| Single parenting, quite obviously, is the practice of | | | | far cry from the realities of single parenting for most |
| nurturing and raising children without having another | | | | of the people who experience it. Single parent |
| adult equally involved in the process. But the realities of | | | | adoptions by such celebrities as Angelina Jolie in her |
| "single parenting" vary from culture to culture. | | | | pre-Brad Pitt life, Madonna, and Rosie O'Donnell have |
| Single parenting can be the result of a voluntary | | | | given exposure to the practice, and may have even |
| decision. Women who choose to have a child by | | | | increased attempts to adopt orphaned children from |
| artificial insemination, or beome pregnant outside of | | | | the poorer parts of the world. But they do little to |
| marriage, unmarried persons who adopt children, or | | | | reflect the real struggles which single parenting can |
| those parents who are widowed, divorced, or simply | | | | bring. |
| deserted by their spouses are all single parents. But | | | | Single parenting, more often than not, means financial |
| the circumstances of their single parenting can have | | | | stress, a parent who has to make an extra effort to |
| as much, if not more, of an effect on their children as | | | | keep the emotional bonds and communication with his |
| their efforts at single parenting do. | | | | or her children strong, and older siblings often having to |
| Those who engage in single parenting out of choice | | | | carry a larger share of the household responsibilities |
| are more likely to have planned for the costs of raising | | | | than his or her friends from two parent households. |
| children, and had time to establish the network of social | | | | Single parenting can even mean that the parent places |
| and emotional support which will make their single | | | | an inappropriate amount of reliance on young children, |
| parenting efforts more of a community affair. | | | | involving them in discussions of family finances and |
| Having a support network is even more essential to | | | | other troubles which would normally be shared only |
| those attempting single parenting not by choice but | | | | with a spouse. |
| from necessity; very young single parents, or those | | | | Single parenting, especially when it has not been |
| with limited education and income opportunities are | | | | chosen, is one of the biggest challenges someone can |
| especially vulnerable to the stresses of single parenting. | | | | face and if it means anything, it means built a |
| If an extended family is available to step in and take on | | | | foundation of appropriate communication and trust with |
| the child care duties from time to time, not only the | | | | children when they are young. Work done successfully |
| children, but the single parent, will have a much easier | | | | then will pay off in huge dividends when they are old |
| time. | | | | enough to step in and shoulder some of the family |
| Single parenting, as portrayed in the media today, is a | | | | responsibilities. |