Single Parenting

[Spillage]

Myself and my husband split a 9 months ago and relatively speaking things are going pretty well between us all. But please can anyone give me some survival tactics as although they see their dad regularly, sometimes I just feel like I am swimming against the tide! My two children who are aged 6 and 8 are well balanced but I need to get them more on side so to speak as in helping me out a bit more i.e. not having to lose my temper for them to get dressed for school or constantly be on their backs to get organised. I work part time and run a business from home, maintain a home and try to have a small social life. A few handy tips from anyone would help. It can be pretty tough going. Thanks for listening.

My kids are pretty useless too.

You could try going down the tack that the home is a space that you all share and so you all need to look after it together.

You can emphasise that if you spend all your time clearing up after them you have less time to work and earn money for all the family to share as well.

Finally, that old chestnut, you will thank me when you are older and now how to keep a house tidy.

After that, a chore list and star chart.

Financial incentives (making a part of their pocket money dependant on completing their chores) is tricky I think. It sort of implies that they do not have to do chores purely out of love and respect for you, and that they can buy out of doing things which they need to do.

On the other hand, my avaricious, money grabbing DCs always respond well to any kind of financial incentive.