Truth About Single Parenting

Over the past several years single parent families have become more common than the nuclear family that consist of a mother, father and child. Today we are seeing all sorts of single parent families: headed by mothers, fathers, grandparent, adopted parents just to name a few. This leaves many to question, is being a single parent a choice? The United States has the highest percentage of single parents which is 25.8%. However in most cases it took two individuals to conceive the child. So what happen to the other parent? It is understandable when one of the parent has passed away. What is the reason in other cases? The absence alone causes a great impact on the child be it negative or positive.

Coparenting is a term were two parents work together to raise a child even though they are no longer together. In most cases this can be ideal. Now comes "Parallel Parenting." This is an arrangement in which parents are able to co-parent by means of disengaging from each other, and having limited direct contact. This may sound odd however, the parents have demonstrated that they are unable to communicate with each other in a respectful, mature or safe manner. In both cases the goal is to focus on the child. There are some benefits as the child does not feel abandoned, there is a sense of security and much more.

Being a single parent can be a challenge. However, in most cases the child endures most of the pain. Often the child will become angry at both parents. This includes the present parent. This is also not to say that the absent parent does not want to be a part of the child's life. However they may not know how. Let's have a dialogue to discuss healthy ways to parent children. Let's put an end to the stigma of being a Single Parent. Your child deservesto have both parents in their lives. If this is not possible one still should not have to parent alone.