There are many worldwide problems that are frequently talked about, like climate change and the economy; however, there are some that are looked over and not discussed nearly as much, like single parent households. The author of this piece is themselves a child of a single parent and has dealt with financial instability, guilt, and in some cases, legal disputes.
The infographic on the bottom of the page shows the top four most populated countries and the percentage of children under 18 years old living in a single parent household. The United States is the highest with 23% of households being single-parent. Pew Research Center says, “almost a quarter of U.S. children under the age of 18 live with one parent and no other adults (23 percent), more than three times the share of children around the world who do so (7 percent).” Some studies indicate that factors like religion do not play a significant role in parental situation in a household. “U.S. children from Christian and religiously unaffiliated families are about equally likely to live in this type of arrangement.”
Tips for Single Parents
Dr. John Townsend, a business consultant, leadership coach and psychologist has experience in single parenting, since he is one. Here are some tips he has for single parents:
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“Getting from the outside what you don’t possess on the inside… Call a safe and sane friend and get your emotional tank filled, and then enter the ring again and resolve the issue.”
When conflicts do arise, it is easy to bicker back and forth because both of you feel like you are right and one another is in the wrong. From experience, this gets you nowhere. His advice is to take a step back from the situation, breathe, then calmly talk the situation out because you are on each other’s side.
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“Allow your kids to fail. Parents who rescue their adolescents often do so out of guilt… Be balanced and integrated with love and boundaries.”
Being reasonable and clearly indicating who is the parent and who isn’t is healthy. Establishing a healthy but stern relationship will teach your kids valuable lessons on how to respect elders, and have healthy relationships when they are older.
- “Ask for help from your kid’s school, your church, and your friends. Single parents need more help, and they should get more.”
