Growing up with a single parent.
According to the article "The Unique Strengths of Single-Parent Families" single parents are often successful in raising happy and healthy children.
by Stephen Duncan Dr.
Nowadays, it's quite common to talk about the problems of single parent families. These problems usually center on the disadvantages to children. This focus may lead some single parents to throw up their hands in despair. I remember as a young graduate student feeling shocked and appalled at some of the personal deficits I was predicted to have, because I spent 11 years of my childhood in a single parent family.
It's true that research shows that children in single parent families, on average, tend to do less well in many ways than children in two-parent families. However, all of us know of persons who grew up in single parent families who turned out fine. In addition, single parent families aren't helped to become strong by focusing only on their weaknesses and problems. Instead, to become an effective family, it's better that they realize and build upon their own strengths.
According to Stephen Atlas, author of the book "Single Parenting," if single parent families are willing to work at it and get help when they need it, there are seven benefits that can come to their children and themselves.
First, if there was high conflict before a divorce in a two-parent family, a change to single parent family living can bring about a reduction in tension, hostility and discord and an increase in family solidarity and consistency.
When tension is high between parents on their way to divorcing, children's emotional needs are often ignored. Rules are not consistently enforced and children feel less secure. When that tension is gone, single parents can focus more on children's needs and return to greater consistency in rule enforcement.
Second, a single parent may have greater flexibility in planning time with children. Single parents aren't distracted by the expectations or time demands of another adult. With fewer schedules to negotiate, there may be greater flexibility to spend time with each child.
Third, single-parent families may become more interdependent, working-together approach to problem solving and daily living. Single parents depend more heavily on the voluntary cooperation of their children. This cooperation is encouraged by holding family councils, where children are involved directly in making decisions and solving problems. When children are thus involved, they are more likely to help carry out the decisions.
Fourth, single parenting provides many challenges that are opportunities for growth and sharing. Single parents often need to develop new skills and obtain additional education. While it isn't easy, pursuing the task of balancing a full-time job with full responsibilities for housework and parenting can help make us stronger people.
Fifth, children have wider experiences because they may go between two differing spheres of influence. Each single-parent family will have its own unique influence. This can be a broadening experience for children.
Sixth, the extended single parent community can provide support. Single parent families are not necessarily isolated or cut off from the broader community. Nor do they necessarily lack support. Groups for single parents such as Parents Without Partners can be a valuable resource for activities, sharing, personal growth and forming new relationships.
Seventh, young people may feel more needed and valued as contributing members of the household. I still remember Mom's "duty lists" she gave out each Saturday. All five of us were expected to fulfill our responsibilities. Failure to do so only placed increased burdens on Mom. In two-parent families, parents typically share the major responsibilities. In single parent families, each child's help is needed and vital in day-to-day living. As a result, they may feel more valued.
Find the following
information:
1. How many (%) single parent
families are there in your country today?
2. What are three causes of
single parent families.
3. What are the main
disadvantages of single parent families?
4. What are the main
advantages of a single parent family?
5. What can society do to
decrease the number of single parent families?
6. What can society do to help
support single parents and their children?
On the blog: Discuss
and explain at least three causes of single parent families. Identify at
least two advantages and two disadvantages of single parent families. Include a
conclusion in which you express your own opinion about growing up in a single
parent family.
Comments
Some advantages could be that single parent children might grow up and be more independent and much more responsible. Another advantage could also be that children feel much more valued by the fact that they are needed to make sure that all the task of the household are complete. A disadvantage could be that the parent comes under a lot of stress.
I could imagine that it is actually not that bad to grow up in a single-parent family. I think there is a lot more love in single parent families because there is not another partner who grabs all the attention. I do not think there should be any restriction that makes things harder for single parent families.
about 20%
2. What are three causes of single parent families.
1. conflict between the parents 2. or 1 of the parents die 3. or a divorce
3. What are the main disadvantages of single parent families?
that its hard.
4. What are the main advantages of a single parent family?
that you can use so much time with the kid as you want to
5. What can society do to decrease the number of single parent families?
they cant most of the time people is living alone because they cant deal with there ex-wife
6. What can society do to help support single parents and their children?
they can give more child money
2. 3 of the most common reasons why there are single familie parents:
1. If there was a conflict two parent familie.
2. One of the parents could die
3. and Divorce
3. The kid could be in greater need of a dad or a mother or the kid could miss out on some social experiences.
4. That the kid not only gets a mother but a dad too
5. That not up to society, thats up to the parents them selves if they want to get a divorce.
6. They can give them more money and better oppotunities in the outside world.
2.It could be if the other parent died
It could be if the they got divorced
It could be if a single parent adopted
3.Taking care of the kid if you have a busy job
You don’t have another person to impact the child
4.You can focus more on the child
You don’t have to argue with another person about decisions
5.They can help the single parents. Maybe show them another single parent family
6.They can help with the kids, take care of them and play with them, be like another parent
2. Single parent families can happen if the mom or the dad dies. The couple split or get a divorce. Or if a woman or a man adopts a child and they don't have a partner.
3. If the parent dosen't have enough time, when it comes to work and activities. Or if it's a mom that has a boy, then they boy may need a male rolemodel.
