| When two people get together to create new life, it is | | | | is becoming increasingly common to see single fathers |
| not generally the intention that only one of the | | | | taking full responsibility for the care of their children, |
| individuals will take full responsibility for raising the child. | | | | whether the mother is involved in the kids' lives or not. |
| Whether the child was conceived within or outside of | | | | There are other, less happy circumstances under |
| wedlock, single parenting is generally not the objective. | | | | which fathers are the ones doing the single parenting. |
| There are, of course, exceptions to this rule. But | | | | These situations involve cases where the mother may |
| generally speaking, either things don't work out | | | | be deemed (by a court or by her own self) unsuitable |
| between the two parents, or, in the case of unwanted | | | | to care for her own children. Single parenting grants |
| pregnancy, the child can start life out with only one | | | | can be very helpful in these situations, especially if the |
| parent to begin with. | | | | mother is not able to contribute financially to the raising |
| Traditional Single Parenting | | | | of her children. |
| Traditionally, female single parents (mothers) have | | | | Black Males and Single Parenting |
| been much more common than male single parents | | | | Black males, like white males, are stepping up to the |
| (fathers). In child custody cases courts have generally | | | | plate in terms of raising their children. Federal |
| favored mothers over fathers. In the past, it was not | | | | assistance and single parenting grants make raising |
| uncommon for people to assume that a single father | | | | children alone seem feasible to black males who might |
| must be a widower, because otherwise the children | | | | otherwise be scared to take on such a huge |
| would simply be with their mother. | | | | responsibility. Black males, as well as white males and |
| Single Fathers | | | | females in general, are more generally accepted as |
| More and more males are stepping up to their roles as | | | | suitable single parents than they ever were before. |
| dads. Joint single parenting is one of the most common | | | | Black males as single fathers have more rights today, |
| ways that fathers are staying involved in their children's | | | | (inside the courtroom and outside of it) than they ever |
| lives. This is done when both the single father and | | | | did before. Likewise, females are less harshly judged |
| single mother share custody and care of their children. | | | | for allowing the father to take full responsibility for child |
| The time is simply divided up between the two homes. | | | | rearing in child custody cases. The changing face of |
| Increased male involvement, however, combined with | | | | single parenting is making it easier and easier for loving |
| increased female pursuit of career has also led to | | | | fathers as well as career minded mothers to take on |
| growing ranks of single fathers as primary caregivers. | | | | non-traditional roles that work in the best interest of the |
| Many don't know this, but there are single father grants | | | | children. |
| available to help dads who are raising children alone. It | | | | |