A single mother’s job is never done – you wear the hat of the primary caregiver, breadwinner, encourager, housekeeper, taxi driver, and more. That’s a lot of hats to juggle and still maintain a functional household. Balancing a full-time job, the demands of life, and being a connected parent can be difficult – especially if you are doing it solo.
Single parents can still maintain a strong relationship with their children, even when life gets chaotic and busy. Single mothers can utilize the new technologies available to stay involved and updated with their family. In today’s world, technology is one of the best tools a single mother can implement to lighten the strain of doing everything alone.
One way to achieve this is to make technology work for you and keep in touch with children when everyone is constantly on the go. Luckily, cellphones have drastically changed the world we live in. A few years ago, people were unable to connect with a simple tap of a screen from anywhere, like they are today.
Listed below are a few suggestions to help single mothers utilize technology and connect with their children.
A mother can ask for updates by having her daughter send a simple text message to notify when she made it home safely from school or over to a friend’s house.
Family members can text loving phrases to each other or just call to say hello. This will let everyone know they care, even if everyone is busy.
Having fun with technology allows single mothers to bond without seeming clingy or overbearing to her children. Send pictures and funny jokes to each other throughout the day to connect. Play the same games and try to outscore each other for a fun competition. Anyone up for a Candy Crush marathon?
For the younger crowd, occasionally parents can see a photo posted online. Some daycares and schools will regularly update their Facebook page or send texts about something cute your child accomplished.
If a single parent starts thinking about their child, you can call and leave a message on the answering machine so the child can play it when they arrive home.
If a parent is concerned about safety they can monitor a child’s data usage and the Internet sites visited on Smartphones. You can download monitoring apps to help keep tabs on what children are doing when you are not home.
Speaking of apps, there are apps that even allow mothers to monitor their house. You can receive notifications if a door is unlocked or lights are left on. It gives a sense of security for the times that a single parent is not able to be there.
Single mothers can even check school lunch balances, grades, and communicate with teachers to help keep children on task. Check with your school and ask if they have an app or site they use.
Technology does make the job of being a single parent easier. However, the Internet can’t replace face-to-face interactions. The times when everyone is together… Savor those moments. Make the most of family time and reclaim interactions by using technology to your advantage.
Today, technology allows a single parent to check in with their family. Single parents can be hands on and know exactly what the children are doing, who they are with, and where they are located. Remember to take a deep breathe and let technology ease some of the burden of juggling the responsibilities and demands of a single parent household.
Amy Williams is a journalist and mother in Southern California. With a strong background in parenting, she is passionate about using her knowledge and expertise to be a resource for other parents. Follow her on Twitter for more.
