| Single parents are parents that care for | | | | Nevertheless, single parenting involves |
| their children without assistance from others | | | | understanding the other parent's legal and |
| in the home, though legal definitions may | | | | financial responsibilities, clarifying |
| vary according to local laws of different | | | | custody as well as visitation rights, and in |
| states. Single parenting may be a result of | | | | this regard, it pays to have the roles |
| different factors, though often it is an | | | | clearly defined legally so as to protect the |
| option taken by the parent as in the case of | | | | child better. The single parent should also |
| adoption, artificial insemination, surrogate | | | | clarify his or her needs for support and |
| motherhood or pre-marital pregnancy. | | | | should not be afraid to ask for help. |
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| A Big Challenge | | | | Single parenting also means setting up daily |
| | | | rituals and regular routines and being |
| Single parenting can often be very | | | | consistent and dependable. To make single |
| challenging and single parents as well as | | | | parenting easier, it is necessary to forgive |
| their children often face stigma, violence | | | | the other parent and not hold any grudge |
| and social problems. In addition, children of | | | | against one who is absent. Not having a lot |
| single parents often need to take on more | | | | of money need not be a big drawback as there |
| responsibilities that also include looking | | | | is always the child close at hand; and |
| after themselves. Also, single parenting | | | | material comforts and monetary wealth are but |
| means discussing things with the children | | | | poor substitutes for the love and time that |
| such as financial or family decisions, which | | | | single parenting affords while taking care of |
| in other families, are only discussed among | | | | the child. Single parenting also means giving |
| parents. | | | | as much time and devotion as is reasonably |
| | | | possible without setting impossible goals. |
| Often, single parenting is a result of it | | | | Also, families do not need to be only |
| being the best or only option and despite | | | | biological, because the single parent can and |
| media hype; it need not always be bad news. | | | | should surround himself and the child with |
| It requires sorting out the difficult issues | | | | friends that are trustworthy and who care |
| of money, childcare as well as the | | | | about both of you. |
| relationship that the single parent is in | | | | |
| with the other parent of the child. Single | | | | It is also necessary to take responsibility |
| parenting, contrary to popular opinion, is | | | | for your own life by realizing that you are |
| often a joy as it brings the parent closer to | | | | solely responsible for an innocent life too. |
| the child as well as gives more control to | | | | It means not letting the child down or |
| parent the child according to one parent's | | | | holding him accountable for the actions over |
| vision. | | | | which he never had any control. |
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