| While there is an increasing number of people who | | | | they feel like they have failed. |
| have made a decision to become single parents, but | | | | One of the effects of single parenting is that there is |
| most people do not consciously take on the job of | | | | no one in the fall back position if the child's primary |
| parenthood without having a partner. And, although it's | | | | caretaker can't be there during a big moment in the |
| certainly possible for children from single parent homes | | | | child's life. In some single parent families, an older child |
| to grow into well-adjusted successful adults, statistics | | | | can take on the job of encouraging the younger |
| indicate that children whose parents divorce are at | | | | children, but that child too will need emotional support |
| higher risk for developing behavioral and social | | | | from the parent. |
| difficulties. | | | | Single parents, no matter how busy they are with |
| But the effects of single parenting on children of | | | | trying to support their children financially, need to find |
| divorce must be separated from the effects of the | | | | ways to remain emotionally connected to them. |
| divorce itself. If the divorcing parents can be mature | | | | Positive communication and encouragement, if only |
| enough to conduct themselves in a civil way, they will | | | | from a note in the lunch box or an "I love you" |
| be sparing their children a great amount of stress. This | | | | scribbled on a post-it and left on the refrigerator, can |
| by itself will help the children be in much better shape | | | | help until the parent and child have time for a real talk. |
| when they have to start adapting to life in a single | | | | But the one on one time is the most important, |
| parent household. | | | | because being heard without being judged will give |
| And there are many children feeling the effects of | | | | children confidence that there is one relationship in |
| single parenting for reasons other than divorce. he | | | | which they will always be safe. |
| death of a spouse, or having parents who are single | | | | One other positive effect of single parenting is that |
| by choice, can leave children equally vulnerable to the | | | | children raised in one parent homes have the |
| more common effects of single parenting, like stress | | | | opportunity to take more responsibility for the entire |
| over financial difficulties, and feelings of being isolated | | | | family's wellbeing than those with two parents to share |
| and without emotional support. | | | | the burdens of income earning and family care. Single |
| A child may either experience these effects of single | | | | parents can empower their children by letting them |
| parenting directly, or pick them up from his or her single | | | | know clearly what is expected of them, and how |
| parent. | | | | much their contributions are appreciated. |
| One of the most noticeable effects of single parenting | | | | The effects of single parenting do not only apply to |
| is that children do not get as much of an opportunity to | | | | children, they apply to the single parents themselves. |
| build healthy emotional bonds with a person whom | | | | By making the most of what time they do share, the |
| they trust, simply because there is one less person | | | | members of a single parent family can support and |
| around with whom they can bond. Children need to be | | | | energize each other, and single parents will benefit as |
| able to share their daily struggles and triumphs in a | | | | much from having good communication and strong |
| nonjudgmental environment and be reassured that | | | | emotion bonds with their children as the children |
| they are unconditionally loved no matter how often | | | | themselves. |