Single parenting would never be confused with a night on the town or a relaxing picnic, but it need not be overly stressful and/or frustrating. New single parents are most at risk for becoming overwhelmed.

However, remember, even in two parent households, babies and young children come with a strong “overwhelming quotient.”

Almost all newer single parents experience feelings of isolation and/or inadequacy. This is normal and this, too, shall pass, if you get yourself organized and committed to excellence. Here are some basic single parenting tips to become more self-confident, under control and comfortable.

Pell grants are government grants awarded to help pay for the tuition and other education-related needs of college students who are financially disadvantaged. According to the U.S. Department of Education, maximum award amounts reach as high as $5,550 for the 2011-2012 school year, although the amount awarded per student varies on financial need.

Not all financially disadvantaged applicants qualify for a government pell grant, however, as they are typically awarded to students who are undergraduates who have not previously completed a four-year bachelor’s degree program. Furthermore, pell grant funding is only available for up to 18 semesters of college for students who first qualified for a pell grant after the summer of 2008

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion’s January 2012 Cost of Food Survey, an average family of four living on a moderate spending budget accumulates a monthly grocery shopping bill of approximately $861 – $1,024. Those numbers are only expected to rise as inflation and fuel prices continue to escalate – leaving many families to wonder how they will afford such high register check-out prices. Fortunately, there are some grocery shopping tips you can use to trim back your grocery bill each month without sacrificing too many of the foods you enjoy most.

Adopting a child is a life-changing event that induces both excitement and anxiety for potential parents. If you already have children at home, chances are that they are experiencing the same emotions. One of the most important parenting tips for adoptive families with other children is to talk to your kids about adoption and encourage the discussion of emotions and expectations. To help ease the transition for your children, it’s important to maintain an open dialogue with them throughout the adoption process, as well as after your new family member comes home.

We’d all like to go green – trade in that gas-guzzling SUV for an electric car, transform the backyard into an organic vegetable garden, and remodel the house using sustainable, environmentally friendly materials. But these changes represent a substantial investment of time, effort – and money.