4. The kids can have more responsibility. And can be involved in solving problems and carry out decisions.
5. They can make these groups online, where single parents can meet other single parents, and then they can get together and become a blended family.
6. Well they can pay their taxes, so the single parents can get their child support payment, that they can use on the child for clothes and so on.
I grew up in a single parent family, and I think it was nice. I wouldn't in any chance change that. I got a much better relationship with my mom, and already when I was young I felt like I also had some responsibility. We relied on each other because we were the only ones we had. I definitely couldn't be with my mom the same way I am to this day, if I had been raised in for example a nuclear family.
So I think a single parent family can be a really good thing, you properly grow up a lot faster than kids, but that dosen't have to necessarily be a bad thing.
the fact that there is only one parent can be because of, divorce, death or just that the mom got the child alone.
the advantages can be more love and more gifts and the disadvantages can be less love and less gifts.
i think single parent families is a good thing.
Some of them could be, one of the parents died, they get a divorce or a parent of its own, adopt a child.
An advantage could be, you're much more closer to your parent, if your living just you two.
A disadvantage could be, that the parent comes under a lot of stress, especially if the child is 1-5 y/o.
I this it depends. If the child is a teenager, I don't think it's that hard, to be a single parent. But if the child is 5 y/o, it could hard.
There can be many different causes for single parent families. Some of the causes could either a death of a parent or a divorce.
One advantage could be that single parent children could grow up more responsable. They learn that they have to help with some home taks and by that they grow up more independent. Anohter advantage could that the parent dont have time to help the kid with its homework and the kid have to do it all by its self.
A disadvantage could that the parent could be very stressed and dont have anyone to talk to about it. by all means it could end up on the kids shoulders.
Now for the most part of my childhood i grew up in a single parent familie. For me i learned a lot from it. It taught me a lot of things that i probrably would not have learend if i was fx in a 2 parent familie. It for sure made me more responsable and independent. some evenings i would be by myself and homework alone and sometimes i would´nt.
I can conclude that it can give you some advantages in life but there are just something that you miss if you live in a single parent familie. And there are also something you miss if you live in a two parent familie....
But I am pretty sure that the goods overshine the bads. And a childhood with a single parent will be just fine.
Okay, so some of the reasons that you become a single parent family is:
1: If there were a conflict between the two parents
2: Divorce
3. If one of the parents die
Some of the advantages could be that the parents can spend more time with their child and some of the disadvantages could be that if parent don't have the time to take care of the kid.
I think that it's not that bad growing up in a single parent family. I think that it could be hard in the start, but when you to used to it I think that it is not that bad.
2. Divorce, death and if you are born into a single parent family.
3. Taking care of the kid if you have a job, where you work a lot. Making it all work with both the parent and kid's life.
4. You may have a closer relationship with your kid, because it is just the two of you.
5. I don't think they can do a lot, because some people like being a single parent family and want it to stay that way. There's already a lot of dating sites online, where you can go and meet other single parents, or just other singles.
6. Maybe give them some extra money, so that they can make it all work.
I think it can be a good way to grow up, because I think that you learn a whole other way to take care of yourself, than you do in a nuclear family. I also think, that you get a lot closer to your kid, and your parent, when you are fewer than in a nuclear family.
The disadvantages: If the children didn't do their duties, then there would be a lot of work for the single parent, and all of the children in the family might not feel that comfortable talking about everything with the one parent.
My conclusion: I think it wouldn't be any badder being in a single parent family, because there would still be a parent that loves you in the family.
2. Widowed mom or dad, divorce, a single parent adopted
3. As a parent you will be overloaded with work 24/7.
4. Being a single parent allows you to give your kids you’re full attention and love.
5. I don’t think society can do anything to decrease the number of single parent families, but in my opinion there shouldn’t be done anything to decrease the number. This specific type of family can in my opinion be just as good as for example nuclear families
6. Friends and family can offer their help. A little extra money would help most single parents.
An Advantages is, you get to spend a lot of time with your children, and get a close Bond. You don't have to argue with another person about problems.
A disadvantage is, it's a hard job to raise children on your own, and it can be difficult to afford it to, so you maybe have to get 2 jobs.
It's a hard job being a single parent, but it's not impossible.
I think the disadvantages is that you don't always have a mother or a father that can play the Mother or father role and the parents don't have another parent to help them.
Some of the advantages are the kids may grow up faster and be more independent and will be ready join the society.
I would think it would be hard to be a single parent and I wouldn't wish to be it myself.
A single parent family can have many advantages and disadvantages. One of the advantages is that the children, in some single parent families, learn to take more responsibility, because one parent can’t do everything by themself. Another advantage is that the parent don´t have to argue with another parent about how the child should be raised. One of the disadvantages in a single parent family is that it can be very hard to raise a child alone. Another disadvantage is that it costs a lot of money and if there is only one parent, they can’t earn as much money as to parents can.
I think that it can be both a good and a bad thing to grow up in a single parent family.
And i don't really got an opinion on single parents I think it's something in the family, and are together so I can't relate to it
And i don't really got an opinion on single parents I think it's something in the family, and are together so I can't relate to it
One of the parents can be passed away
Divorce
One of the parents can be in prison