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We have numerous other educational-social networks parents may find helpful.  Our other social networks can be found at: http://edusocialnetworks.com .

You’re invited to leave comments below so that other international single parents can share their opinions.

Questions about unique cultural attributes to marriage and families as well as interest in finding potential life-long mates make this topic a hot-topic throughout the internet.

We have created a variety of websites in hopes to answer your questions about family life, relationships, and marriage. Please visit:

Are you interested in getting married, or having your wedding ceremony outside your home country? Check out: http://www.marriageabroad.info as well as http://www.marriageinternational.info and learn about a variety of exotic and interesting foreign destinations for marriage and wedding ceremonies. Those who are interested in marriage in Asia may consider visiting http://www.marriageinasia.info .

What is life like when you have a marriage and children? How about when you marry someone who has children from a previous marriage? Visit http://www.marriageandchildren.info to get information and connect with others who are interested in sharing and learning about marriage and children.

Marriages are never perfect and sometimes extra help is needed to get marriages leading to happiness and success. Marriage counseling is often the best solution to solving marital issues so please check out: http://www.marriagecounseling4us.info and http://www.marriagecounselingnow.info .

How about meeting new people and chatting about relationships and marriage?

For those who wish to learn more about relationships and share their stories, we have http://www.relationshipschat.info .

If you wish to discuss engagements and marriage, we have http://www.marriageforum.info, and http://www.marriageguides.info .

For those who wish to meet others from other cultures and discuss multicultural marriage, we have: http://www.marriagemulticultural.info as well as http://www.marriageonearth.info.

Those who have been married before and are looking for another committed relationship may look at http://www.marriagesequels.info .

For our married visitors, we’ve created several family-focussed websites that encourage family collaboration, interactivity, and growth.

Families who have fun together, stay together.  To connect with other families and discuss hobbies shared, please visit http://www.familyhobbies.info.

Families who meet online and wish to meet and make friends in real life are encouraged to participate in our http://www.familymeetings.info website.

Families seeking family-friendly travel destinations throughout the world now have a home online, http://www.familytourism.info .

]]> http://internationalsingleparents.com/2008/04/20/visit-our-other-websites-centered-on-relationships-marriage-and-family/feed/ http://internationalsingleparents.com/2008/04/20/mom-stress-relief-tips-to-get-you-through-the-day/ http://internationalsingleparents.com/2008/04/20/mom-stress-relief-tips-to-get-you-through-the-day/#comments Sun, 20 Apr 2008 17:15:33 +0000 TeachMeHelpMe http://internationalsingleparents.com/?p=6 By: Jill Brennan

Moms are the busiest people on the planet. From getting the kids off to school to going to basketball games to overseeing sleepovers, in addition to the moms who also work outside the home, a mom’s feet never seem to stay still.

This hectic schedule increases stress levels, and stress can impact many areas of life such as work, family, and other relationships. Stress can cause Mom to experience frustration, short fuse, and lack of focus. For busy moms, stress management is a fundamental need.

Here are eight tips to assist in living a more stress-free life.

1. Make time for you. Without the kids. Its very important to maintain your own sense of self and sometimes this can be difficult to do when you never actually have any ‘you’ time. This could be losing yourself in a great short story or wandering the shops at the mall or making time for a pedicure. Whatever you think of when you think of a treat is what you need to organize.

2. Listen to calm, soothing music on the way to work, while at work, and while going to sleep. Music has a way of calming and soothing the mind body.

3. Practice deep abdominal breathing periodically throughout the day. Breath in deeply through the nose pulling the belly button toward the spine, hold for a few seconds, and then slowly release. Busy moms will be pleasantly surprised at how this simple technique can result in a more relaxed body and mind.

4. Take time to exercise. Exercise helps to decrease depression, increase concentration and energy, and the endorphins released gives one a greater sense of control. Hitting the local gym is not always necessary. Just taking a 15-minute walk around the neighborhood, taking the steps instead of an elevator, or parking farther away can help a busy mom squeeze in exercise during the day.

