1 in 4 U.S. Kids Raised by Single Parents: Totally Fine or Dangerous Trend?

Question

Think there are a lot of single parents in America now? Well, the number is expected to become even greater.

A new report finds that one in four ******** in the United States is being raised by a single parent -- a percentage that is higher than in other developed countries, and expected to rise, according to The ********** Press

The U.S. had 25.8 percent of ******** being raised by a single parent, compared with an average of 14.9 percent across the 27 other industrialized countries studied by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

By 2025 to 2030, that percentage is expected to increase by 8 percent, the report predicts.

So why are so many moms and dads going it alone?

Experts say changing gender roles, the rise of contraception, high incarceration rates in some communities and an acceptance of having ******** out of wedlock have all contributed to the statistic. Others note that people are less likely to expect their marriages to last forever.

And while many American single parents do a terrific job raising their kids, they have higher rates of poverty, the report found.

"Single moms do a brilliant and amazing job raising their ********," Terry O'Neill, president of the National Organization for Women, told the AP. "It is also true that single moms in this country are systemically underpaid, and systematically under-resourced and systemically unrespected. It's not the fact they are single moms that makes things difficult."

Do you think that one parent can do the job of two?

Answer 1

As an Individual who RAISED HER Two ******** (and one is High Functioning autistic -- Asperger's Syndrome) .. to ********* .. alone .. only responsible parent .. and while in the Military (and after my Military Retirement as well) SINGLE ...

I can say this ..

NO MATTER WHAT .. there are GOOD PARENTS .. either single or as couples (married or otherwise) .. who love, cherish, care for .. sacrifice for their ******** (And nurture them, do well for them, guide them in developing moral structures, teach them to respect others, and show them how to live a RESPONSIBLE ***** life) ..

and there are BAD PARENTS .. the slugs (who are a drain on society overall .. just ******* at the public dole) .. there are the ones who are addicted to some or a variety of substances, there are the ones who abuse .. there are the ones who neglect .. there are the ones who harm.murder others ... (selfish, nasty, violent, sociopaths) ..

To use a WIDE PAINTBRUSH and imply SINGLE Parenthood is not /desirable/ or somehow dangerous is irresponsible.

Answer 2

What stats in particular ?

******** do better and would rather be from a broken home than live in one !

Answer 3

If its a happy home parents and kids are better off with the extra support. I would be crazy without my husbands help. Kids of devorce play their parents against each other to get what they want. They witness too much bickering between parents. That can only create selfish ungreatful kids. If its a Unhappy home it might be best to go it alone but one should never go into to it with the intention to deprive the kids of their right to have two loving parents.

Answer 4

I was a ***** of abuse. My parents stayed together 'for the sake of the ********' for 14 years. I had no father figure, my parents fought all the time....I ***** up pregnant at 15 because the first boy who paid attention to me was the only love I felt from the opposite ***.
It would have been better if I was raised by my Mother alone.

Answer 5

My mom is a single parent and I didn't miss out on life any more or less than ******** with two parents. I had the same resources and didnt turn out as a bad *****. It's how your raised.

Answer 6

well two parents are better but things happen sometimes

Answer 7

it's not how many parents raise him or her, it is in the way the kid was raised...:)

Answer 8

I raised 3 sons as a single parent after divorcing my ex-husband who is an alcoholic & drug user with no regrets.Why stay married when the father is useless as a parent? My sons have learned to be good,involved fathers,just the opposite of their father.

Answer 9

Stats don't lie.

Answer 10

Begs the question.
Why focus on the fact that two parent households are sometimes broken and not that it is desirable if not broken? No need to cherry pick.
Issue is not that single parent home are bad, but it is true that there are less resources, less attn that can be given to ********, less time available for them, esp if you're a working parent.

"Reports show that ******** in single parent households are at a greater risk of doing poorly in math and science. It is presumed that single parents have less time to spend in helping their ******** with education and have lower economic resources than two-parent homes...
Not only can ******** suffer academically, but also emotionally. ******** in single-parent households tend to have lower self-confidence levels and tend to have more behavioral problems. Much of this is due to less ***** supervision and less time for interaction between parent and ********...
Many times the disadvantages not only involve the ********, but the parents as well. When parents have ******** at home and can only work specific hours, it hampers the financial opportunities of the single parent. This can create financial burdens, which further exacerbate the problems within the home. "
http://www.parents-and-teens-...

And we have not touched the ...

