With gas prices skyrocketing, the issue of who pays for and provides transportation to and from visits is becoming more urgent. Every week, I'm hearing from more and more moms and dads who simply can't afford to drive their children long distances to see the other parent on a regular basis. And yet they don't want to stray from their predetermined visitation schedule, either.

How have you handled this issue? Do you have a system in place, written into your parenting plan, to define who is responsible for driving your children to and from visits? Or do you just wing it? And has the cost of gasoline cut into your child's visits at all?

Share your thoughts by leaving a comment below or participating in this week's poll.

Related:

• Visitation Transfer FAQ
• Save on Gas Prices
• Everyday Money-Saving Tips or Single Parents

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The number one rule when talking to kids about divorce, separation, or an absent parent is to tell the truth. Never try to get away with lying, even when you suspect that an altered version of the real story would be easier for your kids to handle.

This is because, especially during a time when your kids are already hurting and filled with questions, your children need to know - without a doubt - whom they can trust. And as their parent, you need to be that person for them, even when a white lie would (if only temporarily) be less painful.

At the same time, though, you also have to be careful not to give your kids too much information or share opinions that would mar their own perceptions of their relationship with the other parent. As best as you can, stick to the questions you kids are asking, and respond in a calm and good-natured manner. In addition, when your kids come up with a question that would be inappropriate for you to answer, let them know that there are limits to how much detail you will give, and that adult matters will be kept between adults.

For more tips on how to handle talking with your kids about their questions, including specific "Dos" and "Don'ts," read the full article How to Talk With Your Kids About Divorce, Separation, or an Absent Parent.

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As a single parent, you can't always count on having someone nearby to bounce ideas off of when you need to discipline your kids. Instead, you have to be on your toes constantly... Ready to enforce a rule or dole out a consequence at a moment's notice, with no back-up whatsoever.

Do you ever feel like you're in a rut, though, when it comes to discipline strategies? You know, when time out doesn't seem to be working any more, and yelling... (Well, you realized a while ago that yelling wasn't really working, either.) So what do you do?

Fortunately, there are lots of different, and effective, ways to influence your kids behavior. So if the strategy you used in the past isn't working any more, pull a different discipline tactic out of your "parenting toolbox."

And when you find something that seems to work especially well, share it! Tell us what you've done that seemed to really get through to your kids and change their behavior or decision making for the better by leaving a comment below.

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For Mother's Day, I though it would be fun to share a "round-up" of thoughts on how to handle this particular holiday as a single mom.

Rebecca Eckler, who writes for www.globeandmail.com, wrote an interesting article titled Get What You Want This Mother's Day. Twist the Ex's Arm. If you can get beyond the idea of Eckler posing as her child to ask her ex for Mother's Day gift money, you'll read several encouraging stories about single moms whose perspective on Mother's Day has made it one of the most joyful times of the year.

Rachel Sarah, who writes www.singlemomseeking.com, shares memories of her first-ever Mother's Day as a single mom, and invites readers to share their own plans for Mother's Day in the post Single Moms: How are You Celebrating This Mother's Day?

Catie Hayes, who writes for www.singlerose.com, has some great suggestions for honoring Mother's Day, as well, such as enlisting the help of a friend or arranging for a gift swap with other families, in her article A Single Mom's Mother's Day Survival Kit.

How about you? What is something that you're planning to do this year, or that you've done in the past, that has helped to make Mother's Day particularly special for you?

Additional Mother's Day Resources:

• Mother's Day Celebrations for Single Moms
• Mother's Day Gifts Every Single Mother Wants
• Planning Your Perfect Day
• Coping With Mother's Day When Mom is Absent

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Did you know that Single Parents at About.com is more than a source of information on every aspect of single parenting?

We're also an online community, where you can participate by posting your thoughts in the forum, commenting on blog posts, submitting articles, and asking questions. For a run down of all we have to offer, check out the new Single Parents Online Community page.

In addition, let us know what is most important to you, personally, by participating in this week's poll.

Related:
Participate in the "All About Parenting Blog Carnival"

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As a solo parent, you set the tone in your home. That's true whether we're talking about getting up on time in the morning, or coping with the most difficult circumstances you've ever been faced with. Your kids learn more from what they see in your behavior than from anything you say to them directly.

When it comes to divorce, though, many parents wonder how they can best help their kids cope.

For one thing, remember that each child and each family situation is different. Don't assume that since talking it out is helpful to your older child, that your younger child would just naturally feel better, too, if only you could get him to express his feelings. I believe that it's just as important that you respect your children's space while they come to grips with this news, as it is that you remain continually available to them, should they want to talk. There's something to be said for striking a balance between encouraging your kids to open up and just quietly being there for them without forcing them to talk about it before they're ready.

