Single parenting and single parent families have steadily increased over time with the spiraling divorce rates. More and more couples are likewise choosing not to marry and many children are therefore left with one parent if the couple splits up. From the year 1970 as many as 20 to 30% of children are brought up in single parent houses. In 2000 there were more than 12 million single parent families. Irrespective of the statistics associated with single parent homes the fact is that single parenting has some unique challenges.

Facts about Single Parenting

• Single parents feel guilt and doubt just as dual parents in the way they are raising their children. This is because on the whole parents are continuously faced with the question of whether they are doing enough for their children.
• People often wonder whether single parenting puts far greater responsibility on the children and whether the children become mature at a faster rate. While in some cases this may happen single parenting does not guarantee such an occurrence. It has more to do with the parenting style than single parenting or dual parenting households.
• One of the true facts about single parenting is that single parents are under a lot more stress that two parent houses. This is because in two parent houses one can take turns in looking after the house and the children while in single parent houses only one person has to do everything and this can become rather overwhelming. However there are ways in which the stress can be reduced by getting help, taking advantage of daycare services etc.
• Single parenting will not be easy but parents should take heart in the reality that they will learn with time. That you get to learn something every day is one of the biggest advantages of single parenting. It won’t be possible to do everything perfect all the time and that is alright.
• Single parents often commit a common mistake of changing rules because either they are too tired to enforce them or then they feel guilty for not doing enough for their children. Instead it is always better to set boundaries and rules and stick to them.
• Being a single parent you might have to make sacrifices but watching your children grow into happy and healthy individuals can more than make up for the sacrifices.

Positive Effects of Single Parenting

• Single parenting will allow you to spend quality time with your children and thereby allow you to create a unique and strong bond with your children. This connection will evolve over a period of time. Such a bond is not always seen in dual parent households.
• In single parent houses a large number of people from the extended family often step in to provide support and help in raising the children. This way the children experience community support and warmth. This gesture in turn can help in raising well rounded individuals.
• In single parent families children tend to contribute and participate in the family activities. This is not just limited to a certain number of chores that they have to complete. In fact children in single parent households actively participate in helping in the house. They grow up with a sense of responsibility.
• Single parenting has an economic advantage because the parent is no longer tied down to the debts or financial decision of a partner as in a dual parent household. Likewise a single parent is able to take all financial decisions. Decision making in general can also become easier with only one person who has to take all the important decisions.
• Children that are raised in a single parenting environment tend to be better equipped to handle conflicts. These children often without choice have to deal with disappointments quite early in life and thereby are able to become more empathetic, sensitive and caring as adults.
• Single parenting also makes children better equipped to face the real world and be independent. They know that they are the priority of their parents and yet they are not made the absolute center of the universe and this allows them to be balanced in terms of their needs and wants.

Negative Effects of Single Parenting

• One of the negative effects of single parenting or disadvantage could be the possibility of lack of support systems. In the absence of other loving family members, raising a child on your own can become pretty lonesome and the children may also feel the absence of a family at times.
• Raising a child in a single parent home can be difficult because of absence of dual income benefit. Likewise in dual parent households the partner is able to support and take up some of the responsibilities and in the absence of that things can get quite overwhelming.
• Children in single parenting houses may end up growing up with a feeling of loneliness or miss having the other parent in their lives. Single parents may find it difficult to give time to their children and studies have shown that many children raised in single parent houses tend to score lower on assessments of behavioral problems, health and education.
• Many older children in single parent houses have to look out for and take care of their younger siblings and this may result in children shouldering far more responsibility than is necessary. Single parenting poses the real risk of children losing out on their childhood in some cases.