The Single-Parent Family

Reviewed by Psychology Today Staff

A single parent is someone who is unmarried, widowed, or divorced and not remarried. The single-parent household can be headed by a mother, a father, a grandparent, an uncle, or aunt. According to the Pew Research Center, between 25 to 30 percent of children under age 18 in the U.S. live in a single-parent household. The U.S. Census reports that roughly 22 million children live with a single parent. And three times as many women, when compared with men, head these households .

On This Page

  • The Well-Being of Children in a Single-Parent Household
  • The Challenges of Single-Parent Families
  • Raising Kids as a Single Parent

Single parents should be reassured by the fact that a large number of studies find no differences between the children of single mothers and children from other types of households. One study looked into the lives of children from different kinds of households—two-parent biological, adoptive, step-father, step-mother, single-parent—and the type of household did not matter. Children’s grades, and their relationships with their siblings and their friends, were about the same across all households. In a survey of adolescents living in nine types of households, those who lived with parents who had always been single and who were being raised in multi-generational households reported the highest sense of well-being of all those surveyed.

In studies as well as many reports from children themselves, children are better off raised by a single parent as opposed to living with married parents who engage in constant conflict. Children raised by one divorced parent sometimes have better outcomes than children raised by a parent who is remarried. It is impossible to predict a child's outcome based on this one factor alone. 

Yes. Every situation involves trade-offs, and they often go unrecognized at the time. In a common refrain, the grown child of a single, working mom reported that he was glad that his mom was busy all the time. His friends, by contrast, had moms who stayed at home. These parents were hyper-involved in their lives, including their schoolwork and schedules. This overbearing participation produced problems between parent and child.

Yes, but this is a risk for married parents as well. Some parents rely too heavily on a child for emotional support. These individuals become enmeshed with their child because of their own low self-esteem, loneliness, neediness, insecurity, or other similar reasons. These parents lack boundaries, preferring to be a best friend rather than a parent.

The vast majority of the children of single parents flourish at home and in later life. In a national survey of substance abuse among more than 22,000 adolescents from different kinds of households, the rate of substance abuse among the children of single parents was 5.7 percent, and the rate for the children of married parents was 4.5%. 

Not at all. More often, the children of single parents defy all stereotypes . If problems arise, they likely already existed when a child's parents were married or arise independent of the household configuration. These children were struggling in their nuclear family. Researchers who followed children of married parents for more than a decade, not knowing in advance whether the parents would stay married or divorce, found that among the children whose parents did divorce and who had problems, their difficulties began at a young age.

Children need a safe and reliable household to flourish. Of course, it is much harder for single-parents who live with financial hardship. The Bureau of Labor Statistics data show that nearly 11 million people are considered working poor. The definition of working poor is an individual who spends 27 weeks or more in the workforce, this person is working or looking for work, yet their income is below the poverty level. And according to the U.S. Census, single moms are one of the most disadvantaged groups—with nearly 30 percent living in poverty. Many of these single moms cannot provide for their families as they often have lower-paying jobs.

Being the sole parent of a household may mean you are the boss, free of quarrels over money and finance. That’s great, but according to research, it costs $234,000 to raise a child . This price tag impacts the high risk of financial hardship.

This should not be a source of concern or guilt, even though it often is. Children of mothers who return to work while the children are infants and toddlers, fare the same behaviorally and academically compared with children whose mothers stay home. In one study, kids from single-parent families , whose mothers worked, had better academic scores and fewer behavioral problems than did children whose mothers did not work.

The U.S. Census Bureau reports that at two years after the breakup of their family, nearly 50 percent of children who live with their mother do not see their father regularly. Many fathers are often shortchanged by custody arrangements. However, a father showing interest and being involved with his children is a huge plus for all. One way to help this along: Help your ex. Pick up the children from school, attend their functions, and cheer them on at games--this involvement can make a difference. Helping your ex will help you. By being an involved father, you and your kids will find ways to spend more time together.

To raise successful children in any family configuration, stability and security matter. Single parents can help ensure such an environment by developing a supportive network of friends, relatives, and neighbors. People who care. For those with extreme financial hardship, there are resources in your community including assistance for housing, food, and healthcare for children, depending on income and other criteria. 

To raise thriving children, a single parent must juggle many aspects of life, the household, work demands, finances, among many other concerns. All parents face similar obstacles, but the challenge for a single-parent is greater.

Set house rules with your kids.

Give undivided attention to each child, even a daily 10-minute one-one conversation will help.

Set boundaries, boundaries, boundaries.

Be consistent and fair, always.

Kids need schedules and routines (sounds boring, but it works).

Lower your expectations, and do away with any ideas of perfection.

Lose your sense of guilt, victimhood, and martyrdom.

Ignore judgmental people.

You need support through good childcare, friends, family, neighbors.

If possible, get along with your ex. (To do so, you need to get over yourself.)

Apply self-care daily, eat right, exercise, sleep, meditate. (If you do not have time, make the time.)

If you need therapy, a good family therapist will help.

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Guest Essay

The Explosive Rise of Single-Parent Families Is Not a Good Thing

A black-and-white Polaroid photo of a family sits on top of a yellow backdrop with blue dots interspersed. One blue dot obscures the face of the father in the photo.

By Melissa S. Kearney

Ms. Kearney is the author of the forthcoming book “The Two-Parent Privilege: How Americans Stopped Getting Married and Started Falling Behind.”

There has been a huge transformation in the way children are raised in the United States: the erosion of the convention of raising children inside a two-parent home. This shift is often not publicly challenged or lamented, in an effort to be inclusive of a diversity of family arrangements. But this well-meaning acceptance obscures the critical reality that this change is hurting our children and our society.

The share of American children living with married parents has dropped considerably: In 2019, only 63 percent lived with married parents, down from 77 percent in 1980. Cohabitation hardly makes up for the difference in these figures. Roughly a quarter of children live in a one-parent home, more than in any other country for which data is available. Despite a small rise in two-parent homes since 2012, the overall trend persists.

This is not a positive development. The evidence is overwhelming: Children from single-parent homes have more behavioral problems, are more likely to get in trouble in school or with the law, achieve lower levels of education and tend to earn lower incomes in adulthood. Boys from homes without dads present are particularly prone to getting in trouble in school or with the law.

Making the trend particularly worrisome is the wide class divide underneath it. In my research, I found that college-educated parents have largely continued to have and raise their children in two-parent homes. It is parents with less than a four-year college degree who have moved away from marriage, and two-parent homes, in large numbers. Only 60 percent of children who live with mothers who graduated from high school, or who have some college education but did not graduate, lived with married parents in 2020, a whopping 23 percentage point drop since 1980. Again, cohabitation does not erase the education divide. Neither does looking at the numbers across race and ethnic groups.

