The Bright Side of Being Raised by a Single Parent
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In the United States today, more than 23 million children live in a single parent family. This total, has risen over the last half century and currently covers about one in every three kids across America. A number of long-term demographic trends have fueled this increase, including: marrying later, declining marriage rates, increasing divorce rates and an uptick in babies born to single mothers. Within single-parent families, most children — 14.3 million — live in mother-only households. More than 6 million kids live with cohabiting parents and about 3.5 million kids live in father-only households, according to 2022 estimates.
Many single parents provide stable, loving environments and relationships for their children. Examples of how single-parent families can benefit children include that solo parents may have more time to focus on their kids if they no longer need to spend time focusing on the needs of their spouse or partner. Years of fighting may precede a divorce or separation, and ending this conflict and providing calm home environments is important for children and can reduce stress for the entire family. Here are 5 bright sides of being raised by a single parent.
1. Undivided attention. Children of a single parent usually get their parent’s undivided attention. As a single parent, their love and attention will be reserved just for their children. That is, of course, until a parent decides to date again, which (while often tricky) is absolutely okay to do!
2. Fewer arguments. Parents often have arguments in front of their children, which can affect them mentally. A single-parent household can be more peaceful than a two-parent family. A single-parent family will have fewer arguments between adults, and this can make the home environment less stressful for the children, who will feel safer and more secure in such a house.
3. Close relationship. Sharing space and responsibilities can create a more tight-knit bond between single parents and their children. Children from a single-parent household may form closer relationships with their family than children from traditional households. This is especially true if the parents do not have equal custody of the children and they may be spending more time with one parent than the other.
4. Independence and responsibility. Single parents can get busy juggling work and family. In such cases, children of single parents often take responsibility for manageable home chores. They also learn how to be independent. You can encourage these qualities in your children by treating them as your team members. You can also reward them once they complete tasks. Fostering independence and responsibility at a young age can help boost your children’s self-esteem and work ethic.
5. Having a good role model. Your children will learn by looking at you. You get to be their role model. Over time, your children will value your presence. They may also realize the importance of independence and how life can be managed without a partner. It’s equally important to set a good example of putting in hard work, but also of when to throw in the towel on something that just isn’t working.
Allison Green
Boston Tutoring Services