| Single parenting is seen as parent (whether the mother | | | | relationship |
| or father) carrying out the role of maintaining the family | | | | * Depression - This stage comprises of the |
| as a result of either separation, death, personal choice | | | | near-realization that the situation will not change. This is |
| or divorce. | | | | where the acknowledgement of what happened |
| This type of parenting is an additional arm of the | | | | starts. |
| traditional nuclear and extended family types that we | | | | * Acceptance - This stage is the acknowledgement |
| have learned since childhood. Nuclear families consist | | | | and acceptance of the grief. |
| of two parents, and children who are living in the same | | | | The effects of single parenting are widespread and |
| house. | | | | not only felt by now single spouse but it vibrates |
| Extended families however, consist of two parents, | | | | through to the whole family, especially children. Recent |
| aunts, uncles, children or grandparents living under the | | | | studies have shown that many children have felt as |
| same accommodation. Over the last two decades, the | | | | though they have been taken advantage of, betrayed |
| number of single parent families in the US has doubled | | | | and even depressed and inadequate as result of their |
| in size. | | | | parents separating. |
| The main 3 reasons for single parenting | | | | There are a number of way to help the single parent if |
| * Death of a spouse | | | | they are feeling grief |
| * Personal choice (teenage mothers, wanting to raise a | | | | * Taking care of yourself - If the parent does not take |
| family without a partner) | | | | control of his/her life, he cannot take control of his/her |
| * Divorce | | | | child's life. One should take care of himself/herself |
| Either of these causes have a major effect on the | | | | physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Taking care of |
| family living and will require the whole family to make | | | | oneself ensures a positive environment of hope and |
| adjustments to the emotional aspect of the family. | | | | love in the family. |
| Many times the parent who is left to raise the kids | | | | * Accepting responsibilities - Being a single parent |
| often feels guilt, despair and even resentment. | | | | means maximizing all resources to take care of the |
| There are ways to deal with these. Many single | | | | family. This means looking for all possible, even |
| parents sometimes feel the pressure of the world on | | | | creative solutions to solve a problem. One should not |
| their shoulders. Never be afraid to ask for help, this in | | | | spend time blaming others for what happened, but |
| no way means you have failed as a parent. Having | | | | instead, look for ways in addressing the problem. |
| someone to talk to and get advice of can only be a | | | | * Family as the first choice - Successful single parent |
| positive thing/ | | | | families have made their family as the top priority. |
| The 5 stages of grief have been defined below | | | | These means determining non-negotiable and balancing |
| * Denial - This stage comprises of feeling guilty and | | | | commitments. Single parents usually forego career |
| denying what has occurred. The feeling of "he is just | | | | changing decisions for the family. |
| away, and will come back" are the usual reactions of | | | | * Establish routine - The routines that the child was in |
| this stage. | | | | before the divorce or death must always be kept as |
| * Anger - This is generally felt towards the person | | | | this is a way for the child to child to realize that things |
| who has left or has died. | | | | have not drastically changed. Stability to the child's |
| * Bargaining - Often this is were the person tries to | | | | mental state must always be the prime focus. |
| negotiate with God if their partner has died. Dealing | | | | Routines can be as simple as a walk in the park or |
| with the partner who has left and trying to negotiate | | | | even a bed time story. |
| and promising to change what went wrong in the | | | | |