5. Eat Healthy. There are foods that promote calmness as well as foods that increase stress levels. Busy moms should ask themselves if they are consuming too much sugar or caffeine, and if they are getting enough protein. Eating fresh fruits and vegetables and staying away from refined and processed foods also help. Healthy eating is very important for any busy mom. Taking a look at your eating habits and making the necessary changes can result in increased optimal health.

6. Call a friend. It is always important to have at least one relationship where Mom can just vent and know that a listening ear and unconditional acceptance will be given.

7. Calm Your Thoughts. Our thoughts create the lives we live so be aware of what you think about. Abraham said ‘Worrying is using your imagination to create something you don’t want’. What are you creating with your worries?

8. Don’t Forget To Laugh. Laughing is good for you and with children around there are usually lots of things to laugh at -from the things they say to the things you find yourself saying back to them. Learning to laugh at yourself is a great thing to teach your children. Besides, studies have shown that you burn more calories laughing than jogging.

Busy moms can follow the above eight tips for a more stress-free life!

Author Resource:-> Mom stress occurs every day but little attention is given to it. Its just considered part of mothering. But there is help available because moms need stress relief just like everyone else. For stress management for moms visit: www.momstressrelief.com

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Dating can be a complex and stressful issue for the single parent. For starters you don’t have much time. Many a single parent has had to learn to be a juggler between children, work, school, custody schedules and financial issues.

Then there are the kids, who may feel left out, having to compete for mom’s or dad’s attention. Kids of opposite sex to the parent who are close to her/him may tend be overprotective, a potentially volatile situation especially in case of mom and son.

Emotional drain that comes through child rearing can also take its toll. The energy to go out to meet people might not even be there.

We adults can sometimes act irrationally too. Admitting that one is jealous of the attention the other is giving to her/his children is not easy. That person could hold it in till it becomes too much and explodes.

Though to parent children are most important, they (parents) should also recognize that they do have emotional and physical needs. Your happiness or lack of, will rub on your children.

Many single parents prefer to date people who also have children. People who have children of their own know the challenges and restrictions of single parenting and therefore more likely to be tolerant and understanding.

How does one meet other single parents?

Grocery stores, Laundromats, playgrounds, churches and amusement parks are good places if you have no problem striking conversations with strangers.

There are groups for single parents to meet and socialize. Most of these groups are not meant for dating, though people do date. If you are short of time this may not be the best option though.

Single parent specialty dating sites may be the best way to go. Internet dating offers the single the convenience of searching anonymously at your convenience and in your own time. You have a wide variety of people who have children, and who are also actively seeking partners.

There is one drawback when it comes to dating another single parent. You are both jugglers. And you have to find a way to keep each ones children out of the relationship until you get comfortable with each other and feel the relationship is for keeps. Why?

Because you don’t want to send your children the message that partners, or people for that matter, are interchangeable. And also for the safety and well-being of the children, who should be your first responsibility. If you ask me, this is a small price to pay for hopefully a lot of happiness down the road.

If you are a single parent looking for a partner who also has children, online dating is something you should at least give a fair try.

Author Resource:-> David Kamau is webmaster of www.e-DateCentral.com which reviews websites. For reputable single parent dating sites check out Single Parents Dating

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Raising children is one of the most fulfilling jobs in the world. However, it is also one of the most difficult. Here are 5 tips that will make you a more effective parent.

1. Be a Good Role Model

You are your child’s number one standard. Your child learns a great deal about how to act simply by watching you. This is even more true when they are younger.

Therefore, it is important that you model the traits that you wish to cultivate in your child. Respect, friendship, honesty, kindness, and trust are all great lessons that can be taught right at home simply by your actions.

2. Give Them Your Undivided Time

Time is the most important gift that you can give your children. This can often be hard in a world of demands and deadlines, but it can make all the difference in your child’s life. Children who do not receive the attention that they need will often react in misbehavior because they know that this is the quickest way to get attention. Go to any school and you will see that this is true. The ones who misbehave always get much more attention than those that are well-behaved.

Therefore, it is important that you take time out each day to spend some quality time with your children. This can be as simple as having a family dinner or organizing one day out of the week to have a family game night.

Sometimes the little things can make the biggest difference. Putting a little note in their lunchbox, playing cards, reading to them, tucking them in at night. All of these things show your child that you care.

