Motherhood is both the biggest reward and challenge for many women who decide to give birth. They are the first person their child comes into contact with, and they are responsible for their family’s well-being long after their child has grown through adolescence and adulthood.

Being a single mom is even tougher because all the responsibilities of parenting lie with you. If you are trying to raise your son or daughter without a father, you may feel like you need to do more than most moms who have partners. Along the way, you should look for ways that you can ease this burden and make the parenting journey more enjoyable.

Auto insurance for single moms is surprisingly similar to any other type of auto insurance. We will give some advice on how to get some discounts as a mom who has to drive themselves and their children around town. We will also talk about how to handle a teen driver as a single mom.

What about having some downtime with your little one on a single-parent budget? Are there any ways to get away from it all without draining your entire bank account? When should you ask for help from others, and are there professionals who can guide the way for single-mother households?

Let’s discuss the four best ways to make life easier as a single mom. Many of these things apply to every solo mother, no matter how dire their situation may seem at the present.

1. Talk to Other Moms for Advice

Just because you feel alone as a single mother doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try to build a support system around you that will benefit you and your child. So many other single mothers have felt the same feelings of dejection, imposter syndrome, and desperation to stay afloat financially.

See if a therapist can help you understand your strengths and weaknesses as a mother. This will help you grow as a person and a parent. At the same time, don’t disregard your own instincts and opinions for those on the outside if you feel you are on the right track the first time around.

Reaching out for help is all about deciding what works best for your parenting style and what others could learn from you. Helping people is an equally important part of this tip.

2. Put Your Happiness First

Moms think they do their best when they put their children’s happiness first. What they forget is that the only way to make your kids happy is to make yourself happy first. Miserable parents are going to take out their bad moods on their children, creating a toxic environment that is no good for anybody.

If a single mom prioritizes her own happiness, she can handle parenting in a better and more relaxed manner. Think about whether you want to have a career. Take advantage of the digital age by finding jobs, friends, and exercise regimens online. Being healthy from a mental and physical perspective will create a well-rounded life for your entire family.

This doesn’t mean ignoring your responsibilities as a mother. It means that being a mom and a happy woman are tied together. If one of these parts of your identity is fulfilled, it will help the other one, too.

3. Get the Best Auto Insurance

Unfortunately, there are no auto insurance policies strictly for single mothers. In fact, it may even be more difficult at first to pay for coverage on your own because married couples usually get better rates than their single counterparts. Consider looking into fuller coverage options like no-fault insurance.

There are a couple of things you can do to make sure that you have the best auto insurance for you and your children when they learn how to drive. Getting amenities for your vehicle like adaptive headlights, adaptive cruise control, and daytime running lights lets insurers know you take safety seriously. Discounts may follow if you search properly.

If you have a teen driver, your rates are going to get very expensive for them because new drivers are such a risk to the company. Get a smart-ride device that encourages good driving habits for your son or daughter to get great discounts for the whole family. And if you are divorced, talk to your attorney about who is responsible for auto insurance for your teen driver.

4. Try to Get Away

Vacations are a much-needed recovery from the hectic everyday life of being a single mom. And while so many people worry that they need a lot of money or ideas to get out of the house, you just need to look around your local entertainment scene or the nature outside your door.

Hiking and climbing are short activities you can do in a single day with a babysitter taking care of your little one. Stay in the area so you can easily come back home if there is an emergency with your child. And make sure that the sitter you hire is trusted — a family member or friend, preferably.

Not every single mom has someone like this to babysit, so hiring someone from a reputable babysitter company nearby is the next best option. The main point is that you need to spend some time away from your child like any mother with a spouse would do. Get creative and give yourself that time to yourself to enjoy the little moments outside of parenting.

Single Parenting Versus Traditional Parenting

It may seem like being a single mom is harder than being within a traditional dual parenting household. The main takeaway you should get from these tips is that you can take advantage of the unique opportunities confronting you to carve out a special mothering experience.

Ask for help, but trust your gut. Get away from the stress as long as it will enhance your ability to grow as a parent and a person. And most importantly, keep your own happiness at the forefront of your life. It will always lend well to the role of being a mother. There’s no guidebook to parenting, so create your own rules for the adventure and enjoy the journey.

Shawn Laib writes and researches for the auto insurance comparison site, AutoInsurance.org. He wants to help parents understand how they can relax and relieve stress in the midst of challenging times.