Finding time for yourself might seem like an impossible dream, especially if you are a single mother of a baby, toddler or preschooler. The constant game of tug-of-war played between commitments to your workplace and home life may become completely overwhelming. But don't give up hope! With a few insightful ways to help relieve your tension, you will quickly be back on the road to relaxation.

According to the United States Census Bureau, about one out of every five children lived with a household with only a mother in both 1990 and 2000. Given these statistics, a study published in the medical journal Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology examined the effects of stress and social support on the relationship between single parents and depression. Reviewing data collected from a National Population Health Survey conducted between 1994 to 1995, researchers noted that in comparison to married mothers, single mothers were more likely to have suffered an episode of depression and reported higher levels of chronic stress. Single mothers in this survey also revealed that they had lower levels of social support and more infrequent contact with friends and family than married mothers.

Establishing and maintaining a special group of friends and family is important. Support persons not only can help provide your children with a group they can rely on, but can also help by playing an essential role in your life as a parent and assist in lending a helping hand and a shoulder to lean on during difficult periods. There are also a multitude of organizations, social support groups and Web sites located throughout the United States that are devoted to providing single moms with the resources and emotional outlets they need.

MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) International Inc. was founded in February 1973 in Wheat Ridge, Colo., by a group of eight women seeking friendship and an understanding outlet to share the joys and struggles of raising their children. There are more than 3,400 MOPS groups that meet across the United States and in 33 countries around the world. They meet either once a week or month, and their goal is to provide a place where moms of all kinds (single, stay-at-home, working, etc.) can find an open, caring atmosphere to gather together, listen and encourage each other.

"Moms have a tendency to overdo, and at the root of this problem is a faulty circuit known as the 'delegation chip,'" says Luz Rivera, director of programs for the Mental Health Association of Central Florida. "We can delegate in some instances but tend to get so caught up in the commotion that we forget we can and should delegate."

Moms need to share the responsibilities of the household with their children – even small children. By spreading out the chores, you may be providing your kids with a new life lesson. "Kids grow and feel a special sense of personal power from being responsible for helping the adults," says Rivera. "The younger they are when you begin fostering this principle, the more helpful and committed they become as they grow."

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