The Pros and Cons for Single Parenting

Since 1970, approximately 20-30% of children live in single parent homes. The number varies according to studies and from different countries around the world. More of those are female than male, but again the numbers vary substantially from one study to another. By being a single parent raises some unique challenges.

Mostly single parents continue to work thus many of the basic difficulties involved are practical ones. Like how to find and afford a sister or a day-care for the kid, what to do for the weekends or having to work late, how to arrange shopping, etc.

Being a single parent, you will find all manners of creative arrangements for meeting these difficulties. Others rely on older children to take care for younger ones, while the younger ones often take on more responsibilities than other children in their age group. Some rely on relatives and friends or just simply leave the child at home alone for extended periods.

Beyond practical arrangements, there are some parenting issues, mostly of value-oriented or psychological nature that can be equally or more intimidating. Single parents will more often guess their actions, not having a spouse to bounce ideas off of.

Dealing with children of the opposite sex could be more challenging. Single parents often find it difficult to know how to guide a child of the opposite sex, not having someone to consult with about his or her childhood experiences. However, some of that gap can be filled by discussions with grown-up siblings.

Single parenthood can have advantages too, even in difficult circumstances. The absence of a partner means the absence of sometimes irrational and intense arguments that the child would observe. Setting up parenting rules and guidelines is more straightforward for single parents, since there is no partner to debate with.

Recent studies point to other positive aspects of parenthood. For single parents with sufficient incomes, there is no observed ill-effect of the single parent home on a child’s education or personality development.

Certainly, being raised in a single parent home often makes children more mature and self responsible at a younger age. Many benefit from the increased attention that a single parent will often give in the absence of a spouse.

Being raised in a single parent home may have been a shame in previous generations, but those attitudes are gone nowadays. Some regard the situation as more ‘contemporary’ or even ‘hip’.
Single parents do something to ease their minds by paying much attention to observable behaviors to monitor their children.


Pre-teens who became withdrawn may be suffering from the effects of parenting or death. Children will often be hesitant to discuss their feelings regarding the situation and much patience may be required to draw them out.


Teens that were left alone at home for long periods may be unduly influenced by peers. This may sometimes lead to unwanted behavior. While parents will want to respect their teen’s privacy, watching for early tell-tale signs of drug use or other harmful behavior will save everyone much grief later on.

Single parents have a unique opportunity to influence their child either for good or bad, without the offset of other parent. Fortunately, children raised in a single parent home will appreciate the extra effort required and made by their single parent Mom or Dad. You can be one of them.