The result is less economic security for affected households and even wider inequality across households and childhood environments than economic changes would have wrought alone.

College-educated adults have seen their earnings rise over recent decades, and they have continued to get married at relatively high rates, typically to one another. Their household income has grown considerably. Meanwhile, adults without a college degree have experienced declining rates of employment and relatively modest increases in wages, while becoming more likely to set up households without a spouse or a partner. As a result of the decline in marriage, the economic security of the high-school educated has weakened even more.

A higher level of income is a key mechanism through which married parents transmit advantages to their children. One-parent homes generally do not have the same income as two-parent homes, even when we compare the homes of mothers of the same age, education level, race and state of residence. This largely reflects a simple fact of math: Two adults have the capacity to earn more than one. Even if one thinks, as I do, that the United States should provide more support to low-income families with children in order to help children thrive and also to secure a stronger work force and future for our country, we will most likely never have a government program that fully compensates single parents with the equivalent of the annual earnings of a spouse who works full-time.

Congress allowed the expanded child tax credit to expire at the end of 2021, rejecting a policy that provided families who met certain income thresholds with annual tax credits of $3,000 per child age 6 to 18 and $3,600 per child under 6. What are the odds that the government will start providing one-parent families with, say, benefits equal to the median earnings of an adult with a high school degree, which comes to around $44,000 a year? I would put the odds at zero. As long as that’s the case, income gaps between one- and two-parent homes will be substantial, and income matters a lot for kids’ prospects and futures.

Income differences are not the only driver of differences in outcomes. A second committed adult in the home can contribute considerable time and energy to taking care of children. We can and should do more as a society to try to compensate for these gaps in parental investments. But again, it is highly unlikely that government or community programs could ever provide children from one-parent homes with a comparable amount of the supervision, nurturing, guidance or help that children from healthy two-parent homes receive. That means a generation of children will grow up more likely to get in trouble and less likely to reach their potential than if they had the benefits of two parents in their homes.

It is an economic imperative to break the vicious cycle of a widening class gap in family structure — and more generally, a high share of one-parent homes outside all but the most highly educated groups in society.

That won’t be easy to do. For decades, academics, journalists and advocates have taken a “live and let live” view of family structure. Mostly this reflects a well-intentioned effort to avoid stigmatizing single mothers and to promote acceptance and respect for different family arrangements. But benign intentions have obscured the uncomfortable reality that children do better when they are raised in two-parent homes.

The result is the widespread normalization of one-parent homes outside the college-educated class and woefully little public support for programs aimed at strengthening families. Only 1 percent of the budget of the federal Administration for Children and Families is allocated to “promoting safe and stable families,” as compared to, for example, 15 percent for foster care.

On the other side of the issue, there are people inclined to blame single mothers for having or raising children outside of marriage. But it is not helpful to blame or shame women who are faced with the difficult choice between parenting alone or living with a partner who is an economic or emotional drain on the family. Surely we as a society can openly recognize the advantages of a two-parent home for children and offer a variety of kinds of support to couples who struggle to achieve a stable two-parent family arrangement without stigmatizing single parents and their children. Crucially, we need to bolster parents’ own capacity to thrive and be reliable providers for themselves and their children — including fathers, who were often left out of the conversation.

The issue is complicated, and solutions will necessarily be multifaceted. Just as scholars, journalists and policymakers acknowledge the need to improve schools and debate various reform ideas, those of us who discuss and debate questions of society and policy should be frank about the advantages of a healthy two-parent home for children and challenge ourselves to come up with ways to promote and support that institution.

We need to work more to understand why so many American parents are raising their children without a second parent in the home, and we must find effective ways to strengthen families in order to increase the share of children raised in healthy, stable two-parent homes. Doing so will improve the well-being of millions of children, help close class gaps and create a stronger society for us all.

Melissa S. Kearney is an economics professor at the University of Maryland and author of the forthcoming book “ The Two-Parent Privilege: How Americans Stopped Getting Married and Started Falling Behind .”

Source photographs by eyenigelen and Jasenka Arbanas/Getty Images

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The Struggles of Single Parenting Essay

Introduction, financial challenge, finding competent childcare, the world on your shoulder, feeling lost and alone, introducing your child to those who you are dating, works cited.

Parenting is the central role of family, which is the basic unit of society. Thus, a society is characterized by the quality of parenting achieved at the family level. The stigma surrounding single parenthood is borne out of the contemporary notion that family comprises a father, mother and children (Hanson, 44). Single parent families are thus vilified on the notion that they are deficient.

In some instances, weakened gender-identity and poor self-esteem culminates from the existence of single parenthood. Parenting involves responsibilities and resources, which one individual cannot avail at the desired time and in the required proportion. Despite the significance of parenting to the life of an individual, little or no formal grounding is available for would-be parents on how to best execute the job (Hanson, 45). The concept of single parenthood highlighted is that of a single motherhood. As a result, most families characterized by single parenthood comprise of a single mother (Bornstein, 56). Growing up under the care of single parent has its influence on the personality of an individual.

In spite of the challenges facing single parents, the implicit differences in an individual’s personality cannot be accurately attributed to the type of parenting they receive. However, as postulated by McLanahan & Sandefur p1,

“Children who grow up in a household with only one biological parent are worse off on average than children who grow up in a household with both of their biological parents, regardless of the parents race or educational background, whether the parents were married when the child was born and …of whether the resident parent remarries”p1.

Single parent households face numerous challenges as discussed hereunder. However, these challenges are relative to the situation faced by families headed by both parents.

The ability of a single parent to avail sufficient financial resources for upbringing of a child is limited. Hanson (p56) posits that poverty limits the ability to look after children in addition to personal needs of the parent. It also has far-reaching adversities such as poor performance at school, youth delinquency and poor self-concept. The associated unavailability of proper housing, insecurity and abuse increase the influence of single-parenthood to development of a child in spite of the fact that wealth is no guarantee of positive outcome in character of the children.

However, resource availability boosts the affordability of some necessary amenities. As outlined by McLanahan & Sandefur (p 10), in 1980, the overall dropout rate was 19%, with 13% of the children residing with both parents. Most single parents experience compounded issues relating to finances. The inability to gain entry into the jobs market is borne out of socio-economic constraints. Most of them are non-literate or semi literate.

The lack of skills and competencies in income-generating activities contribute to their scenario in most cases. Single parents who are financially stable have higher chances of remarrying as well. Thus, most of the single mothers who experience financial constraints sink into a downward spiral into poverty. Single parents are in a dilemma when it comes to dealing with unemployment and scarcity of resources or having time for themselves and parenting their child. As observed, poverty is major contributor to inability to remarry after divorce or getting married in the first place.

