Isn’t parenting the most beautiful experience? We raise our children and watch them grow and develop into young adults, loving them unconditionally. There isn’t anything we wouldn’t do to protect them their entire lives, no matter how small or big they are.
When you are married to your child’s other parent, engaged, or in a committed relationship with them, there are two of you to protect your children and keep them safe. When you split from your child’s other parent, whether it be from divorce, separation, or a breakup, you become a single parent, solely responsible for them when they’re with you.
One of the biggest challenges of a newly single parent is learning how to keep them safe when you’re the sole provider and protector when they’re in your care. Keep reading to learn some safety tips for newly single parents so you can keep the ones you love most safe.
Get to Know Your Neighbors
A great way to keep safe as a single parent is to get to know your neighbors, whether they live right next door, across the street, or down a few doors. Introducing yourself to your neighbors will establish a rapport with those near you. Your bond can strengthen over time, but start with a simple introduction and gradually get to know them better.
You will develop new friendships with those close by and a bond where you all look out for one another. Living alone can be a little scary until you adjust, especially if you were used to living with your ex for many years. Exchange phone numbers so you can contact your neighbors in the event of an emergency or a safety concern.
Install a Security System
Another great safety tip for newly single parents is to install a security system. Security systems have come a long way since the 60s. Most come equipped with 4K video, temper-sensitive sensors, carbon monoxide detection, and much more. Living as a single parent means you’ll be solely responsible for yourself and your children when they’re in your custody without the help of your ex. Installing a security system can give you peace of mind that the system will alert you of any suspicious activity outside your home.
Keep Social Media Private
Remember the days when social media was only accessible via a computer? With the evolution of technology, social media is always readily available at our fingertips when we wish to use it. We can easily pull up Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok with one push of a button on our phones. Some of us love to scroll through our newsfeeds or FYPs, checking our favorite celebrity’s newest posts or what our friends are up to.
Though social media is a way of life for many and can sustain some people by providing them with an income, it has drawbacks. Some people will share anything and everything online in real time, giving all their followers and strangers an inside look at their daily lives. For a single parent adjusting to living alone for the first time, keep your social media private, or at least don’t share your locations in real-time. Sharing your exact location in real-time with strangers can put you and your children at risk.
Choose Quality Childcare
If you’re a newly single parent who was used to the other parent staying home with the children, or you were the one who stayed home with them but now need to work outside the home, you may need to consider putting your children in childcare. Childcare can be a great option for parents who need to work but want their children to be well taken care of during their workday.
When shopping around for childcare, be sure to only consider quality childcare. Check reviews, take tours, meet with the directors to ask questions, and check their BBB rating. Keeping your children safe is your goal as a parent, and choosing quality childcare is one way to protect them when you can’t be with them.
Be Discreet About Packages
Do you order from Amazon or Target, or any other online stores? It’s become so convenient to order anything we need online and have it shipped to our doors. Whether you need food, diapers, or toys, nearly anything can be delivered to our front doors within minutes, hours, or days. Though it’s convenient, you’ll want to make sure you’re discreet about the packages left at your front door and how you dispose of them.
If you can, have a neighbor grab a package left on your doorstep if you can’t get to it for a while. Packages left outside doors attract burglars because they indicate that nobody is home. Also, be mindful of how you dispose of packages. If you just purchased a large TV, don’t leave the box on the curb overnight for recycling pick-up – it’s a motivator for burglars.
Adjusting to living alone as a newly single parent has its challenges, but it can also be a great time as you rediscover yourself post-divorce. Keeping safe is at the top of every single parent’s mind, and getting to know your neighbors, installing a security system, keeping social media private, choosing quality daycare, and being discreet about packages are great ways to stay safe.
If you need help with a modification action or child custody, the The Kuhl Law Firm, LLC can help. We’re dedicated to the practice of family law and can help guide you through the entire process. Our office is in Lee’s Summit, Missouri. In addition to our physical location, our firm’s family law attorneys and divorce attorneys have practiced in Jackson, Clay, Cass, Lafayette, and Platte County, Missouri. Contact our family law firm today to schedule a consultation – we can meet in person or via Zoom.
With over fifty-three years of combined legal experience, our family law firm is comprised of a team skilled in negotiation and litigation, handling family law matters from the most complex to the most straightforward. Our zealous team of attorneys will handle your case with expert knowledge and professionalism.