If you were one of those dads who checked out when you had a parenting partner in the house, now that you’re a single dad you have no choice but to check back in. Depending on your level of involvement in the parenting before you became single, this can either be a somewhat smooth transition, nightmarish task or somewhere in between. The key is to get organized fast and avoid panicking whenever possible. Kids can smell fear.

The first thing you need to recognize is that kids need and want structure. Establish age-appropriate rules for your home, and make sure your kids know and understand them. You must also set up consequences for disobeying the rules and be willing to enforce them. It’s impossible to only play the good guy all the time when you are parenting alone.

Schedules make everything easier. With so much on your plate as a single parent, the only way to manage it all is with a strict schedule that includes wake-up times, meal times, homework times, lesson times, sports times, chore times and all the other little things of life. Writing down the schedule and displaying it for all to see will help you and your kids stay on the same page.
  

Parenting is about more than caring for your kids’ physical needs, however. You must also provide emotional support, particularly when you’re a single parent. Talk to your kids. Actively listen to your kids. Get familiar with all aspects of your kids’ lives. Expect a lot from your kids, and praise them for a job well done. Parenting isn’t an exact science, but effort is rewarded.

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