Begs the question.
Why focus on the fact that two parent households are sometimes broken and not that it is desirable if not broken? No need to cherry pick.
Issue is not that single parent home are bad, but it is true that there are less resources, less attn that can be given to ********, less time available for them, esp if you're a working parent.

"Reports show that ******** in single parent households are at a greater risk of doing poorly in math and science. It is presumed that single parents have less time to spend in helping their ******** with education and have lower economic resources than two-parent homes...
Not only can ******** suffer academically, but also emotionally. ******** in single-parent households tend to have lower self-confidence levels and tend to have more behavioral problems. Much of this is due to less ***** supervision and less time for interaction between parent and ********...
Many times the disadvantages not only involve the ********, but the parents as well. When parents have ******** at home and can only work specific hours, it hampers the financial opportunities of the single parent. This can create financial burdens, which further exacerbate the problems within the home. "
http://www.parents-and-teens-...

And we have not touched the broken single parent homes issue yet.

Yes, it is true that sometimes ******** can live in a broken environment, and these can be two parent homes. It is also true of single parent homes.
The goal should not be that single parent is the best, but rather may be a fallback out of a bad situation.

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Answer 11

Why wouldn't it be? If you were married and had a ***** you and your spouse were raising, and one of you died, wouldn't you still be the same loving single parent?

Answer 12

it isnt illegal to have kids as a single parent. it is okay because some times relationships dont work, or sadly tragety strikes leaving the parent alone. it does have its glitches but it really isnt harmful

Answer 13

Facts are stubborn things and ******** raised by one parent in the home are more likely to use drugs, commit crimes,*** up incarcerated, and have a plethora of emotional problems.

Answer 14

Not true.Using drugs IS A CHOICE,NOT the result of being raised by a single parent.

Answer 15

o.m.g?this is so silly lol.are u serious?im a single mum..and id always make sure i support my ****** studies,and bring him up the best possible way ever?are u being serious?thats such nonsence mate, my old best friend had a middle class upbringing with 2 parents the best education n every thing they desired,truth is the selfish parents didnt spend alot of quality time with there *****.so how can u say a single parent can promote there ***** to take drugs?get involved with crime? n be emotional?its perfetic!its about unconditional love , support,guidence and our responsability as a parent to become the best we can be *** of

Answer 16

What makes you think some of us have a choice?

Answer 17

But, if anything ever happened to my wife - GAWD FORBID - I'd be one of them

Answer 18

I am a single parent here in Australia and my ******** are provided with what they need, which is love, clothing and a roof over their heads and they have both adjusted well to being raised by one parent, their father died in 2007, and now my son is helping out financially as he started an apprenticeship last year as a mechanic technician and I am doing temporary work which I believe will lead to permanent work. We all get on very well together and support and care about each other.

Answer 19

As a single parent of 1.myself i personally think being a single parent is ******** full stop! but i also feel that no matter how it looks,the love,security,stability,and life lessons you give youre ******** will be so rewarding thereafter.I always used to feel so lonely so guilty and thought my ***** deserved so much better.but im now at a stage where on all im doing a fantastic job:) my ***** knows this as he tells me he loves me and always shows me how much he adores me.it is **** but in the *** we will be so proud of ourselves and the beautiful ******** we raised alone out of love,a great up bringing and staying strong for ourselves n our ********:)Well done all single parents out there youre brilliant!! x

Answer 20

I was raised by a Single Parent and I turned out just fine. You know in some cases people Don't have a choice.

Answer 21

Sometimes, it is beyond one's control as to why a kid is raised by one parent. The mother may have died after **********, a father may pass away from cancer, a parent could get into a fatal car accident, etc. It's not always because of divorce or because some guy ditched a girl after knocking her up.

Answer 22

and us (me and my little sister)

Answer 23

******** deserve to be raised by both mom and dad, and do best in that situation.

Oh well, It could be worse. At least those kids aren't being aborted.

Answer 24

In some situation its better for their to be one parent since the missing one is fkd in the head and cant see fit to behave like a human. Sometimes it happens that people snap and arent themselves after the kids are born

Answer 25

????????????????????? silly

Answer 26

Yes, in many cases, two parents is optimal- but really, what's better: 2 mediocre parents that basically let their ******** loose without concern and without teaching and guiding them towards responsible *********, or 1 parent who is actively involved in their ********'s education, and helps nurture, discipline and ultimately shape a functioning *****?

Answer 27

No, the only acceptable solution to a divorce or death of a spouse is to do as Martin Houle did: kill his ******** and himself. http://www.globaltvbc.com/Bod...

