How to Be a Help for Single Moms

Single mothers have it hard. These women provide for their children, keep a home, sometimes work more than one job, and try to maintain their own physical and mental health. But it takes a village to raise a child, and it is unrealistic to expect her to do it all without help for single moms.

Ways to be the help for single moms

Help for single moms can start with you. The little things can make a difference to a mother struggling to make ends meet. Imagine her exhaustion at the end of the day, caring for her children, checking schoolwork, disciplining when necessary, and working to pay the bills.

Many of her accomplishments go unnoticed. Reach out to a single mother in your neighborhood or church and praise her for the work you see her doing with her family. Let her know she is seen, then find ways to support her.

The following are tips for how you can be a help for single moms.

Cook healthy meals to share.

Unless your friend’s family has certain dietary restrictions, consider cooking extra servings of healthier fare. A single mom’s schedule is typically tight with work, school, extracurricular activities, and household chores. She may come home after a long day, tackle her child’s homework, and then be faced with figuring out dinner.

On those busy nights, bring over a casserole. You can purchase disposable trays to bake casseroles and other frozen meals and reheat them in the oven. Making this one decision easier on your friend can make all the difference in how smooth her evening goes.

Give the gift of a relaxing night to single moms.

When was the last time you babysat someone else’s children so a friend could have an evening to herself? Giving a single mother even just a few hours to care for herself can mean the world to a mother trying to do it all.

Volunteer your services and plan for an evening of fun with your friend’s children. You can play games, teach them something new, watch movies, or take a trip to the library. Suggest to your friend that she use the time to take a nap, get her hair or nails done, run errands, or do some other activity that brings her joy. If you also have children, maybe you can take turns watching each other’s children at least once a month.

Play with her children.

Spending time with children can make us feel younger. When was the last time you rode a bike or played hide-and-seek? Invite your single mom friend and her children over to play with your children. If you don’t have any children of your own, get creative about games for children in their age range.

You can find an assortment of games online. If you feel silly playing games, try an activity you would like and make it fun. For example, you could host a car wash or take them to a playground. Your single mom friend may join in, but this still gives her a reprieve from constantly entertaining her children by herself.

Teach her children a new skill.

Teaching a younger generation a new skill helps you bond with children while imparting knowledge. Introducing a new skill also keeps your mind sharp and can bring you joy. For example, if you enjoy gardening, teach your single mom friend’s children how to set up or harvest a garden. If she has older children, have them help you can goods.

If you do carpentry work, teach the children how to carve wood and make their own items. You could share many interests, such as creating arts or crafts, teaching a musical instrument, or playing golf or tennis.

Go thrifting together.

When mentioning topics like shopping at thrift stores, be empathetic and kind. You do not want to offend your single mom friend. If you shop at thrift stores looking for bargains, you can always bring this up to her and suggest she go with you. Or ask for her children’s clothing sizes and keep an eye out for items that will fit.

Suggest that you ride together. You can also use this time to treat yourselves to hot drinks, iced coffees, and quality conversation time. Some mothers need the excuse of an outing to have an opportunity to share their lives with someone.

Volunteer to help with home maintenance for single moms.

When it comes to home maintenance, many single moms don’t have anyone to call for help. If they have a list of contractors or companies, the women may not have the funds to fix house problems.

Is there something you could do to help? Can you invite her over to do her laundry if her washer or dryer breaks? Perhaps you can mow her lawn, trim the hedges, or allow her to borrow the equipment. If you know of anyone in your church or another local organization who could help with home repairs at little to no cost, ask her if you can pass on her number to them.

Help with emergency childcare.

A single mother may not have family who live nearby who can help in cases of emergency. Between snow days, early dismissals, and illnesses, being the Plan B for a mother can keep her from missing work and reducing a much-needed paycheck.

Let her know that you would be more than happy to pick the children up or have them stop over after school. If the child is sick, offer to pick up medicine and other necessary items or stay with them so their mother can work. It may be an inconvenience to you initially, but God can use you to bless a family.

Invite a single mom and her children to church.

Whether she is new in town or not, invite your single mom friend and her family to church. Community is important to a woman trying to raise children on her own. By surrounding her with other Christian women and men, she will have examples of how to raise godly children.

Attending and participating in church meetings and events also benefit the children as they form friendships that might serve them for the rest of their lives. Learning to lean on and trust God amid hard times builds faith and makes how we perceive our situation more manageable.

Go grocery shopping if she is struggling financially.

During hard economic times, single mothers are some of the hardest hit with financial problems. Paying the bills and affording groceries are two of the top necessities. If you know of a single mom who needs food in the house, how can you help? If your town or church hosts a food pantry, ask her if you can sign her up with the organization. You may need to drive her to pick up the food if she doesn’t have a car.

If you are not struggling financially, consider taking your single mom friend to the grocery store or farmer’s market and helping her choose groceries for a week or two. What does she need to get to the next paycheck? God wants us to help the poor, the widowed, and the orphans. He will bless those who help people in need. How can you help your friend and her children with food today?

Do you know single moms who need help?

Help for single moms is available through local organizations and churches. If your single mother friend needs emotional and mental support, contact our office today. We can make an appointment for her (and you, if she would like you there) for an in-person or virtual session with a counselor specializing in parenting and women’s issues.

The best thing you can do to support a single mother is to be her friend. The road can be lonely for a mother trying to cover basic needs. Stand by her and offer her support during this season of her life.