.

Taking care of yourself is of utmost importance for the rest of your family. The never ending tasks of a single parent can sometimes lead to emotional problems such as: depression, anxiety and also mental burnout when it comes to meeting the needs of a busy family. Your emotional well being hangs in the balance as you multi-task day after day hoping in vain for just a little peace of mind.

Keeping a family well balanced; both mentally and physically is of course a primary goal most parents hope to achieve. But what good is the rest of the family if the single parent is not around to help the children when it's needed the most?

Here are a few suggestions which may help you to take care of yourself. Remember that you're the only role model your children have, and if you neglect yourself; what kind of example does that set for your children?

1. Engage in activities with other adults. Every parent needs some time for adult interaction. This gives you a fresh sense of reality, and also creates opportunities to see your situation in a brand new way. This gives you time to relax and step out of the parental mode for just a short period while the stress of the day hopefully slips away.

Spend time with other single parents who are in the same boat as you are. New insights are shared between the parents, as they talk about the emotional duties of a single parent. This helps you to understand that you're not the only one single parent in a difficult situation. Adult bonding helps to build confidence, and also reassures you that you're doing the best that you can.

2. Join an exercise class or just exercise. Our physical health is also connected to our mental health, and exercising is a key ingredient in keeping up with not only our physical condition, but also the busy lives of our children.

Exercise is a must if you plan on living

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