Gone are the days when a neighbor would assist with household chores without asking for some form of compensation (Walsh, 138). Each individual is involved in income generation and it is common-practice for people seeking services of others to offer competitive pay. At the backdrop of financial constraints, a single parent finds themselves unable to afford childcare according to McLanahan & Sandefur (p 8). Since the single parent has to attend to her work responsibilities, part of the day’s prime hours are spend away from the child. Most workplaces are not considerate of such scenarios and do not have flexibility regarding day care (Hanson, 50)

Children require a father figure to which they can relate and adore. A single-parent family presents a scenario where the parents are not living together and takes away the opportunity of the child to experience the nurture of two parents. As a result, there is loss or absence of social capital. McLanahan & Sandefur (p 3) describes social capital as the scenario where a relationship develops out of trust and commitment.

If the absentee parent is alive, the child is bound to feel that the parent who lives apart does not love them enough to afford time and financial resources to support their needs. As articulated by Hanson (p115), uncertainty about the future is bound to breed deviant tendencies and undesirable personal traits. The ability of the child to succeed and grow to a productive adult is severely compromised due to lack of this form of guidance.

The arrival or departure of the father figure is associated with problems, while strong home environments are associated with perceptions of positive behavior (Hanson 50). Thus, support of a fatherly figure is of utmost necessity. As posited by Walsh, “Although single parents are likely to have more stress and a fragmented household, these parents and children can learn how get their needs met within their networks. With support from extended family…useful connection with community members…”p127

Data reveals that single parents are more likely to sink into depression than their married counterparts are (Walsh, 124). The unavailability of a caring partner to strengthen the single parent against the challenges of parenting is bound to exert immense pressure on the single parent. However, this relies on the level of support from friends, relatives or support groups. The changing roles of the single parent, in addition to the other challenges of parenting are bound to cultivate ground for loneliness. The parent has to divide their resources between their love and that of the child. As a result, decision-making becomes a challenge, since a second opinion may only be available from the child he or she is upbringing.

The dating scene presents another challenge to a single parent. Many times, the bond between the prospective partner and the child may fail to develop leading to the child disapproving of them. This occurs since the child feels that the prospective ‘partner’ has come to take the place of the absentee parent. As a result, the child develops barriers to frustrate the individual, culminating into tensions that compromise the success of the relationship (Moore et al, 103). On the other hand, the parent is unsure about the longevity of the relationship from the onset. Incase the child develop a bond with the prospective partner, it is possible that the child will be distraught in case the relationship does not work.

Single parenthood is a major challenge even in the absence of the above stated difficulties. However, the outcome of parenting is not necessarily related to the presence of two parents as observed from both cases of parenting. In spite of the challenges faced by single parents, no evidence is conclusive relating to the adverse impact of one-parent families to the personality of the children in adult life. As a result, parents should strive to avail the best possible care and nurture to their children regardless of their scenario

Bornstein, Marc H. “Handbook of Parenting: Being and Becoming a Parent, Volume 3” USA: Routledge, 2002, p 50-60

Hanson, Shirley M. “Single Parent Families: Diversity, Myths, and Realities, Volume 1” New York: Routledge, 1994, p 30-150

McLanahan, Sara and Sandefur, Gary D. “Growing Up With A Single Parent: What Hurts, What Helps” USA: Harvard University Press, 1994, p1-100

Moore, Kristin A et al. “Choice and Circumstance: Racial Differences in Adolescent Sexuality and Fertility”Transaction Publishers, 1989 p100-105

Walsh, Froma. “Normal Family Processes: Growing Diversity and Complexity”, New York: Guilford Press, 2003, p 120-128

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20 Engaging Essays About Family You Can Easily Write

Discover 20 essays about family for your next essay writing project.

From defining the family to exploring problems within modern families, this personal topic lends itself well to essay writing. If you are preparing a personal essay or were assigned to write one on this topic, good news. You can easily draw on a wealth of sub-topics and themes about the family, as you develop your piece. But if you have trouble getting started, here are 20 ideas for essays about the family.

For help with your essays, check out our round-up of the best essay checkers .

1. Why Siblings Should Be Your Best Friends

2. what is a family, 3. how family culture is established by a nuclear family, 4. the importance of family in child rearing, 5. how my family made me a better person, 6. why i love my family, 7. why my mom/dad/grandparent is my role model, 8. the effect of dysfunctional families on teenagers, 9. a sociological approach to defining family, 10. the influence of extended family on a child’s life experiences, 11. how popular culture portrays the happy family, 12. how my dysfunctional family defined my character, 13. how family has changed in american society, 14. is family changing or facing a state of decline, 15. the role family holds in everyday life, 16. comparing the family dynamics between two different cultures, 17. how my multi-cultural family gave me the best of both worlds, 18. unique challenges faced in single-parent families, 19. my most vivid family memory, 20. the challenges of being the youngest or oldest in the family.

essay on single family

A loving family is a beautiful gift, and with it often comes the gift of siblings. You could develop an essay on why siblings should be an individual’s best friends. When the relationship between them is loving and supportive, siblings are always around and able to help individuals through challenging life experiences.

This stands in stark contrast to the friends made in high school and even college. While some people will walk away with lifelong friends, life’s circumstances often pull friends apart. Family is forever, and people should work to develop those relationships. Looking for more? See these essays about brothers .

The dictionary defines a family as “a social group made up of parents and their children” or “a group of people who come from the same ancestor.” Yet this is a very narrow definition of family. Could you define it in another way? Are there people who you consider “family” who are not actually related to you by blood?

This essay idea gives you quite a bit of room for interpretation. Decide how you will define family, and then use the essay to support your choice. Then, discuss different ways family can look in society.

If you need some inspiration, check out our guide to the best parenting books .

The nuclear family is the most basic family structure: parents and their children. This family system is critical to developing a family culture and passing it down to the next generation. Do you find that you highly value having a family night on Fridays? It is likely because that is something your parents showed you in your own family when you were growing up.

Your essay can define family culture and show how family life helps establish that and pass it down to children. This family essay can discuss the nuclear family’s role in teaching children about cultural and religious values. Finally, the essay can establish why family culture and passing it along to children is so important.

For more help with this topic, read our guide explaining what is persuasive writing ?

Essays About Family: The importance of family in child-rearing

Can children grow into reasonable and ethical grown-ups without a family? While it is possible, the reality is the most stable adults typically come from loving and supportive families. One of the primary roles of the family is the development and rearing of children.

The family is the child’s primary social group . Through the family, they develop socially, emotionally, physically, and intellectually. In some ways, the family is the first school that teaches them the most important principles of life for young children. In your essay, establish the fact that family is the foundation for strong adults because of its role in child-rearing and child development.

If you need to write a personal essay, you can look at your family’s role in making you who you are. Your family played a vital role in your upbringing, from teaching you your core values to supporting you as you developed into the adult you are today.

