Are you a single mother who is having trouble coping with the stresses of raising children, providing the basic needs of the family, and finding time for yourself? Follow the three tips below to help you manage your stress and enjoy life.

1. Prioritize. Realize and accept that you are only 1 person. No matter how you sometimes visualize yourself as Super Woman, you are not her. Yes, it's true. I know you are able to multitask and cook dinner while completing a job/school assignment while helping your child complete his or her school project. There comes a time when your super powers can no longer help you and you have to rely on your ability to organize and prioritize. Make a list or a chart of the items that you need to complete for the day. Remember to write the vision for the day and make it plain. Let the list/plan be your guide.
2. Don't over do it. You have probably been an over achiever for a majority of your adolescent and adult life. However, your life does not only involve you. Now you have one or more set of little eyes watching and depending upon your every move. You have to make time to show your little ones that you are able to do it all because they are depending on you. So make sure that you follow your schedule so that they can see that "mommy has it all under control". If you pace yourself they will never lose that illusion that you are Super Woman. Remember it is alright that others think you are Super Women. It is just important that you remember that you are not.
3. Make time for ME-TIME. Remember that you can not Save The World if you do not Save Yourself First. On your list of things to do for the day, include time for yourself. Take a minimum of 15-30 minutes of ME-TIME. Read a few pages of the latest novel, take a nice warm bubble bath after every thing is done and everyone is asleep, go get your nails done! Remember Rome wasn't built in a day. On the Seventh Day even GOD rested. The key to making your life look easy is always remembering to enjoy and allow yourself to have a life.

E. Richardson, Licensed Professional Counselor

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