Firefighting isn’t an easy profession, especially for individuals with kids. Unlike other professions, you don’t only need to put in hard work, but your life is also at risk.
People with families know how tough managing their personal and professional lives is when they choose firefighting as a career. These challenges multiply when you’re a single mom who has to do everything on their own.
Being a single mother and running a fire rescue company is challenging. Your time will be consumed in dealing with emergencies, and your kids will be deprived of your attention. However, no need to worry. There are ways to manage both responsibilities.
The following tips could help single mothers manage their fire rescue firm and raise emotionally stable, loving children simultaneously.
Build a Strong Connection with Your Team
Running a rescue firm isn’t a one-man job. You will have a team, and your mates could help you manage professional and personal responsibilities.
In addition, treat them as equals and learn to share responsibilities. If you can’t attend to a situation, discuss it with them and let them handle the problem. When there is strong communication between you and your team, people feel closer to one another.
Learn to share responsibility with your teammates and recognize their efforts. For example, give them awards, off days, and other perks at work to keep them motivated. There are a dozen firefighter award ideas such as ‘Firefighter of the Month,’ ‘Most Dedicated Team Member,’ and ‘Exemplary Service Award’, that you could use to appreciate your team’s work.
The more appreciation you show for your team, the greater the support you receive from them.
Think of Adopting a Pet for your Kids
A pet could be the perfect way to help your kids understand responsibilities and keep them entertained.
They won’t feel your absence when they are busy with their puppies or kittens. In addition to having a buddy, adopting pets is a great way to make your children realize about taking on responsibilities.
Every parent wants their child to act mature, and when someone is in a demanding profession such as firefighting, preparing your kids is of utmost importance. Well, these pets would help kids become more responsible and help them remain calm in different situations.
Pets can also teach children about life and death and prepare them for tragedies in advance. So, pets would help firefighter mothers manage their responsibilities without compromising their work.
Teach Your Kids to Value Work and Do Things Themselves
Being in the firefighting department means being called for duty during the middle of the night or early morning. You might have to leave your kids alone at home, and things will become problematic if they are not responsible.
Therefore, teaching them to manage chores is crucial for their well-being. Make your kids manage their work themselves. Start by giving them chore lists every week. From cleaning the room to arranging cupboards, there are tons of things that kids should do themselves.
With children managing most of their tasks, parents have less to do. It makes your life easier, and hassle-free.
Remember, when you train kids from a young age to handle responsibilities, they become more responsible. Soon, they outgrow their chore lists and volunteer to do more tasks without help.
Have One Meal Everyday with Your Kids
This one’s a necessary thing to do for every firefighter mother. Your professional life shouldn’t affect your bond with your kids. To ensure this, plan at least one meal with your family.
It could be an early-morning breakfast or late-night dinner. Do your best to have this one meal together with your kids. You could talk about their life during this meal time. Ask them about school, friends, and problems they are facing. It helps you catch up on their life and lets them know you care for them.
If you’re worried about meal preparation, no need to panic. You could order from a restaurant or switch to breakfast options. Seriously, it’s about spending quality time together, not the food.
Automate Tasks
Thanks to technology, managing professional and personal life is not an issue anymore. If you’re feeling overburdened due to the responsibilities of your work and kids, start automating things.
For example, use apps to buy groceries instead of physically visiting stores or shopping for essentials online. It saves you time and energy, and you can concentrate on your work. Similarly, use an assistant on your phone to keep track of things or set reminders.
You could put your trust in technology and make it easier to run your household.
Don’t Overcommit
Your job is to save people in dire circumstances, but that doesn’t mean you overcommit to the cause. Being a single mother, your kids also need your time, and for that, you will have to balance both roles. So don’t overcommit to any side.
Sort out your weekly tasks and make a schedule. Don’t spend the entire week in your office. Take small breaks and plan a schedule, allowing you to squeeze in time for yourself. After all, having some me time is important for your physical and mental health.
Consider Giving Extra Gifts to Kids
There’s nothing wrong with occasionally treating your kids to a few extra toys to keep them in a good mood. Some find it equivalent to spoiling children, but these gifts could improve your relationship.
During busy hours, a small gift like a new toy or clothing item could help your kids better understand your situation. Having a bag of new toys to play with can make it easier for them to accept your long hours away from home.
While it’s not a permanent fix, a new toy could temporarily improve your child’s mood.