Remember that you don’t have to have a happy family to write this essay. Even if your family circumstances were challenging, you can find ways that your family of origin helped you improve yourself and become a better person.

This is another personal essay topic. On the surface, it seems easy, but if you are going to write a quality essay, you need to dig deep. What makes your family unique and special, and why do you love that?

Keep in mind that all families have quirks and even problems. Yet you love your family in spite of these and sometimes even because of them. Don’t be afraid to include these in your essay.

Think of your family and the leaders in it. Is there one that stands out for a particular reason? Have you modeled some of your own life on how that person lived theirs?

Whether you choose a parent or a grandparent or even an extended family member, look more closely at what makes that individual so important in your life. Then, in your essay, you can outline how you are trying to emulate what they did in their life to make you more successful in yours.

When families go through difficult times, the effect is not limited to those struggling the most. The whole family will suffer when parents are fighting or financial problems arise. Teenagers are particularly vulnerable to dysfunctional family dynamics. They may act out, experience depression, or feel pressured to lead the family when their parents are facing conflict.

This essay explores the effect of family problems on teenagers and their emotional or social development. Consider providing solutions that can help teens manage their challenging emotions even while dealing with the unique challenge of a dysfunctional family.

The definition of family is constantly evolving, but what does sociology say about it? This question could lead to an exciting and engaging essay as you dig into sociology to find your family definition. Based on most sociological definitions , a family is a group of related individuals connected by blood, marriage, or adoption. It may also mean people who live under the same roof.

Based on this definition, the word family has a distinct boundary. While close friends might be something you consider as family personally, sociologists will not define family in this way. Looking at the way sociologists, specifically, define family will give you quite a bit for your essay.

Essays About Family: The influence of extended family on a child’s life experiences

Much has been written about the nuclear family and its impact on the child’s development, but the whole family can have a role to play. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other extended family members can contribute to the life experiences of a child, and you can turn this into an interesting essay topic.

Use your essay to explore what happens when the extended family lives close by and what happens when they do not. You can look at how much of an influence the extended family has on a child’s development, and what increases or decreases that influence.

What does the happy nuclear family look like in television shows and movies? Is it usually a mother, father, and child, or are same-sex couples shown regularly? Do single-parent households get equal representation, or not?

This topic could be a fascinating one to explore in your essay. Once you establish the facts, you can discuss if this portrayal reflects real life or not. Finally, you can talk about whether or not the cultural portrayal of the family represents the type of family values the average family embraces.

Not everyone grows up in a happy, stable family, but sometimes bad times can improve someone’s character and give them the drive to be better. If you grew up in a dysfunctional family, you could show how that helped define your character.

In this essay, work to make a positive spin on your difficult situation. This topic can work well for a personal essay for college entrance or employment purposes.

Is the definition of family changing in American society? Some would argue that it is. While the mother, father, and children style family is still common, many other families exist now.

For example, we have an increasing number of grandparents who are raising their grandchildren . Single-parent families are also on the rise, as are families with a single parent who was never married to the other parent to begin with. Families with same-sex parents are becoming more common as well. Take your essay and define this change and how the nuclear family may look in the future.

Another take on the idea of the changing family dynamic s discussing whether or not families are changing, or if the state of the family is in decline. This essay topic will require some research, but you can explore whether families are breaking down or if they are simply changing.

If you decide that the family is breaking down, you can explore the reasons for this breakdown and its impact on society.

From bringing in the income that the family members need to live on to giving direction for the growth and development of children, the family holds a significant role in everyday life. You can explore this role in your essay and talk about the different components of life that the family controls.

For people who grow up in a stable environment, the family provides emotional support and improves overall well-being. It is also the source for moral development, cultural development, and work ethic development. It also provides for the physical safety and needs of the children. All of these lend themselves well to an essay topic.

While the main definition of family is nearly universal, the nuances of family dynamics change significantly from one culture to the next. For example, some cultures are highly patriarchal in nature, while others focus on maternal leadership. Pick a very different culture from your own, and then compare and contrast them in your essay.

For this essay, make sure that you look at differences as well as similarities. Do not disparage either culture, either, but rather focus on their differences positively. This essay works well if you have contact or knowledge of both cultures so that it can be a great choice for someone growing up in a multi-cultural family.

This essay topic is a twist on the previous one. In addition to comparing and contrasting the family dynamic of the two cultures, you can look at how that directly impacted you. What did you gain from each of the two cultures that merged in your home?

The personal nature of this essay topic makes it easier to write, but be willing to do some research, too. Learn why your parents acted the way they did and how it tied into their cultures. Consider ways the cultures clashed and how your family worked through those problems.

Single-parent families can be loving and supportive families, and children can grow well in them, but they face some challenges. Your essay can expound on these challenges and help you show how they are overcome within the family dynamic.

As you develop this family essay, remember to shed some positive light on the tenacity of single parents. There are challenges in this family structure, but most single parents meet them head-on and grow happy, well-balanced children. Remember to discuss both single fathers and single mothers, as single-parent families have both.

You can use this personal essay topic when writing essays about the family. Think back to your childhood and your most vivid family memory. Maybe it is something positive, like an epic family vacation, or maybe it is something negative, like the time when your parents split up.

Write about how that family memory changed you as a child and even in your adult years. Discuss what you remember about it and what you know about it now, after the fact. Show how that memory helped develop you into who you are today.

Are you the family’s baby or the oldest child? What challenges did you face in this role? Discuss those as you develop your family essay topic.

Even if you were the middle child, you can use your observations of your family to discuss the challenges of the bookend children. Do you feel that the baby or the eldest has the easier path? Develop this into a well-thought-out essay.

If you are interested in learning more, check out our essay writing tips !

essay on single family

Nicole Harms has been writing professionally since 2006. She specializes in education content and real estate writing but enjoys a wide gamut of topics. Her goal is to connect with the reader in an engaging, but informative way. Her work has been featured on USA Today, and she ghostwrites for many high-profile companies. As a former teacher, she is passionate about both research and grammar, giving her clients the quality they demand in today's online marketing world.

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  • Single Parenting

Essays on Single Parenting

The problem of single parenting is very widespread and complex, so writing a single parenting essay about it will help with better understanding and will give you the opportunity to collect and express your thoughts. Single parenting essays tell us that there are a large number of single-parent families. It is very difficult to raise and support a child alone – physically, financially, and mentally. Samples of essays on single parenting reveal that in single-parent families child often don't get enough attention and feel neglected. Also, single-parent children don't get a healthy family image or learn as much about relationships, making it harder for them to build their own family in the future. Peruse our single parenting essay samples – the best ones are below. Know that we are here to help you out with your essay as well.

Effects of Divorce on Children When two people marry, they are publicly declaring that they are loyal to each other before death. Starting a family together strengthens the relationship and allows it to be completed as a full family unit. Unfortunately, certain things do not turn out, and marriages end in...

