THE FIELD GUIDE FOR SINGLE PARENTS

by Pat Hankin ‧ RELEASE DATE: N/A

Hankin presents a comprehensive guide that offers workable solutions for pressing issues facing single parents.

The author, a single parent to a now-grown child and longtime contributor to a single-parenting subreddit with over 470,000 members, lays out a wide-ranging manual for those who find themselves raising their children alone. With contributions from family engagement therapist Ames, the book is designed to be read in 15-minute portions and covers topics in four main areas: Part 1 focuses on self-care and includes advice on, for example, developing a relationship with one’s child’s teachers so they can relate any outstanding issues regarding “peer conflicts, anxiety-driven behavior, and academic development.” Part 2 discusses how to make the most of one’s limited hours during the day by diving into details, recommending time-saving methods such as using cordless vacuums and cooking in bulk. Part 3 tackles money issues, including the pros and cons of finding a new job versus working overtime or picking up extra shifts at one’s current position. Hankin also examines the basic responsibilities of being a sole adult in charge; for instance, the author reviews and explains the minimum types of insurance that one needs. The last part covers how to foster relationships of every kind—with children, with family and friends, with romantic partners, and with oneself. Occasional charts cater to visual learners—for example, a list of socializing “Challenges” (such as “Unpredictable schedules”) and “Solutions” (such as “Even one dinner date can be enough socializing to refuel you”) in Part 4.

Hankin offers big-picture solutions and day-to-day advice that a newly single parent may have not yet considered. Anecdotes, both personal and gathered from the author’s research, help connect the tips with real-life people and situations. Some of the advice may occasionally strike readers as obvious (build an outside support network, make a schedule). For the most part, however, Hankin taps into the largely unspoken and ignored aspects of single parenting. One such example is her list of ideal vacations, sorted by age and budget. After a discussion of how to change family vacations as income fluctuates and kids grow up, Hankin suggests plenty of viable options: “It was around age fifteen that enthusiasm for destination vacations at national parks held less appeal. A new city, though, could provide different stimulation.” Hankin’s narrative voice is straightforward and no-nonsense, while still offering a sense of warmth and support that will likely come as a welcome relief to readers who are currently struggling. Newly single parents may find the guide particularly helpful, as it includes the kinds of details that often get overlooked in similar parenting handbooks, such as which kitchen appliances are most helpful. Even seasoned solo parents are likely to find value here, if only of the emotional kind. The personal anecdotes strewn throughout are, notably, not merely success stories of children thriving in a one-parent household, and they, along with Hankin’s considerate counsel, ultimately create a realistic and hopeful portrait of possibilities.

A thoughtful and sincere handbook that offers valuable support, resources, and encouragement.

Pub Date: N/A

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: N/A

Review Posted Online: Aug. 5, 2025

Review Program: Kirkus Indie

Categories:

FAMILY & RELATIONSHIPS | SELF-HELP | GENERAL NONFICTION