Single Parents - Raising a Family

In today's social structure, it's not easy to take care of children, work and keep a clean house, let alone do it on your own. The last decades have brought the number of single-parent households to new heights. Many single fathers and mothers are often affected by social isolation, stress and economic problems.

We often hear of women in single-parent situations, but approximately 1.9 percent of single-parent households thoughout the U.S. are headed by single-parent fathers. These families - usually with less children - distinguish themselves from those commonly led by women. Statistically, more single-parent men work than single-parent women, and the men also tend to have a higher degree of education.

During messy separations or divorces, many fathers will put their careers on hold in order to take the time to care for their children, especially if the mothers have personal problems and can't cope alone in the raising of the children. Most fathers feel that taking care of their children is more an obligation than a choice. However difficult the situation may be, these one-parent fathers come to realize that they have the opportunity or chance to experience exceptional moments with their children, where other fathers would probably never as such receive.

Even though single-father households aren't quite considered the societal norm yet, just about everyone knows of a single-parent father that will stay at home in order to take care of their small children. Our societies are currently experiencing changes in relation to the function of parental roles, conjugal relations, families and work.

It's no small feat to single-handedly educate, nourish and look after a family. With work employment being juggled and added, things will tend to prove or get a little complex.

Single-parent fathers feel isolated. Most feel they can't fulfill both - paternal and maternal - roles all at once. They often feel their children will have needs that they, alone, cannot fulfill. Therefore, the presence of a woman in the household - whether it be a grandmother, an aunt or even a girlfriend - is very significant to both the single-parent father and the children. Still, many single-parent fathers consider work and making money to be more worthy and valuable. However, more than ever, men are taking on and facing up to their parental roles with enthusiasm and energy.

Aside from social isolation, the primary concern for single parents is still money. Between the cooking, cleaning and helping their children do their homework, single parents barely have time to work, not forgetting to mention finding private extra time for themselves. Raising children is a severe responsibility, let alone a costly one. The situation of the household will receive pressure economically, as the children grow up with their needs increasing.

To the watchful surrounding society, even if the taking care of children by single-parents may seem quite admirable, it is not without its sacrifices nor rewards.

Source:
DivorceMag: U.S. Divorce Statistics