Single parents and good habits

Nutrition and sleep

When the war was current and the depression hit families everyone was affected. Presently, just personal wars are causing grief. Years ago food was a problem because it was scarce. Now the scarcity isn’t the problem but the nutritional level is and the sleep patterns of our children.

All families are affected because nutrition and sleep affects us all. However, if you have your children all the time, you are in control of both nutrition and sleep. However, for those who share children with the other parent, these issues along with many others can be scary.

The ultimate goal in these blended family arrangements is to reach a common sense ground and have everyone doing their part. Unfortunately for many reasons too many emotions cause hurt and this frustration is unintentionally passed on to the children.

If Mum or Dad has the child just every second weekend and the sleeping and eating regimes are poor I guess you have to pick your battles. Primarily if the child’s safety is in control then a diet of McDonalds and dropping to sleep after fairy floss for two nights a fortnight may be just the way it is! One must be very careful because to stop care because of this greatly affects the child. It is important for one to realise the other parent is making a selfish choice but it is their choice and if left ignored the problem may fix itself.

If a child spends 50% of time with both parents and for a whole week the child is nutritionally and sleep deprived this will have a huge impact on the child. Parent mediation services are available to discuss such solutions. Relationships Australia offers parent mediation. And putting a child at risk in any unsafe way is a matter to be taken to the authorities.