At the same time, taking care of your own needs is also crucial. When you force yourself over and over again to suppress your own emotions for the sake of your kids, you're setting yourself up to either explode or seriously delay your own healing. What I recommend is that you find one or two close friends or family members who can serve as your support system at this time, and make sure that you get together with them often to vent how you're feeling. (Our forum is also a great place to get that kind of stuff out of your system.) When you give yourself that opportunity to purge some of those feelings of anger and resentment on a regular basis, you'll find that you're better able to be patient with your kids and not disclose to them the degree of your own frustration with the other parent.

For more tips on how to help your kids deal with the aftermath of your separation or divorce, read the article How Parents Can Help Their Children Cope With Divorce.

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It's nice when someone recognizes the hard work you're doing as a single parent, isn't it? Whether it's family, friends, or your kids' teachers, it's just nice to have someone say, "Hey, you're doing a really great job, and I just wanted to tell you that I noticed."

It feels a little weird to do that for yourself, though, doesn't it? But so many times, if you don't acknowledge your own effort, no one else does, either.

I'm telling you this because I want to encourage you not to ignore Mother's Day. If you're a single mom, don't wait around for someone else to "get it" or for your kids to be old enough to acknowledge the holiday on their own. Go ahead and celebrate it for yourself, in recognition of all the ways you've grown into a better parent since that very first day your baby was placed into your arms.

And if you're a single dad reading this, I want you to do the same for Father's Day next month. Don't be shy about giving yourself credit!

If you're not sure where to begin, start with the article Mother's Day Celebrations for Single Moms: Making the Day Special, Even When it's All Up to You.

In addition, if giving yourself a "pat on the back" for the great work you're doing with your kids feels a little foreign to you, I'd recommend signing up for our Guided Journal E-course. Each day for thirty days, you'll receive an E-mail with a different journal question designed to help you recognize your unique parenting strengths.

Read the Journal Questions: Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4

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I came across a great article this month in the online version of ADDitude magazine, a publication for those living with the ramifications of Attention Deficit Disorder and learning disabilities. The article is titled "Single Parents: How to Raise ADHD Children – Alone."

Now, believe me, I know not every single mom or single dad reading this is raising a child with ADHD (despite the frustrating and unfounded implications you may have heard at your child's last parent-teacher conference, right?). But I found the suggestions included in the article to be so practical and applicable, that I wanted to share it with all of you.

One of my favorite points in the article was when the writer, John Taylor, Ph. D., suggested triggering your child's "love reset" button by spending some quality time together. He specifically suggested that you aim for time that is "child-oriented" and includes "high-quality interaction between the two of you." To achieve that, talk with your child about what he or she would like your time together to look like, and consider activities that would be particularly meaningful from your child's perspective.

Visit ADDitude magazine online to read the entire article.

Related:

• How to Refer Your Child for Special Education Testing
• 22 Ways to Tell Your Child "I Love You"
• Love Notes for Special Parents

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"It gets better" is a phrase I frequently see our readers sharing with one another in the Single Parents Forum. Personally, I think it's really encouraging to see moms and dads, alike, taking the time to support one another in this way!

However, the speed at which individuals overcome the loss and disappointment associated with being thrust - for the most part, completely unexpectedly - into single parenthood is different for everyone. The general consensus seems to be that surviving the first year is the most difficult.

How about you? When did you first begin to feel like things were getting easier?

Let us know by participating in this week's poll or leaving a comment below.

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A lot of parents have to deal with times when their kids are angry. For example, they're sulking because you said "No," or they're taking out on you the frustration of unresolved school or relationship issues, or they're just testing out your reaction to the latest "fresh talk." Some of this is typical as kids - especially preteens - begin to gain some independence and separate from you.

However, as a single parent, it can be especially difficult to deal with your child's anger. After all, it may very well feel like you are your child's only target for expelling these intense emotions. In addition, you may worry a great deal about whether your solo status - stemming from a divorce or your decision not to marry - is connected to or causing the anger.

One way to deal with it is to separate yourself a bit from the situation and try not to take your child's anger so personally. This requires a lot of patience and the ability to look beyond what you're seeing and hearing to uncover why your child is reacting so strongly.

Ultimately, though, no matter what the true source of your child's anger is, you need to deal with it in ways that are healthy and productive. In fact, in this way, you are actually modeling for your child how to deal with anger! For tips on how to cope with your child's anger, read the full article 5 Ways to Help Your Angry Child.

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