3. Be Flexible with Your Parenting Style

All kids are different and therefore no single parenting style will work for all children. It’s not a step-by-step formula although we might sometimes wish it was.

Children also develop at different speeds and stages. Although other children may be potty-trained, your child may still not be ready, and that’s usually o.k. Sometimes our expectations are simply too high.

As a parent, you must constantly adjust your parenting styles because what works this year probably will not work next year.

However, it is important that you always make yourself available to your children. As they grow older they will start looking more to their peers and others for role-models. However, if they choose the wrong ones, you should tell them why you think so. If you make time for your children at a young age, they will probably make time for you when they are older.

It’s a two-way relationship.

4. Show Your Children that Your Love is Unconditional

Your children should know that your love is unconditional, that even when they mess up horribly that you still love and care for them. Make sure he or she knows that you expect better of them but that your love is there no matter what. When I was young, my dad would tell me that he loved me unconditionally and it was one of the many reasons that we are so close. Your actions can show your kids that you love them, but they need to hear it too.

5. Reward Your Child for Being Good

Positive reinforcement often works better than negative guidance. Often times, we criticize far more than we compliment without even recognizing it.

Whenever possible, catch your child when they are doing something right, and comment on it. It doesn’t matter whether they made their bed without asking, cleaned off the kitchen table, or were patient with a sibling. Your encouraging words will spur even further good behavior. Be generous with your rewards - your love, hugs, and compliments can work miracles in your child’s life. You may soon find that they are learning kindness, trust, and love directly from you. There are many influences in the world that can effect your child, make sure that you teach them what’s most important.

Author Resource:-> Alli Ross is the hip mama at the Baby Names Box , where you can search for baby names and their meanings.

Spanish Baby Names

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Single parents are parents that care for their children without assistance from others in the home, though legal definitions may vary according to local laws of different states. Single parenting may be a result of different factors, though often it is an option taken by the parent as in the case of adoption, artificial insemination, surrogate motherhood or pre-marital pregnancy.

A Big Challenge

Single parenting can often be very challenging and single parents as well as their children often face stigma, violence and social problems. In addition, children of single parents often need to take on more responsibilities that also include looking after themselves. Also, single parenting means discussing things with the children such as financial or family decisions, which in other families, are only discussed among parents.

Often, single parenting is a result of it being the best or only option and despite media hype; it need not always be bad news. It requires sorting out the difficult issues of money, childcare as well as the relationship that the single parent is in with the other parent of the child. Single parenting, contrary to popular opinion, is often a joy as it brings the parent closer to the child as well as gives more control to parent the child according to one parent’s vision.

Nevertheless, single parenting involves understanding the other parent’s legal and financial responsibilities, clarifying custody as well as visitation rights, and in this regard, it pays to have the roles clearly defined legally so as to protect the child better. The single parent should also clarify his or her needs for support and should not be afraid to ask for help.

Single parenting also means setting up daily rituals and regular routines and being consistent and dependable. To make single parenting easier, it is necessary to forgive the other parent and not hold any grudge against one who is absent. Not having a lot of money need not be a big drawback as there is always the child close at hand; and material comforts and monetary wealth are but poor substitutes for the love and time that single parenting affords while taking care of the child. Single parenting also means giving as much time and devotion as is reasonably possible without setting impossible goals. Also, families do not need to be only biological, because the single parent can and should surround himself and the child with friends that are trustworthy and who care about both of you.

It is also necessary to take responsibility for your own life by realizing that you are solely responsible for an innocent life too. It means not letting the child down or holding him accountable for the actions over which he never had any control.

Author Resource:-> For more information on single parenting visit http://www.ParentingMonitor.com/ or http://ParentingMonitor.blogspot.com/

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Would you like to make friends with single parents from parts of the world, learn about different parenting techniques, learn about other cultures, and connect with interesting people who you might not otherwise interact with?

Are you seeking the companionship of another single parent for friendship or romance?

This free online resource offers informational articles, news, and discussions, as well as an online platform for connecting with other single parents, or singles interested in collaboration and friendships with single parents.  For our dedicated free social network, please visit:

International Single Parents

Welcome aboard and thank you for visiting.  Your constructive comments will help us ensure that this site is helpful to single parents for years to come.