The number of single-parent families continues to increase in France. Between homework, errands, work and home, the life of a single parent is a real marathon! Our tips to make your life easier.

According to the latest figures published by INSEE, 25% of families are single parents, or one in four . On a daily basis, these single parents face many challenges, both organizationally and financially. So, how do you manage on a day-to-day basis when you're raising your children alone? The single mothers who testified on the Journal des Femmes agree on one point: organization and support are their watchwords! Indeed, it is difficult to reconcile everything when you are alone to take charge of the education of the children, to exercise a professional activity and to manage the stewardship of the house. Solo moms and dads compete in ingenuity to juggle all the roles they have to fill in the course of a day!

1 - Maintain a social life

Moms often forget it's important to maintain a social life . Invite friends or colleagues to dinner, answer 'yes' to girlfriends' invitations, have fun... So many little things necessary for the personal balance of all women. Take (a time) just for yourself ! If you are in alternating custody , take advantage of your solo week to recharge your batteries.

2 - Be kind to yourself!

Despite appearances, the parent alone is not a superhero. He too has his weaknesses, his doubts and his moments of discouragement. Accept that you're not perfect and try not to put extra strain on yourself by setting yourself over the top goals. If the youngest didn't have homemade mashed potatoes with organic vegetables, it doesn't matter! On the contrary, feel guilty!

3 - Make a schedule and a to-do list

Without falling into the excesses of a military organization, write a schedule that you stick on the fridge so that you don't forget anything: from the appointment of the eldest at the dentist to the meeting of parents of students of the youngest. Nothing is more distressing than not knowing what the week will be like when you already spend your time running! Same thing for children's clothes: prepare them the day before to avoid the crisis when it comes to getting dressed. Finally, go to the essentials, according to priorities.

4 - Teach your child to become independent

Putting on your coat or your shoes on your own, clearing your plate, making your bed, putting your dirty laundry in the basket, so many small harmless gestures that can really make your daily life easier. Remind your children that you are a team and that it is important to help each other... Like true champions!

5 - Join a network of single parents

Parents of the children's friends, neighborhood associations, a neighbor who can help you out in the event of a hard blow, the Grand parents who live near you... Create your own solidarity network ! And never say no to the help you are offered! Have you also thought about service trocs between moms ? You pick up the children when they leave school, and in exchange, the mother accompanies your son to his sports class on Saturday. Finally some specialized sites for single-parent families, like the website parents-solos-compagnie.or g or again www.uniparent.com allow you to exchange between single parents in order to break the isolation. In particular, you will find advertisements for childcare, good plans and tips for managing your budget as well as possible.

6 - Ask for help and delegate

In case of divorce complicated, delicate financial situation, or serious conflicts at home, contact competent personnel. Social services, town hall, psychologists, educational team, doctors or associations will be able to give you valuable advice to help you get out of this difficult situation. Remember that you are not alone.

7 - Take advantage of aid for single parents

List the benefits you are entitled to based on your situation and income: Family allowances , precariousness bonus, social housing, back-to-school allowance, assistance in recovering alimony, family support allowance , etc. Don't forget to find out about the advantages that your municipality can provide you (loan at 0% rate, card big family for transport and family outings at reduced prices, etc. In addition, employment-service vouchers (CESU) allow you to benefit from home services (housekeeping, nanny or baby sitter) which will allow you to breathe a little.

8 - Find good deals

You only have one salary to support your children, so any savings will be welcome. Participate in clothing swaps, resell childcare items or baby clothes that have become too small for your child, and take the time to study promotional offers to do your shopping.

9. Think about your love life

With a family to manage alone, it's hard to find the time to think about love! And yet, remember that you are not just a parent. There are now dating sites specially dedicated to single parents as papamamacelibataire.com or rencontre-parents.fr . You will be able to meet parents who share problems similar to yours, and especially men and women who are not afraid of family life! Lack of time can obviously be an obstacle to a meeting. But why not try to wedge a lunch rather than a dinner? This will save you from having to incur costs for a babysitter!

10. Trust an app designed for you

COOT is an application specially designed for single-parent families to help them manage their daily lives. COOT has a number of features to make parents' lives easier. Thanks to a shared agenda, it is possible to know the schedule of each child, to have a personalized follow-up of the expenses incurred by each parent, to have a space of shared contacts, to have access to all the administrative documents directly online (super practical to avoid lugging identity documents, family booklet, health book or school report from one house to another). The app, which offers several formulas (free, 48 euros or 72 euros per year) regularly acquires new functions. Available on the App Store and Google Play.

Source journaldesfemmes.fr