It was only toward the end of the last century that the concept of single parenting began to infiltrate society as challenging the idea of what we perceive to be ‘traditional’.
Single parenting facts are finding their way into the mainstream and slowly eradicating stigmas attached, by offering a macro view of the true circumstances and reasons. As the evident stories of struggle and courage emerge, society is slowly beginning to recognise the heroes and heroin single parents who rise to meet great challenges and gain wonderful rewards.
Single parenting facts most often consider the role a parent plays, compensating for the absence of the other. The have to wear many hats, including that of mother and father, teacher, caregiver and sometimes-additional relatives. The feelings of guilt, loneliness, frustration and anxiety they experience are exacerbated by work, too much responsibility and an idea of the way it ‘should be’.
In order to place the situation in its proper perspective, let us look at what the causes are of single parenting, with the aim of bringing a clinical view to the situation. In this way, the parent can adopt a sense of perspective and focus on their strengths. Single parenting facts include causes such as a death in the family, where loss of the husband or wife results in a choice to maintain single-minded dedication to the children out of grief.
Certain partners have jobs, which require them to move or travel, resulting in the remaining parent shouldering the parenting responsibility. Affluent, successful single individuals may opt for adoption, feeling they have much to give to a child in need. Single parenting facts and resources show that the children of single parents are more independent as a result of emotional maturity and responsibility the situation brings.
This is ironic, considering single-parent, kids are assumed to have low self-esteem as it contradicts the sense of self and maturity that comes with taking on extra responsibilities early in life. Research has shown that esteem has a closer linked to parenting style and income levels than single parenting does.
US Census single parenting facts
According to the 2000 Census Bureau results, around thirteen and one-half million parents with custody of over twenty million children (under the age of twenty-one) were single. The number of two parent units dropped from 40% in 1970 to 24 % percent in 2000. This is attributed to an increasing divorce rate and the fact that some parents of children may never marry. Single parent households increased from nine percent in 1990 to sixteen percent in the year 2000. Single parenting facts, when seen in their proper contexts can always present themselves to be encouraging. As a single parent you are not alone.
Data shows that unmarried women giving birth as well as parents who have not been married has in fact increased. A third of custodial mothers have never married their child’s father. In 1990, 7 million families where headed by single mothers and in 2000 this number increased to 20 million. These single parenting facts go on to show that almost half of families led by single mothers have more than one child, with single fathers more likely to live with another adult than single mothers. A quarter of children under the age of 21 live in single parent homes and divorce rates hit a plateau in the 1990′s.
The following single parenting facts shed light on interesting statistics of mothers and fathers who look after children in the absence of a spouse;
- The ratio of custodial parents in year-round, full-time jobs grew from 45% to 54%. Thirty-percent of these parents work part-time.
- Custodial mothers more often work part-time.
- Almost 90% of single fathers work, while 77% of single mothers work.
- The numbers of single parent families living below the poverty line decreased from 33% in 1993 to 26.1% in 2000.
- 60% of all custodial parents receive non-cash support.
- About 60% of custodial parents have child support agreements.
- About 75% of custodial parents receive child support.
- Income is higher and poverty is lower for single parents receiving child support.
- More than half of child support awards include provisions for health insurance.
- More than five and one-half million children live with their grandparents.
- Almost half of both single parent male and female-led families live in suburban areas.
Furthermore, single parenting facts show that the average family income for single custodial parents is just under $30,000 per year. Child support income is being received more regularly however, with custodial parents who have child support agreements.
Single parenting pros and cons
Teens make up a large part of the single parenting demographic, whether it was unplanned or if the couple split. Some people choose to be single parents because they are not interested in being in a relationship like successful professionals seeking artificial insemination or adoption.
Single parenting facts have difficulties. Understanding both can assist in navigating scenarios as they unfold and applying these learning’s. Its a fact that children raised in single parent homes are confident if raised accordingly and have a strong bond of respect and trust with their existing parent. They are happier compared to kids in married homes where the arguing causes stress and behavioural problems such as attention seeking.
Single parents spend more exposure time in ratio with their children and develop closer bonds allowing them to impart good values. On the other hand, antisocial behaviour can result from prejudice toward children in a single parent family because of media stigmas and myths. Deaths and divorces result in emotional trauma, which needs to be properly handled with family support and/or counselling.
Guilty feelings on the part of the parent may result in neglect and this in turn causes behavioral problems. Single parenting facts also show that financial problems fuel the flames and add measures of stress to the situation. In addition, it is increasingly difficult for single parents with toddlers to balance work and family time.
Single parenting facts: ask the experts
Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman are award-winning writers on the science of parenting for Time Magazine and New York Magazine for outstanding journalism from, among other, the Council on Contemporary Families. Prior to collaborating, Bronson authored five books, including the #1 New York Times bestseller What Should I Do With My Life? Merryman’s journalism has appeared in The Washington Post and The National Catholic Reporter.
As far as single parenting facts, these experts are worth watching when it comes to managing your knowledge base in this regard.
The most recent book, NurtureShock, has been featured on Good Morning America, Nightline, All Things Considered, Fresh Air, and in Newsweek. The central premise is that many of modern society’s strategies for nurturing children are in fact backfiring – because key twists in the science have been overlooked.
On their blog they have a link to a Factbook which shares eye-opening memos on everything family. This resource of single parenting facts covers distinctions that are rarely made between being truly all by yourself, co-parenting with an ex, being unmarried but living with someone or being unmarried but in a steady relationship. It looks at demographics, effects, and economics of single parent families in statistical detail.
Resources to help deal with divorce
Being divorced does not always mean that your ex will be out of the picture one hundred percent. Single parenting facts around divorce suggest that under certain laws there will still be interaction in order to parent the children. Perhaps you argued about parenting styles before but now are able to implement them as you see fit independently. This however needs to be done within the realms of consistency concerning the child. As a result, you need to work together to sort out the differences. The following are links to books that can assist you to deal with the difficulties of the ‘hard to face’ single parenting facts;
- Barbara Aiello: On With the Show! Featuring Brenda Dubrowski
- Mary Collins Gallagher, Ginny Morris: Dad’s New Girlfriend and Mom’s House, Dad’s House
- Paula Z. Hogan: Will Dad Ever Move Back Home?
- Erica Jong: Megan’s Two Houses: A Story of Adjustment
- Sharon Dennis Wyeth and Ginger Brown: Too Many Houses
- Shelley Rotner: Something’s Different
- Steve Sullivan: Confessions of a Divorced Kid
- Robin Prince Monroe: I Have a New Family Now: Understanding Blended Families
- Sally Hewitt: My Parents’ Divorce
- Marcia Lipman, Lebowitz : I Think Divorce Stinks
Helpguide has a few great single parenting facts and guides such as Children and Divorce: Helping your kids cope with the effects of separation and divorce. This is a parent’s guide to supporting your child through a divorce. The article deals with; what to tell your kids; providing stability and structure; taking care of yourself; working with your ex and knowing when to seek help.
A second offering from Helpguide is; Tips for Divorced Parents -Co-parenting with your ex and making joint custody work. This looks at co-parenting after a separation or divorce and covers the following topics which can assist you to deal with the tougher single parenting facts such as; setting hurt and anger aside; communicating with your ex; parenting as a team and making transitions easier.