The Single Parent Resource

by Noel, Brook

• ISBN13: 9781932783254
• ISBN10: 1932783253
• Edition: Revised
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-09-15
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Inc

Summary

What kind of help do single parents need most in their day-to-day lives? The authors asked that very question of over 500 single parents in an in-depth survey. Now, Noel and Klein provide the answers to the top concerns, problems and challenges of single-parent life -- answers that are practical, concise, timely, relevant -- and never before available in a single guide! In addition to practical and real-life solutions, readers will find hundreds of resources to help take control of their lives.

Table of Contents

Foreword	15	(10)
Introduction	25	(2)
Summary of the Top Ten Concerns of Single Parents	27	(2)
Moving Ahead: Help for Single Parents Starts Here	29	(7)
Navigating the Single-Parent Life	36	(39)
The Importance of Balance	39	(3)
Priorities and Goals	42	(3)
Ten Steps to a More Managed Life	45	(10)
Simplify Your Life	55	(3)
A Crash Course in Simplification	58	(2)
Twenty-Minute Sanity Savers	60	(2)
The Joys of a Discovery Program	62	(2)
Words of Wisdom on Navigating the Single-Parent Life	64	(2)
Resources for Navigating the Single-Parent Life	66	(9)
Managing the Single-Parent Household	75	(25)
Communication Central	76	(2)
Emergency!	78	(2)
Sanity-Saving Family Meetings	80	(1)
The New House Rules	81	(1)
Chore and Reward Systems	82	(2)
Time for Everyone	84	(1)
What's for Dinner? And Other Kitchen Hassles	85	(1)
A Day in the Life of Once-A-Month-Cooking	86	(7)
Recreating the Family Dinner	93	(1)
Live a Week in a Day	94	(1)
Simple Ways to Increase Day-to-Day Quality Time	95	(2)
Resources for Managing the Single-Parent Household	97	(3)
Balancing Work and Family	100	(16)
The Morning Crunch	104	(2)
Designing Relaxing Evenings	106	(3)
Business Trips	109	(1)
Job Burnout	110	(1)
Why are You Doing so Much?	110	(3)
Resources for Balancing Work and Family	113	(2)
Sample Medical Authorization	115	(1)
Part One ... Creating a Solid Financial Plan	116	(24)
Taking Stock of Where You Are	117	(1)
The Key to Success	118	(1)
Designing the Monthly Worksheet	118	(1)
Sample Monthly Worksheet	119	(1)
Taking a Realistic Look at what Your Budget Reveals	120	(1)
How to Maximize Your Budget	120	(1)
Items on the Budget	121	(3)
For those Who Refuse to Budget	124	(1)
Financially Over Your Head	125	(1)
Are You Maximizing Your Current Skills?	126	(1)
Extra Money, Independence and Rewards	126	(7)
If You Are Still in Cash and Credit Crisis	133	(1)
Know Your Rights	133	(1)
Bankruptcy: The Rumors, The Reality	134	(1)
Establishing Credit	135	(1)
How to Improve Your Credit	136	(1)
Money-Savings Tips	137	(3)
(Part Two) ... Creating a Solid Financial Plan for the Future	140	(20)
Planning Ahead for College Days	140	(2)
Life Insurance	142	(2)
Where There's A Will, There's Your Way	144	(3)
Health Insurance	147	(1)
Retirement	148	(2)
Resources for Taking Stock of Your Finances and Planning Ahead	150	(10)
Transforming Difficult Emotions into Opportunities for Growth	160	(20)
Confronting the Past	160	(1)
Allowing Time for Letting Go	161	(2)
The Loss of the Two-Parent Form	163	(1)
Keeping a Journal	163	(1)
Becoming Single	164	(1)
Resolving Tough Emotions	165	(1)
Dealing With the Anger	166	(1)
Taking Responsibility for our Emotions	167	(1)
The Courage to Begin Again	168	(2)
Relieving the Day-to-Day Emotions of Single-Parenting	170	(5)
Resources for Transforming Difficult Emotions	175	(5)
Creating a Support Network	180	(24)
Existing Support Groups	181	(1)
Creating Your Own Support Group	182	(9)
A New Wave of Support	191	(1)
Support for Kids	191	(2)
Resources for Single-Parent Support	193	(11)
The Social Life of the Single Parent	204	(13)
Adult One-on-One Interaction	204	(1)
Beginning Again	205	(3)
Consider the Children	208	(2)
Where to Meet People	210	(1)
What about Overnight Guests?	211	(2)
So We're Single Again	213	(3)
Resources for the Social Life of a Single Parent	216	(1)
Committing to Making your Custodial Arrangement Work	217	(29)
It Takes a Commitment	218	(2)
Weekly Meetings and a Sample Agenda	220	(4)
Guidelines for Successful Parent Meetings	224	(2)
Notes on Specific Types of Custody	226	(1)
Primary Physical Custody	226	(1)
Ways to Promote the Non-Custodial Parent Relationship	227	(2)
Notes for the Non-Custodial Parent	229	(2)
Long Distance Parenting	231	(1)
Joint Custody	232	(2)
The Pitfalls of Custody: Games Parents Play	234	(2)
Dealing With an Absent Parent	236	(4)
Kids' Speak: What I Wish My Parents Knew	240	(4)
Resources for Custody Issues	244	(2)
Finding Quality Child Care	246	(21)
What Type of Care are You Looking For?	246	(1)
Day Care	247	(1)
In-Home Providers	248	(1)
Community Child Care	248	(1)
Live-In Care	248	(1)
Preparing for the Search	249	(1)
Sample Phone Screening Sheet	250	(4)
The In-Person Visit	254	(3)
Checking References	257	(2)
Developing a Good Working Relationship	259	(1)
Surviving the First Week	260	(2)
A One-Month Check Up: To Be or Not To Be?	262	(2)
Resources for Finding Quality Child Care	264	(3)
Improving Children's Emotional Health	267	(37)
Ages and Stages	267	(1)
Infants	268	(1)
Toddlers and Preschoolers	269	(2)
Early Elementary	271	(1)
Preteen Years	272	(1)
Adolescence	273	(1)
Helping Children Adapt	274	(2)
Children's Emotions	276	(2)
Worry	278	(1)
Anger	279	(2)
Jealousy	281	(1)
Fear	282	(1)
Withdrawal	283	(2)
Rejection	285	(1)
The Art of Communication	286	(1)
Secret Signs	287	(2)
The Five Rules of Listening	289	(1)
Communication Games	290	(1)
Ten Ways to Enhance Communication	291	(1)
Five Ways We Block Communication	291	(3)
Words of Wisdom from Single Parents	294	(5)
Resources for Children's Emotional Health	299	(5)
Myths and Mudslinging	304	(45)
Statistics about the Single-Parent Family	305	(14)
Thoughts from Single Parents	319	(2)
The Single Parent Family: How We Hinder, How We Help	321	(4)
End Notes and Appendices
A Closing Note	325	(2)
Additional Resources	327	(10)
Survey Data & Methodology	337	(12)
Bibliography	349