7 survival tips for single parents

Raising a child is like an ocean voyage – full of raging storms, rough waves, and occasional sunny tranquility. It's hard enough with a partner, but when you're doing it alone, the difficulty rises to a whole new level.

Yet parents all over the world are successfully and joyfully raising children by themselves. Just because you're steering a one-person kayak rather than a two-person canoe doesn't mean you can't handily navigate the tumultuous waters of parenthood. These tips can help smooth your journey.

Take care of yourself

While a trip to a luxury spa would certainly be nice, self-care in the early days of parenting is more about paying attention to your basic needs. These are all too easy to neglect, especially if you don't have a partner to spell you.

"I had to pay attention to make sure I was even eating enough," says Rachel Sarah, author of the book and blog Single Mom Seeking. "I also learned the importance of getting enough sleep, which meant forgoing a lot of chores. My place was a mess, but I just had to let that go."

Sarah also incorporated small chunks of exercise into her life whenever she could. Instead of driving to the grocery store, she'd plop the baby in the stroller and walk.

Join forces

Being the lone mom or dad on a playground full of parenting couples every Saturday morning can get old pretty fast, as can being stuck at home every evening with only your colicky baby for company.

Finding moms and dads in similar situations can be a lifesaver. "My friend's husband worked late, and the two of us would get together for dinner. Sometimes both our babies would be crying, but at least we were going through the witching hour together," says Sarah.

If you're having trouble finding buddies, consider joining a single parent support group. Visit the Parents Without Partners website; check Facebook, the BabyCenter Community, and other social networking sites; or contact your local women's center, mothers' club, dads' group, YMCA, church, or synagogue to find other single parents in your area. And if there isn't an existing group to join, try starting your own.

Build a community

A strong community can provide emotional support and a sense of belonging – the perfect antidote to the isolation brought on by solo parenting.

Don't just focus on other single parents. The more varied your community, the richer it will be. "Having a diverse social circle is very important," says Alexandra Soiseth, author of Choosing You: Deciding to Have a Baby On My Own.

If you're on the introverted side, building a community can be tough. You may need to push yourself into social situations. For example, join a church or synagogue, find structured playgroups, or attend weekly story time at your local library.

And remember, meeting new people gets easier with practice. "I used to be a lot shier," says Sarah. "At first, I was ashamed to even tell people that I was a single mom. But I had to get out of that rut. I had to become more social out of pure necessity."