Single Dad Help - 6 Golden Rules For Newly Single Dads
6 Golden Rules For Newly Single Dads
Are you a newly single dad? You’re in good company. Recent statistics show that in 2020, there were over 2 million single fathers living with their children in the United States, representing 17% of all single-parent households.¹ So you’re not alone.
Being a newly single dad can be daunting, but help for single fathers is out there. If you’re looking for single dad help, you’ve come to the right place. You’ve got a lot on your plate right now, so we’ve compiled 6 golden rules that will help cut through the noise as you embark on this new chapter of your life as a single dad.
- You Do You
There’s tons of information and help for single fathers out there, but you don’t need to follow all of it. We all walk different paths, and what works for one newly single dad might not work for you. No two kids are the same either, but you know your kids better than anyone.
The truth is that no one really understands your life, so if you know a particular piece of advice won’t work for you or your kids for whatever reason, don’t follow it. You do you. ²
- Prioritize Your Own Health
Your kids’ well being is your priority, but as a newly single dad, your own health should be too. If you run yourself into the ground and wind up exhausted physically and mentally, you won’t be able to care for anyone else.
It’s not selfish to take time for yourself, whether it’s reading a book with a cup of coffee or having someone watch your kids for a few hours while you catch up with friends.
- Don’t Be Scared To Maintain Discipline
Parents often contend with feelings of guilt, which is completely normal. Setting boundaries and maintaining discipline might make you feel bad, but it’s actually something that your kids desperately need.
Things may have changed, but your kids still need you to create that sense of stability, and that means setting rules and sticking to them. Telling your kids off doesn’t make you an ogre - it’s part of your job. ³
- Build A Strong Support Network
Help for single fathers can take many forms. It could be your own family in the form of parents and siblings. If your ex is still in the picture, they could also be part of your network, as well as members of their family. Friends can also provide vital support and help for single dads.
Having a strong support network around you and your kids is vital, not just because they can lend a hand and a listening ear to you but because they can give your kids positive role models that they can look up to and learn from.
- Know You Are Enough
You probably didn’t plan to be a single dad. It just happened. It’s easy to fall into the trap of feeling you didn’t do enough to stop whatever happened that led you to be a newly single dad. Those feelings can really drag you down.
You may be a newly single dad, but to your kids, you’re still their dad. You’re the same dad you were when you and your ex were together, and you still have the same value even though that relationship has ended. Remember that you are enough.⁴
- Ask For Help
No man is an island, and no one exists in isolation. As a newly single father, it can be tempting to power on through on your own. But asking for help doesn’t make you a bad father or a weak human being.
We all need help from time to time, and asking for help is a sign of strength. It also sets an example for your kids. By asking for single dad help, you show them that seeking help is OK and not something to be ashamed of.
References
https://gitnux.org/single-father-statistics/
https://www.daddilife.com/family/single-dads/life-as-a-single-dad/