As parents, we are constantly in situations where we find ourselves thinking, “what am I supposed to do about this?”
Parenting is a 24/7 experience, and there’s no way to fully prepare for every aspect of the job. Often, we fly by the seat of our pants, and use our wits to guide us. Sometimes, it feels like we’re lost in the wilderness without a guide.
So, how can we find a sense of confidence while on a new, and totally different kind of journey?
Rooting Yourself on the Journey
Here are a couple of ways to find a sense of confidence and positivity while facing the big task of co-parenting.
Be Your Own Coach
There will be times during your co-parenting experience when your best friend is on vacation, your mom isn’t picking up the phone, and your cat is just not cutting it as a shoulder to cry on.
That’s why it’s so important to learn how to be your own coach. Talk yourself through tough situations, encourage yourself to overcome hardship, and give yourself a little applause when you’ve done an amazing job.
Get a Personal Mentor
You’re doing an amazing job. You’re smart, savvy, hardworking, and impressive. And that’s exactly why you need a mentor.
This person’s job is to help you to notice all those positive traits, to help you gain perspective on challenging situations, and to help you find opportunities you never would have thought possible.
Your mentor could be a professional counselor, a teacher you trust, or a friend who has been through similar experiences. By getting a mentor, you have someone to guide you, inspire you, challenge you, and keep your co-parenting journey positive.
Find a Co-Parenting Guide
You and your ex will disagree, face challenges, and have to negotiate situations. As your child grows and develops, your co-parenting roles will shift too. That’s why it’s so helpful to have a guide on your co-parenting journey.
You can use a service like Bonfami that has a community of single moms, sign up with a professional counselor, or search for a local organization that supports single moms like yourselves. Whatever it is you choose, having a guide will keep you focused, help you overcome struggles, and will give you the tools to achieve more as co-parents.
Be a Leader, and Follower…
As a co-parent, you need to both lead the way, and have inspiring people to follow. Find the confidence to be your own guide, and look for empowering mentors and coaches who can help you get to the next level.
Summary of Parts I and III: In part one of this series, we talked about how to use your situation to maximize positivity. In part three of this series, we’ll look at how to achieve your co-parenting goals.
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