Words: 1158

For most families today, single parenthood was common. The majority of solitary childcare is for women or more for mothers. One parent raises a child without the other parent s support. Research shows that one out of two children in the United States are raised in a single family before 18...

Words: 1800

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In 1993 Valerie Polakow wrote Lives on the Verge to deal with the plight of single mothers and their children in the "other" America. The term "other America" is used to indicate that in America there are two classes: the other America and the rest of the world. The "other"...

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Essay on Single Parenting: Two Parents Or One?

  • Essay on Single Parenting: Two…

Family life is much different today than what it used to be. Several years ago mothers would stay at home with their children while the father went to work to support his family, but it is nothing like that today in American households.

Today it is common for children to be raised by just one of their parents, and those children are often disadvantaged in several ways. The most consistent finding from studies of family structure shows that single parents exert weaker controls and make fewer demands on their children than married families do (Curtin et al. 368). There is a real easy explanation for this problem, it is the simple fact that two parents together make more rules and are more likely to stick by those rules than single parents are (Curtin et al. 368).

Single parents are not able to show the same emotions as married couples can because the love between a mother and a father plays an important part in a family. Children learn how to love from their parents, but if both parents are not there to teach them how to love, their love might be somewhat one-sided (Curtin et al. 371).

Yes, single parents can show their love toward their children, but they have no spouse to express love to. Children from single-parent families are therefore denied the learning experience of how a husband and a wife should love one another (Curtin et al. 369).

Relationships are another thing that everyone needs, especially children. Children need a real strong relationship between themselves and their parents, but children from single-parent families are usually denied this privilege because they are separated from one of their parents and often do not get to spend adequate time with the other.

Children who have a strong relationship with their parents are more likely to respect the authority of their parents (Curtin et al. 370). The problem with a single parent is the fact that usually, the single parent does not have the time to help the child develop a close relationship with them.

Another problem is how a child can build a strong relationship with a parent they do not live with and often do not see on a regular basis. The simple fact is that children need both of their parents in the household to build a close relationship with and to teach them to respect the parent’s authority. True, not all children from two-parent households have close relationships with their parents, but it is much more likely.

Gender also plays an important role in families. Men and women have very different characteristics, both emotionally and physically. These different characteristics contribute to their roles as mothers and fathers (Curtin et al. 369). For instance, men are normally much stronger physically than women and are therefore able to do many things around the house that a woman cannot.

Women are much more likely to do the everyday household chores while the man does the heavy-duty work. Women usually tend more to the children when they need things than do the men, and also help them more with emotional type problems (Curtin et al. 369). So it is easy to see why having both parents in the household makes a much more well-rounded family atmosphere.

When both parents are not in the household, children experience a great deal of stress from different aspects of their lives. This stress often comes from children who are forced into independence and self-reliance before they are mature enough to cope (“Children” 58).

Many single parents leave their children at home or send them to low-quality daycare centers while they are at work, causing stress on the children (“Children” 60). Yes, two-parent families often leave their children at home or send them to low-quality daycares, but studies show that it is ten times more likely to happen in single-parent families (“Children” 59).

Another time that brings a great deal of stress to single-parent homes is the holidays. The holidays are a time when families should be together. Single parents may not be able to provide this for their children (“Holidays” 3). Another problem that arises during the holidays is that of gift competition between the parents (“Holidays” 3). The problem with the parents competing over who gets the best gift is the fact that the children often feel as if the parents want to buy their love instead of earning it by showing them love.

Children of single-parent homes also face stress by always worrying about everything that is going on in their lives. According to Richard Kinsey single-parent children worried more about school, family, future, finding work, crime, and their environment by a large margin (16). However, the biggest worry of these children was about their own personal loves and what was going to happen to them as they grew up (Kinsey 16).

Richard Kinsey also did a survey on crimes committed by children in both two-parent homes and single-parent homes. He found that children in two-parent homes self-reported committing crimes at a rate of 59%, but children from single-parent homes self-reported committing crimes at a rate of 74% (16). This survey gives a strong emphasis on how important the respect of authority is for children. It also showed how children from single-parent homes are more likely to commit crimes than children from two-parent homes.

Single-parent homes not only reflect or cause stress upon children but also upon the parent. Single mothers especially feel stress when a father figure is not present (Allen et al. 390). According to the survey done by Katherine Allen and Peggy Quinn, seventy percent of the single mothers reported that they always worried about money (390).

Not only was money a big issue, but also time and energy (392). These single mothers are put under pressure from about every aspect of their lives, and without a husband there to help raise a family, pay the bills, and show them love, the single mother must nearly feel hopeless.

Another big stress for single mothers is the fact that now they have the responsibility of two parents (Allen et al. 392). One woman describes how she felt: “And on the weekends then, mow the yard, and clean the house, and wash the clothes.

When you get done doing that, it’s Monday all over again” (Allen et al. 392). Most parents from two-parent homes realize the responsibility they have and the stress that they face with a spouse there to support them, but just imagine that spouse not being there to help support and help with the responsibilities of the family and that is exactly what it is like to be a single parent.

Now we have seen the pressures that single mothers face, but what about single fathers because there are many of them in the world today. One example can be found in the article ” A Singular Experience,” by Brad Andrews. Andrews himself is a single father and he discusses the overwhelming responsibilities of being a single father (8). He now has to do all of the household chores and take care of the children all by himself.

He can no longer play catch with his son after dinner because now he has to do the dishes (8). These single-parent situations create instability and do not provide a positive environment for children to grow up in. Both a father and a mother are needed to create a stable environment and a positive place for children to live.

Another example is the article “Single Fathers With Custody” by Alfred DeMaris and Geoffrey Grief. DeMaris and Grief explain the fact that single fathers experience the same worries and overwhelming responsibilities that single mothers do. Fathers face financial worries, pressures from work, and pressure of time for themselves and their children (DeMaris et al. 260).

The simple fact is that being a single parent is a very difficult task, whether it is a single father or a single mother. A family consists of a father and a mother with their children, not just one parent. Single-parent homes create a lot of stress and worries on the parent as well as the children, and the stress and worries are not needed by either. After all, it takes two to make a child; it should take two to raise a child.

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Author:  William Anderson (Schoolworkhelper Editorial Team)

Tutor and Freelance Writer. Science Teacher and Lover of Essays. Article last reviewed: 2022 | St. Rosemary Institution © 2010-2024 | Creative Commons 4.0

This was definitely written by a teenager that lives with two parents.

You do not know that, I’ve lived with one parents all my life and some of these things I would agree with.

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Essay on My Family for School Students and Children

500+ words essay on my family.

