| p>Now, many individuals make the choice to become | | | | librarians, and other trusted members of the |
| parents even if they are not in a steady, committed | | | | community. Likewise, these trusty members of the |
| relationship with another adult who will share the | | | | community can be relied upon to open their hearts and |
| responsibility of child rearing. Of course there are | | | | offer their hand in helping single parents raise their |
| several other circumstances that lead to single | | | | children. The strengthened bonds that are so apparent |
| parenting. Generally speaking, however, single parents | | | | between single parents and their children serve as a |
| are more empowered than ever before. There are, | | | | template for even two-parent households to help them |
| however, certain effects of single parenting that must | | | | reinforce personal relationships with their own children. |
| be examined. Single parenting has effects on the | | | | Effects of Single Parenting on the Parents |
| children, on the community at large, and on the single | | | | Raising children alone can be very challenging. Not only |
| parents themselves. | | | | is the parent now solely responsible for financially |
| Effects of Single Parents on Children | | | | supporting the children, but also for serving as both a |
| The negative effects of single parents on the children | | | | mother and a father. Parents may find themselves |
| involved have been known for years and are very | | | | working hard to balance a job, their child-rearing duties |
| predictable. Here, we examine the not-so-predictable | | | | and a personal life. |
| positive effects that single moms and dads can have | | | | Most single mums and dads are able to find this |
| on kids. Kids raised in a one parent household develop | | | | balance in one way or another. One of the most |
| stronger bonds with their parent than kids raised by | | | | apparent effects of single parenting on the adults |
| both parents. They also develop a stronger sense of | | | | involved is that they truly become masters in the art of |
| community due to the extra support system required | | | | juggling. Of course single parenting can be stressful, |
| by a single parent. Finally, children of single parents are | | | | and this fact must not be ignored, but most single |
| more likely to take on responsibility in the home and | | | | parents are able to find healthy or even creative |
| otherwise, often picking up the slack caused by the | | | | outlets for this stress so that negative effects of single |
| absence of a second parent. | | | | parenting can be minimized. |
| Effects of Single Parents on Community | | | | It can be said that the effects of single parenting on |
| Single mother and father households tend to bring | | | | children, the community and parents are both negative |
| communities together. Because parents raising children | | | | and positive. By focusing on and reinforcing the |
| alone need more support than regular families, they | | | | possible positive effects, the negative effects can be |
| tend to reach out more to others. Single mothers are | | | | minimized and overshadowed. |
| much more likely to rely on church friends, teachers, | | | | |