Employee Assistance Network of North Carolina

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Survival Strategies for Single Parents

Like all working parents, single parents must juggle many family and work responsibilities.  The difference is, they do it alone.  Here are some strategies to help parents who are juggling their family obligations single-handedly.

Recognize the Benefits

Raising children on your own may be incredibly trying, but there are ways to see your situation in a more positive light.  As a single parent, you’ll be challenged to develop your strengths to their fullest potential.  By necessity, many single parents learn to be stronger, more resourceful and adaptable than they ever thought possible.

Children in single-parent families also have special opportunities to develop independence and confidence.  For example, if your children travel to another city to visit an absent parent, they’ll become acquainted with a wider variety of other adults and children than they would if they lived in only one location.  They’ll also have the opportunity to discover new sights and expand their horizons.

Build Your Support Network

Neighbors, friends, relatives and other parents are the keys to surviving the stress of being solely responsible for your children.  Your support network can give you feedback about how you’re doing as a parent and help you put things into perspective.

Investigate community and church groups or local classes on parenting.  But don’t limit yourself to other single parents or you’ll miss the outlooks offered by dual-parent families and older adults.  Developing networks takes time and energy.  But the relationships you’ll form will add richness to your life and help you cope with your responsibilities.

Organize Your Time

Single parents must operate on a higher level of organization than dual-parent families.  You can simplify your life when you streamline systems for doing laundry, shopping, preparing meals and cleanup.  Teach your children how to do simple jobs around the house.  Hire someone to help with the yard and cleaning if your budget allows it.

Plan for the Future

When you do everything by yourself, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed with daily responsibilities and to forget the big picture.  Take time to dream and plan for the future.  Do you want to take your kids on a vacation to another part of the country?  Would you like to go back to school someday to learn a new skill?  Take your dreams seriously by putting them in writing.  Then plan how you can make your goals a reality.

Investigate Financial Counseling

Many single parents feel the burden of heavy financial pressures.  It pays to examine your financial status with the help of a counselor and establish a realistic budget and financial plan for your family.

Take Care of Yourself

Make sure there’s someone whose ear you can bend when you need to talk about your emotional concerns.  Confide in a best friend or join a support group for single parents.  Let yourself have fun without the kids.  Trade baby-sitting with other single parents to get an evening out or a weekend away.  Single parents may feel they “owe” all their nonworking hours to their children, but they’ll be better parents if they take breaks.

If you or your family are experiencing emotional or other problems, please call EAN to make an appointment with one of our licensed professionals.  All interviews are kept strictly confidential.                              
1.800.454.1477

 

 


 


 





Announcements

 

Our offices will be closed on  Monday, 1/18/2021 in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. day. We will re-open on Tuesday, 1/19/2021.

As always, please contact our office if you need immediate assistance at 828-252-5725 or 800-454-1477. If you have an after hours or holiday emergency, you can reach EAN’s on-call counselor by calling 1-800-454-1477 or 828-252-5725 and listening for instructions.

Things to do to celebrate:

  • Drop off a meal to a neighbor.
  • Make hygiene kits for local homeless shelters.
  • Send care packages to deployed troops.
  • Plan an outdoor activity with people who live with you, such as a park cleanup or walk.
  • Attend a virtual speech or event, such as the annual religious ceremony.

 

 

 

2021 List of mini webinars  – read more for list and links below

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Learn More

  • EAN brochure (PDF)
  • Frontline Supervisor Newsletter
  • Balanced Living Newsletter

Testimonials

"We appreciate the opportunity we have with EAN to offer quality services when needed."

Tamera Edwards, PHR
MB Haynes Corp.

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EAN Online

This is a service available to employees and family members of organizations that incorporate on-line services in their EAP contract.

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Locations

Asheville Office

Hendersonville Office

Sylva Office

Waynesville Office

Appointments

Want to make an appointment to see an EAN counselor?

Call 800-454-1477 and talk with the person who answers the phone. We will need to know the employer you or your family member has the EAN benefit through and some other demographic information to schedule your first appointment.

Insurance

Want to know who is in network to see a mental health provider through your insurance?

Call 800-454-1477 and talk with the person who answers the phone. We will need to know the employer who provides your health plan and if we manage the benefit, we will be able to connect you to an in network provider who specializes in the issues you want to work on.

EAP

Looking for an EAP?

Call 800-454-1477 and we will talk with you about the unique needs of your organization and how best to develop an Employee Assistance Program that meets those needs.

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