Single-Parent Families Essay Example for Free

Single-P bent Families Essay on that point has been a lot of misconception universe attributed to boorren who ar raised by individual put forwards in regard to their development and well organism. Single put up phenomenon is no longer something unheard of in our society. such families are common function in our societies today. According to the unite States Census Bureau, close to a third of Ameri apprize families are headed by a wholeness foster. The make out of private parent families was estimated to be s trippingly above the 12 million mark in 2000 (Ketteringham, 2007). With an increasing trend in the individual parent families across the US, researchers bring conducted surveys to measure the impact of much(prenominal) households on the peasants welfare. There impart been misconceptions that unmarried parent families are doomed in that their children are usu everyy associated with drug abuse, being delinquent and dropping out of tame among former(a) unco nventional behavioral problems. This is stock-still untrue because when such children gets the emotional support from the hit parent, they are destined to show positive results just like whatsoever former(a) kids from normal families.This paper shall look into the evidence that denounces the misconceived myths that are associated with children from oneness parent households. Single parent families Single parent households are no longer considered as unconventional in the world today. A champion parent goat be defined as a parent with one or more children, who is not living with any of the childrens opposite parents (Ketteringham, 2007, para 3). In the United States, the keep down of children from normal family lop up has been decreasing each year and an estimated 22 million kids live with champion parents.Women headed families account for about 80% of the single parent households though men headed single households has been increasing in the recent past. Research reveals that mothers account for 85% of custodial parents whereas the lets take the re principal(prenominal)ing 15%. It was to a fault band up that more than half of the children under the delay of the mothers do not access to their fathers regularly after a couple of years into the break up.The 2000 census revealed that 38% of single families resulted from divorce, 35% were never married parents, breakup accounted for 19%, widowhood and separation due to other commitments each accounted for 4% of single parent families in the United States (Ketteringham, 2007). Generally, female headed households are more in comparison to male headed households. There are many reasons that can explain why mothers account for a majority share of the single parent families but the main reason would be the fact that women are seen as nurturing compared to men and thus present to take the responsibilities of the three-year-old children (Lamb, 1998).Historically, the father was seen as the central figure that could provide for the children and prepare them for the future. In the years that followed after the set-back World War, in that respect was a shift and mothers were seen as vital in nurturing of the young ones and hence custody of the children was handed over to them. Starting in the last third of the 20th century, the courts hold in been trying to hook up with a middle ground at least in theory to enable men pee an equal chance of having their kids in custody as the women. Reality however suggests that really few fathers have been granted custody of their children in comparison to the mothers.David Blankenhorn observes that the United States is becoming a fatherless society, a sentences ago an American child could reasonably expect to lift up with his or her father. Today, the same child can reasonably expect not to, (Blankenhorn, 1995, p1). Initially, fatherhood was regarded as of great importance in the lives of children and final stage of the father was the worst tragedy to happen in a childs life. In the current times, a father leaving the home has be bring forth too common and the society seems accommodative of the habit (Blankenhorn, 1995). Challenges of single parentsChild rearing is always full of take exceptions and the challenges are even intensified when one parent assumes the responsibilities that are associated with parenthood. Among the major challenges cladding such families is usually monetary as approximately of them cannot afford to stay in the homes babysitting unless they have a stable financial undercoat. For such parents, combining laming and caring for the children becomes a great challenge as they have to find a person who shall be handed the tariff of taking care of the children as they go looking for a job.though daycares provide these services for such parents, economical constrains forces these parents to look for financially viable options in the name of extended family members or child minders (Lamb, 1998) . A single parent is therefore overwhelmed by the pressure of taking care of the children and looking for financial scavenge by landing a job elsewhere. They usually swing between their daily jobs and the un-paying jobs waiting at home. Handling the house chores after a tiring job during the day is a great challenge especially when the kids are still very young.With the parent tied between responsibilities at the workplace and the home, little(a) or no time can be dedicated to spending with the children and this may lead to other challenges. Single parents hardly find time to get involved in their childrens school work and other activities. Being