5 - Take responsibility for your life today. Remember whatever lead you to where you are today, you are responsible for another life - innocent life of a child, who did not ask to be born. Your child is not responsible for experiences or events that made you become a single parent. Your child is completely dependent upon you through no choice of their own. Don't let them down or hold them accountable for your actions (or actions of their absent parent). They are powerless and vulnerable to possibly less-than-ideal consequences they face as child of a single parent. Your role and influence in their life is paramount to their chances of becoming a happy, productive, successful adult. They need you more than their words will ever tell.

6 - Set up daily rituals and regular routines. Your child needs stability and security. One way to provide this is by developing a daily routine. Simple things like - going to park every Sunday afternoon, eating dinner together each night, sharing a treat before nap time or reading a book together before bed every night, will become activities that your child looks forward to and can count on to occur with regularity.

7 - Be consistent and dependable. Create realistic rules and a standard of discipline that you stick to all time. If you're consistent with your child, he or she will learn what is acceptable behavior and what is not. They will also learn what you expect from them and what they can expect from you. If you're dependable, they will know that they can always count on you to help them with their homework, be there for dinner or tuck them in bed at night. They have to be able to depend on you. You're most important person in their life. Try to remember that no matter how tired you are at end of day or how frustrated you may become when they're fussy - They need you to be there for them. You should cherish every moment with your child - they are best blessings on earth.

Resource Box - © Danielle Hollister (2003)

Danielle Hollister is Writing Host at BellaOnline http://www.bellaonline.com/site/writing

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Danielle Hollister is a professional freelance writer/editor/researcher with more than ten years of experience working for websites, newspapers, public relations firms, and private companies.

She has been the Writing Host at BellaOnline since the site was launched three years ago at: http://www.bellaonline.com/site/writing