The 7 Pitfalls of
Single Parenting

Today, among the overloaded clutter of single parenting self help books, it's rare and refreshing to find one that not only delivers exactly what the title offers, but exceeds all expectations with new insight, practical advice and success strategies to guide readers through the maze of post divorce parenthood that helps parents and children not just survive, but thrive. The book is The 7 Pitfalls of Single Parenting: What to Avoid to Help Your Children Thrive After Divorce by Carolyn Ellis.

Best selling author, Carolyn Ellis, has combined her academic background, broad based professional experience and personal involvement with divorce and single parenthood to write the definitive book every single-parent should have as a practical parenting road map. The book is based on extensive research and observation of real life examples from clients, single parents, seminar students and her own invaluable experience of raising three young children after divorce.

In fact, this is the book she wished she'd had herself as she tirelessly searched for a comprehensive post divorce guide book that simply did not exist. What makes the book so compelling is that she has made many of these same mistakes and writes about them so others can easily understand and save themselves needless pain and anxiety.

Divorce is a major life transition that presents multiple challenges emotionally, physically, financially and socially; no one has any training or is truly prepared for it, including the aftermath, which is single parenting. There are many myths and assumptions that parenting will be the least of the worries after a divorce, but in fact there are many factors that can blindside even the most intentional parents. Issues such as otherwise responsible parents putting their kids in the crossfire of their anger, conflicting parenting styles, transitioning anxieties, financial stress and mental and physical exhaustion can strain the best of parents and result in lack of confidence and inevitable mistakes.

Even as parents reach out to well meaning family and friends or seek out the latest self help book, single parenting can be a struggle as parents desperately try to create a safe, secure and “normal” environment for their kids.

The 7 Pitfalls provides a comprehensive guide by detailing what to avoid and is written from a positive, proactive stance beginning with the THRIVE principles that are basic concepts configured in an acronym to convey a sense of inspiration, hope and success: Trust, Honesty, Responsibility, Integrity, Vision and Expression.

Next, the book is organized around the 7 Common Pitfalls under separate chapter headings that describe the traps, how to recognize them, and how to avoid them: Not Having a Big Picture, Getting Hooked by Your Ex Spouse, Parenting from Guilt, Going for the Martyr Medal, Not Putting your Children First, Being Responsible for Your Children's Relationship with Your Ex, and Living in Chaos.

Each chapter concludes with action steps and accountability checks to ensure the practical application of the valuable information in the book. One of the most effective tools is the Action Tracker that helps keep track of accomplishments with a real measure of progress and growth.

If any of these issues or descriptions resonate with you then this is the book for you because it will help you choose to thrive after divorce and bypass the behaviors that hold single parents back from raising healthy, self confident, capable kids. It's good for you and great for your kids.