Temporarily a single parent

[PamelaMartin]

My dh is temporarily incarcerated so for a short time I will be a single parent. It could be as short as a month or as long as 3 years.

We have 5 children ages 10y-15mos and I homeschool them.

Discipline vs. allowing them to express themselves is the biggest issue I face in raising them right now.

The other thing is keeping their daddy alive to them. They talk about him and pray for him all the time, but when they draw pictures of the family sometimes they leave him out. Do I take notice of that or just let it go?

Any other tips you would have on going it alone would be great.

[gabner]

I am a long time single mom, my boys are now 22, 19, and 13 and we homeschool. What I have done is to live day-to-day life much like it would be if there was a dad but he just never comes home.

You are not really going to be a single parent, their father is still a parent but he just isn't around. Being a true single parent involves issues that you won't be facing (dating, sex, long term goals, letting go of long term dreams, ect.).

Books about authoratative parenting may be of help. Kids under stress really need a mom with good parenting skills.