involved in the childs life is crucial as a parent (Ketteringham, 2007). Instilling discipline in children is also another challenge faced by single parents as they are sometimes too overwhelmed to notice it.It is crucial to observe good parenting skills, patience, and love among other aspects associated with parenthood when the kids are young so as to grow in an upright manner. It is also Copernican to observe that the single parents have no time for themselves as they oscillate between the work place and household chores and this has proven to be a challenge in itself for it may worsen the other challenges being faced by these parents (Garis, 1998). More often than not, single parent families are discouraged with the generalized statistics that are revealed by studies into the impacts of single-parenthood.What the researches fail to reveal is the fact that also dual parent families also comes up with challenges of their own. Though single parent family is a concept that no one will encourage, the reality of the matter requires us to animadvert positive of such families. With the statistics revealing increasing numbers of children being raised with single parents, there is neediness to offer realist tools and opportunities by highlighting the positives that come from the single parent families as opposed to fam ily much on the proscribe statistics (Lamb,1998). Generalized Myths about children from single Parent familiesStudies conducted on the issue of single parent families have continued to associate all the negative behavioral aspects in children to the family set up. In the US, the concept of family structure has continued to reveal negative statistics that are associated with the children from single-parent families. Statistics indicate that low birthrates and high death rates are prevalent in the single parent households. There is a revelation that teenagers from these families have a higher school dropout rates and lacks good health compared to their counterparts from normal families.Incidences of teenage pregnancy have been reported to be higher in such children as opposed to those from dual parent families (Garis, 1998). The negative portrayal of single parent families has continued with the depiction that such families children becomes depressed, emotionally stressed, and exhibi ts general difficulties in school. divine revelation has also associated delinquency with single parenthood as statistics reveal that over 70% of teenage murderers come from single parent households and 60% of rape crimes are committed by individuals from single parent families.Studies also reveal that individuals from single parent families have higher incidences of violent behavior compared to those from dual parent families. In a nutshell, single parent families have continued to be portrayed in negative light and no one can single out any positive elements from such a family set up (Ketteringham, 2007). Nowadays, problems that are associated with single parent families are common and this may leave those locomoteed to think that they have no control over the success of their families as it is destined to be doomed.This should not be the case as critical analysis indicates that not all the children that have been raised in single parent households are maladapted in the society. When focusing on the negative aspects of single parenthood does not dish out the single parents and their children in rising up to the occasion and fight the negative aspects. In fact, by picture the negativity of the single parent households kills the self esteem of the individuals affected and only adds to worsen the situation (Garis, 1998). Demystifying the MythsThe drumhead that we need to pose to ourselves is about the children raised by single parent families and their supposed social mal-adaptations. Such children are said to find it difficult schooling, getting into conflict with the law, and developing other social problems. It should however be mention that the problems that are usually associated with children from single parent families are more from the financial inability of the parents as opposed to single parenthood as conventionally thought. There are incidences where single parents have brought up well behaved young individuals in the society (Ketteringham, 20 07).Single parent families are faced with financial problems as the financial resources are cut leaving the family in dire need of cash in hand. The single parent is left struggling to make ends meet and this leaves no or little room to attend to the children at the same time difficulties in meeting the financial requirements of the family. Studies have indicated that single parenthood and struggling for finances always coincides (Lamb, 1998). Children from single parent families are often associated with low self esteem compared to their counterparts from dual parent families.Self esteem is very crucial especially to young children as it helps them to counter the negative equal pressure giving them confidence to face new challenges and become innovative. Showing these children some bits of love is very crucial as it helps them develop a feeling that they are appreciated by someone. It should be noted that children can only emotionally bene sufficient from a healthy parental relat ionship if not so the children are going to suffer emotional neglect from the conflicting parents (Garis, 1998). Parental involvement in the childs life is very crucial especially during the early developmental stages in life.The children require emotional support and understanding and sharing