Families are an integral part of one’s life. It does not matter if you have a small or big family, as long as you have one. A family serves as the first school to the child where one learns about various things. The basic knowledge about one’s culture and identity comes from their family only. In other words, you are a reflection of your family. All the good habits and manners one has incorporated are from their family only. I feel very lucky to be born in a family which has made me a better person. In my opinion, families are an essential part of one’s being. In this essay on my family, I will tell you why family is important.

essay on my family

Why Families are Important?

Families are a blessing not everyone is fortunate enough to have. However, those who do, sometimes do not value this blessing. Some people spend time away from the family in order to become independent.

However, they do not realize its importance. Families are essential as they help in our growth. They develop us into becoming a complete person with an individual identity. Moreover, they give us a sense of security and a safe environment to flourish in.

You can read essay on my mother here .

We learn to socialize through our families only and develop our intellect. Studies show that people who live with their families tend to be happier than ones living alone. They act as your rock in times of trouble.

Families are the only ones who believe in you when the whole world doubts you. Similarly, when you are down and out, they are the first ones to cheer you up. Certainly, it is a true blessing to have a positive family by your side.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Pillars of Strength

My family has been always by my side in ups and downs. They have taught me how to be a better person. My family consists of four siblings and my parents. We also have a pet dog that is no less than our family.

Within each family member, lies my strength. My mother is my strength as I can always count on her when I need a shoulder to cry on. She believes in me more than any other person. She is the backbone of our family. My father is someone who will always hide away his troubles for the sake of his family.

essay on single family

In short, I will forever be indebted to my family for all they have done for me. I cannot imagine my life without them. They are my first teachers and my first friends.

They are responsible for creating a safe and secure environment for me at home. I can share everything with my family as they never judge one another. We believe in the power of love above everything and that drives us to help each other to become better human beings.

essay on single family

FAQs on Family

Q.1 Why are families important?

A.1 Families are important because they nurture and develop us. They make us happy and give us the chance to become better human beings. Families enhance your confidence and make you believe in yourself.

Q.2 How do families act as pillars of strength?

A.2 Families are the pillars of strength because they give us the courage to face the world. They are always there when we need them. Even in the loneliest of times, families make us feel better.

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Opinion: How tenant unions are finding power in numbers to fight L.A.’s housing crisis

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Many Los Angeles residents struggle to stay in their homes. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the city instituted a moratorium on evictions. Since those restrictions ended in April 2023, evictions have skyrocketed well past pre-pandemic levels . According to the L.A. city controller’s data , landlords filed 5,652 evictions in December alone.

The city’s answer is to send tenants to the courts and provide them with bare-bones legal representation. Yet few people have actually gotten access to an attorney to help them fight eviction, and even then, burdened with excessive caseloads, these lawyers negotiate measly sums in exchange for tenants’ relocation rather than fighting for them to stay in their homes.

SHERMAN OAKS, CA - SEPTEMBER 28: A proposed seven-story, 200-unit, affordable housing at an empty site on Ethel Avenue (left middle) in Sherman Oaks has ignited a backlash in the single-family home neighborhood. The developer, Uncommon Development, used Mayor Karen Bass' executive directive to speed up the processing of affordable housing, in combination with state laws that let buildings go much taller if they have affordable units. Photographed on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

Opinion: Why is L.A. still letting single-family homeowners block solutions to the housing crisis?

Mayor Karen Bass announced Executive Directive 1 as a signature policy to speed up affordable housing. But limiting it to multi-family neighborhoods is shortsighted.

Feb. 1, 2024

But what if tenants fought their own battles in their own homes and in their own neighborhoods? As scholars studying the history of housing in L.A. and as organizers with the Union de Vecinos , a local branch of the Los Angeles Tenants Union , we have found that tenant unions are leading a more effective response to the region’s housing crisis.

In a tenant union, residents of an apartment complex join forces to represent their interests as a collective. Unlike the city’s delayed response to housing problems — which occurs only once residents reach the eviction stage or arrive at the courts — tenant unions are proactive. They negotiate directly with landlords and carry out protests, rent strikes, community events and other strategies to help protect their homes. And tenants get to be part of the conversation in solving the city’s housing woes.

Los Angeles, CA - December 11: University Park on Monday, Dec. 11, 2023 in Los Angeles, CA. A group tours a new building at 1200 Leighton Ave that has been master-leased by LAHSA on behalf of LA City for Mayor Bass' Inside Safe program. Rapid multi-story student-oriented development is transforming the bungalow neighborhood west of USC. There is focus on two or three blocks between Exposition and Jefferson, Vermont and Western where three-to five-story buildings are recently completed or under construction in an area with long-term residents. The tour of a new building that has been master-leased by LAHSA is part of the gentrification of the neighborhood but also reflects the city's response to the shortage of affordable housing and the value-clash that is the underlying theme of the story. (Al Seib / For the Los Angeles Times)

Opinion: Don’t gut L.A.’s best shot at building affordable housing

The city put forth ambitious programs to meet California mandates for affordable housing — and then weakened them by exempting single-family neighborhoods.

March 4, 2024

There’s a long history of these unions leveraging their power in numbers.

In New York from 1917 to 1929 , tenants used rent strikes to demand control over the quality and price of their homes — primarily by securing rent control. In our research, we discovered that by the 1960s and 1970s, poor tenants in public housing projects across the United States — from East St. Louis to San Francisco — organized. They used their collective power to push states to invest in making the projects habitable instead of just tearing them down.

LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 14: The Coalition for Responsible Community Development is launching a relief program for small, South Los Angeles landlords in an effort to help them keep their propertiess such as this apartment building on 28th Street. Photographed on Wednesday, April 14, 2021 in Los Angeles, CA. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

Opinion: I believe in tenants’ rights. But L.A. is pushing out small landlords like me

In trying to prevent homelessness, the city and county have passed numerous measures that make it impossible for small landlords to function and will shut more renters out of the market.

Jan. 16, 2024

Los Angeles has seen similar efforts. Since the 1990s, Union de Vecinos (neighbors’ union) has organized the primarily Latino, working-class community of Boyle Heights into committees that have used tactics such as community cleanups, rent strikes and protests to successfully fight gentrification . In 2015, Union de Vecinos helped found the Los Angeles Tenants Union, which now counts its membership across the city in the thousands and continues to win tenants the right to stay in their homes.

New local tenant union chapters have sprouted, including, most recently, among very low-income tenants living in downtown L.A.’s single-room occupancy hotels, the housing of last resort for many of the poorest Angelenos. Without consulting tenants, the city has plans to demolish SROs . But the tenants we’ve met have other ideas: organizing to demand not only that the historic hotels remain but also that they live up to their promise of providing safe, clean and healthy housing for low-income people.

LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 01: A for rent sign is posted in front of an apartment building on February 1, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. According to the Consumer Price Index, rental prices in Southern California have spiked 4.7 percent in 2016 compared to 3.9 percent in 2015. The increase is the fastest since 2007. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) ** OUTS - ELSENT, FPG, CM - OUTS * NM, PH, VA if sourced by CT, LA or MoD ** ** OUTS - ELSENT, FPG, CM - OUTS * NM, PH, VA if sourced by CT, LA or MoD **

Opinion: Renting in L.A. could go from bad to worse

Tenants who are behind on payments now face evictions, and landlords are likely to keep units empty for longer as they hold out for the most qualified applicants.

Feb. 13, 2024

We’ve seen how tenants can curb plans to destroy existing low-income and rent-controlled housing. Last year in Boyle Heights, for example, a tenant association in Union de Vecinos discovered its rent-controlled building was slated for demolition to make way for a mixed-use housing development. But the tenant association was able to push L.A. City Councilmember Kevin De León to institute an interim ordinance to halt demolitions in the neighborhood.

COVID-19 eviction moratoriums at the federal, state and local levels cracked open a window of possibility for tenants facing displacement: Temporarily protected from evictions during the pandemic, they had time to organize, putting them in a better position to fight for their homes in the future. Across the country , tenant unions have blossomed, knitted together nationally through the Autonomous Tenants Union Network .

But tenants continue to face challenges, especially in Los Angeles, where several pandemic-era renter protection programs have ended . L.A. should formalize tenants’ power over their homes by reducing landlords’ power to evict, and by using eminent domain and other means to expropriate property from slumlords and transfer legal ownership to the tenants.

The tenant association at Hillside Villa, a 124-home apartment building in Chinatown, has been demanding this for years. The L.A. housing authority was slated to buy the property and then transfer ownership to the tenants, which would have saved them from a huge rent hike that, in practice, meant a mass eviction. But the city has dragged its feet. Now residents face eviction . The city could still step in and prevent hundreds of families from losing their homes.

The city should move toward policies that yield housing to the people who already inhabit it. Tenant unions are much more effective than landlords at solving precarious housing issues by preserving and enforcing renters’ rights, ensuring good living conditions and keeping tenants housed. In the state of emergency that constitutes L.A.’s housing crisis, city and county officials should begin to listen to and work with residents, whose voices will only be growing louder. Only tenants can point the way to solutions that actually address the root causes of the housing crisis in a system that prioritizes the right to own property over the right to have a home.

Annie Powers is an organizer with Union de Vecinos and a PhD candidate in history at UCLA. Leonardo Vilchis-Zarate is an organizer with Union de Vecinos and a PhD student in Chicano/Central American Studies at UCLA. @lvilchisz

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LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 02: A broad coalition of tenants and housing rights organizers rally at Stanley Mosk Courthouse to protest eviction orders issued against renters Stanley Mosk Courthouse on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2020 in Los Angeles, CA. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 18: Bianca Lopez, 25, an outreach worker with We Are Los Angeles, a project of the Mayor's Fund for Los Angeles, drops of flyers at an apartment complex on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024 in Los Angeles, CA. The Mayor's Fund for Los Angeles, a nonprofit closely associated with City Hall, shifted its focus last year to preventing homelessness through preventing evictions. Outreach workers who visit neighborhoods across Los Angeles where tenants are at risk of eviction and seek to connect those tenants with information and resources to help them keep their homes. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)

At risk of eviction in L.A.? These outreach workers are looking for you

Feb. 9, 2024

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Arcata, California November 17, 2023-Students Brad Butterfield and Maddy Montiel study in their campers on the Cal Poly Humboldt campus. The university recently issued an eviction notice for students who sleep in their vehicles. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)

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Single-family house sells for $3.5 million in Newton

  • Published: Apr. 09, 2024, 3:11 p.m.

260 Franklin Street - Google Street View

260 Franklin Street - Google Street View

  • Real Estate Newswire | Staff

A spacious historic house located at 260 Franklin Street in Newton has new owners. The 5,840-square-foot property, built in 1906, was sold on March 22, 2024. The $3,500,000 purchase price works out to $599 per square foot. This three-story home offers a spacious layout with six bedrooms and six bathrooms. On the exterior, the home features a hip roof design constructed with slate roofing. Inside, a fireplace adds character to the home. The property is equipped with hot water heating and a cooling system. In addition, the house provides a detached one-car garage, offering a designated parking space and extra storage capacity. The property encompasses a generous 0.6-acre of land.

These nearby houses have also recently been sold:

  • On Waverley Avenue, Newton, in August 2022, a 2,130-square-foot home was sold for $1,525,000, a price per square foot of $716. The home has 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.
  • A 4,049-square-foot home at 6 Hyde Avenue in Newton sold in October 2023, for $2,300,000, a price per square foot of $568. The home has 7 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms.
  • In March 2024, a 2,196-square-foot home on Centre Street in Newton sold for $2,100,000, a price per square foot of $956. The home has 4 bedrooms 1 bathroom.

Real Estate Newswire is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to generate analysis of data from Propmix, an aggregator of national real-estate data. See more Real Estate News

More realestate news

  • Sale closed in Falmouth: $2.1 million for a four-bedroom home
  • Three-bedroom home in Truro sells for $4 million
  • Single family residence sells in Newton Center for $2.6 million
  • Single family residence in Truro sells for $2 million
  • Condominium sells in Buzzards Bay for $1.3 million

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Home — Essay Samples — Life — Single Parenting — The Life of Single Mothers: Difficulties and Joyful Moments

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The Life of Single Mothers: Difficulties and Joyful Moments

  • Categories: Mother Single Parenting

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Words: 510 |

Published: Sep 5, 2023

Words: 510 | Page: 1 | 3 min read

Table of contents

Challenges of single motherhood, the power of resilience, support networks and community, breaking stereotypes and redefining success, empowering children, embracing self-care.

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essay on single family

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COMMENTS

  1. My Mom is a Single Parent: Personal Experience

    My mom is a single parent, and her journey has taught me valuable lessons about strength, determination, and the unbreakable bond that exists between a parent and a child. This essay explores the unique challenges and triumphs of being raised by a single parent, the impact it has on family dynamics, and the powerful role my mom plays in shaping ...

  2. Being A Single Parent: [Essay Example], 517 words GradesFixer

    Being a single parent is a challenging and complex role that requires immense strength, resilience, and dedication. Single parenting is often associated with various socioeconomic challenges, emotional struggles, and societal stigmas. However, it is essential to recognize the unique experiences and strengths that single parents possess.

  3. How Does Society View Single Parents? Research Paper

    A single parent refers to one who cares for one or more children without the help of one of the biological parents of the child or children. Different nations have varying laws related to single parenthood. These laws determine how those families are treated or served by their respective governments.

  4. The Single-Parent Family

    A single parent is someone who is unmarried, widowed, or divorced and not remarried. The single-parent household can be headed by a mother, a father, a grandparent, an uncle, or aunt. According to ...