As for getting pregnant out of wedlock, good girls don't abstain. After all, "Men are at the height of their ****** peak in their teens, so it seems abnormal if not downright inhumane to restrict them." In reality, we should be teaching our teens to have as much *** as possible with as many partners as possible. The truth is "It's not abstinence schools should be promoting but *** education and effective birth control. And they do that already. I was always told to sow my wild oats as young as possible before I settled down. Quite right too. I know plenty of people who didn't have enough *** when they were younger and are now regretting their choice of life partner." We don't wan't our kids to have an unhappy marriage in their future do we?http://www.thisislondon.co...

Birth control pills should be avoided. They are tuning our men girly and our women ugly and crazy. Seriously read this article. http://blogs.villagevoice.com... It changed my life. This is really scary stuff. Additionally, condoms are toxic and dangerous. http://www.youtube.com/watch?...

No, the only acceptable solution to a divorce or death of a spouse is to do as Martin Houle did: kill his ******** and himself. http://www.globaltvbc.com/Bod...

As for getting pregnant out of wedlock, good girls don't abstain. After all, "Men are at the height of their ****** peak in their teens, so it seems abnormal if not downright inhumane to restrict them." In reality, we should be teaching our teens to have as much *** as possible with as many partners as possible. The truth is "It's not abstinence schools should be promoting but *** education and effective birth control. And they do that already. I was always told to sow my wild oats as young as possible before I settled down. Quite right too. I know plenty of people who didn't have enough *** when they were younger and are now regretting their choice of life partner." We don't wan't our kids to have an unhappy marriage in their future do we?http://www.thisislondon.co...

Birth control pills should be avoided. They are tuning our men girly and our women ugly and crazy. Seriously read this article. http://blogs.villagevoice.com... It changed my life. This is really scary stuff. Additionally, condoms are toxic and dangerous. http://www.youtube.com/watch?...

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Answer 28

A man and woman should know when they committ to marry, I say MAN and WOMAN, that this is it for life. You don't change partners like shoes. Having babies is a big step and with it comes responsibility. Don't put the responsibility to raise your ***** onto the tax payer. I paid for mind, why do you not pay for your's. This is just one place where the two are far better than one. I could go on, but.

Answer 29

my mom is happier when she's single

Answer 30

if you are older & adopt or you are divorced its all right but to raise a kid cause you were 2 stupid 2 use protection & got pregnant & werent smart enuf to get an abortion its not cool. black women act like its how you become a woman by having kids you didnt plan 4
& could be a kid themselves

Answer 31

There's nothing wrong with it. I think that people **** this way out of proportion.

Answer 32

I'm sorry, I can't take this reply seriously. Terrible spelling just tends to read off as uninterested and lazy, not keen and insightful. This is about single PARENTS, not teen mothers. Yes, there are single teenage mothers, but you're focusing on only one subgroup. What about single dads? They are part of this "trend" as well.

Answer 33

Why would it be bad to have a single parent? *** your parents got divorced. maybe had an illegitimate *****. oooh, big deal

Answer 34

it is when your kids are more likely to be criminals & single parents themselves.
legitimate is always better

Answer 35

In single parent households, quite often, the responsibility for support and care is foisted off upon the taxpayer. America does not need more Maury Povich or Jerry Springer guests! If parents won't voluntarily step up and accept responsibility for their actions they need to be forced to !

Answer 36

This thing needs a 3rd option. Anyway the thing I see the most is people have no idea of what the meaning of VOW is. When I got married the VOW that I remember the most is TILL DEATH DO YOU PART. That doesnt mean the first time you get into a heated argument you leave. That doesnt mean the first time you get into financial trouble you leave. that means you go through the trials and tribulations until one of you die. The key to that is to be open, not selfish, and to give your heart mind and body to the marriage. When people start understanding that this trend will ***.

Answer 37

I'm not sure that the trend will completely ***, but if the divorce rate goes down, then I ****** the amount of single parenthood would be curbed (if produced by sole custody arrangements).
But I agree that too many people today are willing to give up at the first sign of trouble. It's disheartening to see people fighting -against- each other instead of fighting -for- each other.

Answer 38

It never will *** completely but Ide love to see it below 25%. I know dream on.

Answer 39

I think some folks are better off raising the kids alone than with a spouse, I know one couple who might have not met if his mom hadn't chose to be single long enough to me the great guy I call my dad, my buddy is quite happy that his stepdad married his mom, I am happy that I have this family to love.

Answer 40

******** need two parents. If they financilly sound and physically ok Then one parent is ok.