The Field Guide for Single Parents

Hankin, a business consultant and single parent, and Ames, a family therapist, debut with an ambitious guide to single-parenting. The authors incorporate tips from their personal experiences (as when Hankin shares a chore chart she used with her daughter), and crowd-sourced advice from single-parent Reddit users, who offer insights on topics like letting dates sleep over and balancing child-rearing with college classes. Hankin counsels solo parents on paying for childcare, noting that lesser-known options like flexible spending accounts and employer cost sharing may be available, as well as on taking smart steps to secure their family’s financial futures. Those raising children alone face many trade-offs, she acknowledges; for example, tackling tasks with DIY methods like mending clothes instead of hiring help can save money but result in lost time with kids. When it comes to relationship management, Hankin notes single parents often struggle to find friendships in a couples-oriented world and advocates for using social media to find meetups to join. While Hankin doesn’t linger long on any one subject, she gives readers plenty of ideas for forming their own single-parenting blueprints. This will be a boon to readers looking for new approaches to solo parenting. (Nov.)