Over the past few years, I have worked with several divorced moms helping them find awesome male caregivers for their kids. Mannies are becoming more popular and that’s a good thing. I grew up with a single mom and I had several men who came into my life who played a major role in my development. That in no way means that my mother was unequipped to raise me herself. That’s not it at all. She did an amazing job. But she realized the need for help in certain areas. Here a few of the reasons you should consider hiring a manny if you’re a divorced mom.
1. The Need for a Male Role Model
This really applies if the father is not in the picture anymore or has minimal involvement in your child’s life. I’ve met several divorced parents where the father is still very involved in the kids lives but some who aren’t. Kids, especially young boys, need a strong male figure to look up to. Right after my dad died, a guy named Jeff came into my life and had a profound impact on me in the midst of the anguish of losing my dad. We would sit around for hours just talking about life. He encouraged me and supported me.
2. Lending an Ear
Kids who have been affected by divorce sometimes just need to vent. Many times what they need to talk about has nothing to do with the divorce itself. There’s something great about just knowing you have a trusted friend that can listen and you can confide in.
3. Providing a Good Distraction
Our company found a manny recently for a family in Tennessee who was going through a tough divorce. I could tell it was weighing heavily on the kids. We found them a manny with a great heart and a lot of patience. He takes the kids to various activities and on little adventures. During those moments they are able to get their mind off what’s going on at home and just have a great time.
4. Helping with Schoolwork
One of the best pieces of feedback I get from single moms is that their manny is not only a caregiver but also a tutor. Most mannies are in their 20s have college degrees. They encourage the kids to get excited about learning. Having a manny is like having a private teacher at the house.
5. Male Bonding Time
This really only applies for boys who just need some guy hangout time. One of our clients who is a divorced mom recently said “sometimes my son just wants to talk about guy stuff and I think that’s best left up to a guy.” Some boys just connect better with other males.
6. Getting Outdoors
Mannies don’t like sitting still. We would much rather be outdoors than indoors. Being active is essential for kids. They need to explore, exercise, build forts, go on hikes, and learn about the outdoors. Mannies are like private coaches. Many of them play sports and want to get the kids involved in activities.
7. Acquiring Life Skills
The mannies that came into my life when I was a kid taught me valuable life skills that I’ll never forget. I learned how to swing a hammer, throw a football, and even shave. Once my dad was gone, no one was there to teach me these things. I also learned how to speak to girls, treat people with respect, and how to be a good leader.
Mannies aren’t for everyone. I know many divorced moms who would rather not hire any help. But we are here for the moms who would like an extra pair of hands and who feel that their kids need more encouragement and direction. Ultimately we are here to help and serve and if you’ve never tried out a manny, we encourage you to give it a shot!
Related Articles:
Leave a Reply