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What You Need To Know About Single Parents

Single parenting is already becoming a rapidly growing trend in the society today. Studies show, that in the United States alone, there are four single parents to every ten parents and there are two single parents for every 10 adults.

By Jane Bear

Single parenting is already becoming a rapidly growing trend in the society today. Studies show, that in the United States alone, there are four single parents to every ten parents and there are two single parents for every 10 adults.

Single parenting can be the result of a voluntary decision, such as those women who choose to have a child by artificial insemination and those unmarried persons who adopt children. Women who become pregnant outside of marriage, or those parents who are widowed, divorced, or simply deserted by their spouses are all single parents.

Growing up with a single mother is by far the most common instance of single parenting; single mothers out number single fathers nine to one. Among divorced single parents in the United States, according to the US Census Bureau, only 15% of custodial parents in 2002 were men.

The problem being faced by a family headed by a woman is that the women’s social position in society is still weaker than that of the men. Single mothers have to deal with the gender-based limitations of gaining employment, and they also have to cope with a demanding family. But in spite of this, females are known for being more emotional and show these emotions more often than men and they are more likely to nurture their children.

Before, fathers just were not socialized to be primary caregivers, but now it is not so rare to see a father raising a child on his own. Men tend to have higher positions in the work force, which in turn gives them higher income. However, fathers often do not communicate as well with their children as mothers do.

Being a single parent can be very challenging, not only do you have to play the roles of both parents, but you’re financially responsible for a set of bills that are usually paid by two incomes. Children of single parents are very likely to share more household responsibilities, including looking after themselves and their siblings, if ever they have one. Single parents often discuss financial or family matters with their children, which, in other families, are usually discussed only between parents. This can make the children from single parent families particularly independent, mature, resourceful, and responsible as compared to their peers.

However, many single parents find themselves feeling isolated at one point or another. Dating and hanging out with friends must take a back seat since time must be devoted to the child or children. Single parents don’t really relate to singles without children because single parents have an entirely different set of priorities and responsibilities.

Single parenting provides a unique opportunity for a mother or father to influence the development of their children without the hindrance that having a partner can often bring. It is said that if a child has one stable parent in their lives that they can depend on, they will be ok, and you can be that person for your child.

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