  5. Single parenting and today's family

    The single parent may feel overwhelmed by the responsibilities of juggling caring for the children, maintaining a job, and keeping up with the bills and household chores. And typically, the family's finances and resources are drastically reduced following the parents' breakup. Single parent families deal with many other pressures and ...

  6. Children's Development with Single Parent

    Conclusion. A single-parent family might not be the ideal environment in which to bring up children, but if that single-parent family provides cheerful stability and appropriate modelling, and is one in which love and acceptance are positively displayed, then it is a far better environment for young children than a two-parent family where bitterness and hostility are constantly present.

  7. Single Parent Essay

    Single Parent Essay; Single Parent Essay. Sort By: Page 1 of 50 - About 500 essays. Decent Essays. Single Parents And Single Parent Families. 1575 Words; 7 Pages ... children growing up in a single parent family have been viewed as different. But, being raised by only one parent can seem so impossible to many yet, over decades it has become ...

  8. Single Parenting: Impact on Child's Development

    A single parent can be a single mother or a single father, a solo parent, where the individual is a divorcee or a widow or widower, separated from their partner and unplanned pregnancy, or could be a single parent by choice, where a man or woman chooses to become a single parent through donor insemination or adoption living with one or more dependent children without the presence and support ...

  9. The Explosive Rise of Single-Parent Families Is Not a Good Thing

    The Explosive Rise of Single-Parent Families Is Not a Good Thing. Sept. 17, 2023. Akshita Chandra/The New York Times. Share full article. By Melissa S. Kearney. Ms. Kearney is the author of the ...

  10. The Struggles of Single Parenting

    Introduction. Parenting is the central role of family, which is the basic unit of society. Thus, a society is characterized by the quality of parenting achieved at the family level. The stigma surrounding single parenthood is borne out of the contemporary notion that family comprises a father, mother and children (Hanson, 44).

  11. Single Parenting: Growing Up In A Single Parent Family [Free Essay

    It is a lot of pressure for one parent to make all the decisions, it is indeed emotionally exhausting. It is a single parent responsibility to meet his/her children emotional needs, as well as, their personal needs. Some children who live with single parents, exhibited disruptive behaviour and anger tantrums at school.

  12. Essay on Single-Parent Families

    Decent Essays. 820 Words. 4 Pages. 1 Works Cited. Open Document. The journal article is talking about the difficulties which the single-parent families facing, such as emotional problems, housing stress and financial stress. It generated different viewpoints from different literature, and suggested an approach to meet the needs of single-parents.

  13. 20 Engaging Essays About Family You Can Easily Write

    19. My Most Vivid Family Memory. You can use this personal essay topic when writing essays about the family. Think back to your childhood and your most vivid family memory. Maybe it is something positive, like an epic family vacation, or maybe it is something negative, like the time when your parents split up.

  14. Free Essays on Single Parenting, Examples, Topics, Outlines

    For most families today, single parenthood was common. The majority of solitary childcare is for women or more for mothers. One parent raises a child without the other parent s support. Research shows that one out of two children in the United States are raised in a single family before 18... Mother Single Parenting Social Problems. Words: 1800.

  15. Growing Up In A Single-Parent Family

    Children growing up in a single parent family know that marriage is not a fairy tale and is definitely not perfect or for that matter even close to being perfect.. They saw their mom or dad's marriage fail and realized that marriage takes a lot of work, time, and dedication. Children in this situation also know that families have to work hard ...

  16. Argumentative Essay On Single Parent Family

    Eng102. 25 March 2008. Single Parent Struggle For many years, children growing up in a single parent family have been viewed as different. Being raised by only one parent seems impossible to many yet over the decades it has become more prevalent. In today's society many children have grown up to become emotionally stable and successful ...

  17. Essay on Single Parenting: Two Parents Or One?

    The simple fact is that being a single parent is a very difficult task, whether it is a single father or a single mother. A family consists of a father and a mother with their children, not just one parent. Single-parent homes create a lot of stress and worries on the parent as well as the children, and the stress and worries are not needed by ...

  18. Growing Up in a Single Parent Family

    For many years, children growing up in a single parent family have been observed as divergent. Being raised up by only one parent seems incredible to many, yet over the years it has become more usual. Today many children have grown up to become emotionally steady and successful whether they had one or two parents to show them the ups and downs ...

  19. Essay on Importance of Family for Students and Children

    A family is a group of people who are related by blood or heritage. These people are linked not only by blood but also by compassion, love, and support. A person's character and personality are shaped by his or her family. There are various forms of families in today's society. It is further subdivided into a tight and extended family ...

  20. Essay on My Family for School Students & Children

    500+ Words Essay on My Family. Families are an integral part of one's life. It does not matter if you have a small or big family, as long as you have one. A family serves as the first school to the child where one learns about various things. The basic knowledge about one's culture and identity comes from their family only.

  21. Essay On Single Family

    Essay On Single Family. 1484 Words3 Pages. A family is made up of two or more people, related by birth, marriage, or adoption and residing in the same home. Society's definition of 'family' has changed throughout history and includes blended families, single parents, homosexual couples, among others. Families are more ethnically, racially ...

  22. SIngle Parent Family Essay

    SIngle Parent Family Essay. Decent Essays. Improved Essays. Superior Essays. Great Essays. Brilliant Essays. Page 1 of 50 - About 500 Essays Improved Essays. Single Parent Families. 1996 Words; 8 Pages; Single Parent Families. A single parent is an uncoupled individual who shoulders most or all of the day-to-day responsibilities for raising a ...

  23. Are single-parent families whole?

    There is a better-than-average chance that your family doesn't look like the Cleavers. Our survey of 2,279 single moms found that the majority of single moms are primary or sole caregivers for ...

  24. Being Raised by a Single Mother: Personal Experience

    Single Parent Struggle: Why Single Parenting is not Worse than Two-Parents Family Essay For many years, children growing up in a single parent family have been viewed as different. Being raised by only one parent seems impossible to many yet over the decades it has become more prevalent.

  25. Opinion: How tenant unions are finding power in numbers to fight L.A.'s

    The city put forth ambitious programs to meet California mandates for affordable housing — and then weakened them by exempting single-family neighborhoods. March 4, 2024

  26. Single-family house sells for $3.5 million in Newton

    A spacious historic house located at 260 Franklin Street in Newton has new owners. The 5,840-square-foot property, built in 1906, was sold on March 22, 2024. The $3,500,000 purchase price works ...

  27. The Life of Single Mothers: Difficulties and Joyful Moments: [Essay

    Single mothers face a multitude of challenges that often test their emotional, financial, and physical well-being. Balancing work and parenting, financial strain, lack of support, and feelings of isolation can become constant companions on their journey. The weight of these challenges can be daunting, yet single mothers rise above them with ...