Raising a Child Alone
As a solo parent, I’ve somehow managed to survive every weekend alone with a baby for the last 4 years. 🙏🏾. From time to time some of my mom friends will ask me for survival advice when their partner is going out of town, leaving them alone with their baby and/or toddler. Here are the 5 pieces of advice I have for them.
1. Do the kids’ laundry on a Friday night
Friday night in my household is considered the weekend, so if I wake up Saturday morning and their clothes are clean, I’m already in better spirits. I fold the kids’ clothes throughout the weekend when I get a chance (i.e. nap time), so by Sunday night everything is arranged in their closet, ready to be worn.
2. Host a playdate at your house
Though it might be a weekend alone with a baby, you don’t have to be completely alone; you can still have company over. By hosting a playdate at your house before nap time, you are forcing yourself to have to clean the common areas of your house and you are guaranteeing that you won’t be the only parent around! Win-Win! Having another adult around seems to lighten the load and give you a mental break. While the kids play together, the two of you can catch up.
3. Meal prep dinner during nap time
4. Incorporate outdoor activities
Outdoor time is a great way to spend a weekend alone with a baby. Stroller walks, bike rides with baby in tow, scooter time, fun with bubbles and drawing with sidewalk chalk all count. You can also have a lot of fun kicking or rolling a soccer ball around. Babies love feeling the blades of grass between their toes. The kids can be as loud as they want and you can enjoy the fresh breeze Mother Nature offers up.
5. Order your groceries online
When you have a weekend alone with a baby, push the ‘easy’ button. With the ability for frequently purchased items to be saved as ‘favorites’, you only need to keep track of things you don’t usually order, such as garam masala for an Indian recipe you’re trying out this week. I tend to order groceries after the kids go to bed and then I schedule pick up for a time the following morning. Don’t have a car? You can just as easily opt for your groceries to be delivered.
You are well on your way to becoming more efficient✨. As your weekend alone with a baby draws to a close, reflect on all that you have accomplished! If you have a partner, try to delegate some of these tasks to him/her to really increase the amount of free time you have!
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I’m a single mom and some days I can’t find my balance in parenting but sometimes I do. Thank you for these tips, especially the first point on laundry.