May 30, 2007
 Living Single
Nobody said parenting would be easy, but if you're tackling it solo – whether by choice or by circumstance – it can be classified a mission impossible.
Best-selling author and single mom Angela Thomas has been there, done that. In her new book My Single Mom Life: Stories & Practical Lessons for Your Journey, Thomas shares her experiences of raising four kids alone. Here, she serves up her top tips for surviving single-parenthood:
Be the mom. You are in charge. You have been given the authority to parent, and being a single mom doesn't take away that authority or diminish your responsibility to protect, guide, discipline and lead. It gives your kids a deep sense of security when you stand up in strength and lead with love and compassion.
Show interest and fascination in your children's lives when talking to them. Greet them with love, as you would a dear old friend. Go to them every time they come home. Hug them. Look into their eyes with intention and love. Spend a few minutes every day fascinated by their details and heart.
Do the best you can with their dad. If their father is or was engaged in your kids' lives, try to figure out the best modes of interaction with him. They want to love him, and it's your responsibility to encourage and facilitate a healthy relationship.
Never stop being affectionate. "I try never to let one of my children walk past me without touching him or her in some way," Thomas explains. "I touch his head or pat her back or kiss my baby on the cheek. They have to believe that my love for them is consistent and without condition."
Available online at amazon.com.
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