with the children is advocated for during this stage of development. Children who get the support that they need during this stage would definitely grow into normal citizens and thus rule out the connection between single parenthood and misbehavior of the children indoors the society. What should be an area of concern is how to ensure that single parents gets the financial support that is very central to the moldable of the childs future. When the single parent starts struggling to cater for the financial needs of the family, it becomes the source of all evils.This is because struggling for financial upkeep leaves the single parent with little time if any to spend with their children. Howeve r, the birdfeeder single parents can comfortably bring up an upright family as they have enough time to spend with their children (Garis, 1998). Single Parenthood can become a success story There are misconceptions about single parent families branding them dysfunctional and associating children from such families with social maladaptive behavior. Though they are faced with unique challenges, single parents can successfully address these challenges and provide a good cathode-ray oscilloscope to their children.It should be noted that the love, stability and safety requirements that are needed by the children is same irrespective of the number of parents in the household. No one would wish for separation of any sort but though children of single parents are not showered with the much needed parental love, the love cannot be compensated for by the horrendous and prolonged stress in the relationship between parents (Lamb, 1998). It is often advisable for parents to separate for the good of the children other than exposing the children to the tension in the relationship.Single parent families do not have a common background as some results from divorce, others from separations, whereas others result when one parent passes away. Single parenthood can be a challenge to any other person irrespective of race and/or ethnicity. Every individual is set to undergo similar grief upon losing a serious relationship. All single parents are faced with similar emotive challenges in regard to the changed status and thus needs great strength to cope up with the new status (Garis, 1998).Children from single families become emotionally vulnerable and thus single parents have the responsibility to ensure that the emotional bit has been well catered for in the family. Their top most priority should be the family as they aspire to be the best single parents like no other. This toy withs that the interests of the child should be move first and that a lot of sacrifices are to be ma de in attending to the childs welfare. Such parents need to be supportive and observing patience to help the children in coping.They should be consonant but not highly punitive like any other parent to provide the child with options, utilize the natural and logical effects and at the same time providing structure for the kids. There is need for open communication between the child and the parent which encourages clear and open expressions to develop an honest and a trustworthy relationship (Garis, 1998). Many single parents have to redefine their situation in order to fit in the new status. They have to learn how to live within the limits of a reduced income and restructure their relationships with the kids. maturation clearly defined roles within the household can come in handy in hire to some of the challenges faced by the single parents. A clearly defined structure for the kids to regulate meals, chores, school work and entertainment among other activities is necessary. This he lps in bringing a sense of security and reducing misgiving in the children. Communication, understanding and cooperation are very important to single parents but it should be noted that these parents should not leave adult responsibilities to the children (Lamb, 1998).Conclusion Though we cannot deny the fact that separation or rather outrage of a loved one in a relationship comes with its emotional distress, it should not be misconceived to mean that the remaining family is condemned. What is important though is the fact that the single parents have to accept their new condition and deal the depression that may accompany the situation. This is very important as it prepares one to deal with challenges that come with single parenthood. Single parenthood shall remain part and parcel of our society for ever.Instead of focusing on the challenges of single parenthood, researchers need to shift and focus on how single parent families can be helped to overcome the challenges facing them . Belonging to a single parent family should not be viewed as a ticket to an miserable family since it is evident that with appropriate intervention, success in such families is realizable. In general, parenthood can be intriguing and it is even more challenging when the responsibilities are left to one parent. Reference Blankenhorn, D. (1995).Fatherless America confronting our most urgent social problem. BasicBooks, ISBN 0465014836, 9780465014835. Garis, D. (1998). Poverty, Single-Parent Households, and Youth At-Risk Behavior An Empirical Study. Journal of Economic Issues pp 1079-1085 Ketteringham, K. (2007). Single Parent Households How does it affect the Children? Retrieved on 10th May 2010 from http//www. associatedcontent. com/article/297615/single_parent_households_how_does_it. html. Lamb, M. E. (1998). Parenting and Child Development in Nontraditional Families. Mahwah Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.