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My Top 3 |
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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.
Being a single parent may occur as the result of many things. Often, it is opted for by the parent (as in divorce, adoption, artificial insemination, surrogate motherhood, or extramarital pregnancy), and sometimes it is an unforeseeable occurrence (as in the death of one parent or abandonment by one parent).
The most common type of single parent home is one with a mother only. This is the most common because it is much easier for the father to get out of the circumstance. The mother has to give birth to the child and oftentimes this leaves them with more of a connection with the child. However, a single father home is the fastest growing type of family situation.
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.
Society dictates that the father works and brings home money. Being a single parent, fathers can be found helping kids with their homework, they do the house chores, they help out in the kitchen and other previously considered “mother” roles. Financial issues are not really a problem with single dads, as they tend to have higher positions in the work force, giving them higher salaries.
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.
Because of the demands of single parenthood, single parents have a harder time dating others. Childcare must be arranged and there simply is limited time to spend dating and hanging out with friends. This would cause some single parents to be angry and feel left out of the “adult world”.
Single parenthood can have advantages, even in the light of tough situation. You can establish rules and guidelines in a more straightforward manner, since there is no partner to consult or with whom to debate. There are many successful single parent families out there today and certainly, you can be one of them with some effort.
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