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Single mom tips
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Anonymous
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What tips do you have to make things go smoother?
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Anonymous
| plan, plan, plan... get things ready for the next day the night before. |
Anonymous
| give yourself a break on weekends. i always feel guilty if i don't do three cultural activities, errands, clean the house, make sure my son had a bath/hair washed, met up with friends all on one weekend day. |
scornish
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Make sure you have resources such as a 24-hour Ask A Nurse hotline available
Try to sign-up for support for yourself either from your health insurance or through Mommy Groups. I joined a few Mommy Groups on Meetup.com. |
Anonymous
| Plan, plan and plan. Think MONTHS ahead. Like right now...think about Summer camp. Shop ahead....good deals on Coats right now for next year. I'm always thinking ahead.....What the kid didn't get this year put on your list for next Christmas and start looking for good deals for next Christmas. I'm serious. Shop online. Multitask with errands and for goodness sake keep a calendar, journal so that you stay organized. You can do it. The more you plan in advance the less stressed you will be. That is what works for me. |
Anonymous
Make sure you find small ways to pamper yourself daily. Don't forget to take care of you. This is one of the best tips, I've ever been given. |
Anonymous
| Any tips regarding weeknight meals? |
Anonymous
Agree! I totally indulge in M&Ms, icecream, or whatever sweet treat is around when the kids are finally asleep for the night- my pampering for surviving another day 
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Anonymous
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Re: meals, I keep basics stocked, both for meals at home and lunches for school. I think of foods in terms of categories when shopping and cooking. I shop by food group.
Dinner is usually a boiled carbohydrate, a vegetable, and a protein. E.g., Pasta with broccoli and tofu; eggs, toast, and tomatoes; beans, rice, and carrots. I swear I never cook anything that takes longer than 30 minutes. I use a lot of fresh veggies, but try and keep frozen on hand for even faster work, or when my son is really just into eating frozen peas while still frozen (Hey, if he likes them frozen, why spend time heating them up?). I approach lunch the same way, and pack it the night before if it kills me: Sandwich, fruit, veggie, snack, drinkbox. Every. Single. Day. The exact contents shift, but it's always that basic formula. Breakfast is so fast it's not even worth talking about. Oatmeal, cereal, scrambled eggs, toast, etc. |
Anonymous
I have found that pizza or another delivery is best either on Monday (when I am still reeling from the back to work thing) or Thursday/Friday when I am dead tired. Crock Pot meals work well for one night (and leftover for another night). I make breakfast for dinner once a week or every other week (my son actually asks for it!). |
annakarenina
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| I cook three dishes on Sunday for the upcoming week and we eat off of that for dinner..and I will take the leftovers to lunch at least twice. Another tip, me and my daughter love sandwiches, so we will eat grilled cheese and tomato soup. Turkey breast with lettuce and tomato and pickles is a favorite. Soup and a salad is quick and easy too. Kraft Macaroni and Cheese with broccoli florets thrown in there is a favorite as well. |
Anonymous
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Also, an immediate snack while you get dinner ready helps. Cherry tomatoes, cheese, apple, whatever, something to keep them busy while you cook, but even if it "spoils" their appetite, is good for them.
Also leftovers are great! Just reheat.... |
Anonymous
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I agree you need to plan, plan, plan...
I reserve some time on sunday for cooking and groceries for the week. I usually make at least one dish which lasts for three days. I also keep things like sausages, pasta, fruit, and chicken nuggets on hand to supplement when I run out. We also eat out once a week as a treat. I also think you need to give yourself adequate decompression time on weekends so try not to plan too much. |
Anonymous
| Also, give up on housework. Right now. Seriously. Cut it out. |
Anonymous
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be prepared to take full advantage of every second your kid is asleep or occupied. i usually have a list (sometimes mental) of all the things that need to be done at some point, and the second she's asleep, i do whatever i can till she wakes up. last night i fell asleep on the couch at 9:45 and woke up at 1:00 a.m. I cleaned the kitchen, sterilized her bottles, prepared her formula for daycare today and straightened up the living room before going to bed. typically during her naps i'll be running around straightening this room or that, folding laundry, unloading the dishwasher, cleaning the sink, etc.
i've pared down my morning routine to the barest essentials. quick shower, hair up in a casual bun or ponytail, little to no makeup, little to no accessories. i've also learned that if i don't get my outfit for the day ironed while she's still asleep, it's probably not going to happen. I save non-iron dresses for those days. I still haven't really mastered the weeknight cooking thing, though last night she hung out in the bjorn long enough for me to cook salmon, instant rice and some asparagus. on nights when she is super-fussy, dinner is usually a microwave meal. |