Strengths of Single Parent Families

While different than a nuclear family, single-parent families have their own strengths from which to build.  If there is conflict between two parents before a divorce, changing to a single-parent family can result in less hostility and an increase in solidarity.

A single parent may have the flexibility to spend more time with his or her children without the demands of another adult. Single parents don't have to concern themselves with a spouse's needs or schedule.
Single parent families become more interdependent, finding that working together helps solve problems. Because single parents rely heavily on the voluntary cooperation of their children, it is a good idea to involve them with the decision-making and problem-solving processes. Young people tend to feel more needed and valued as contributing members of the household and are more likely to carry out decisions they played a part in making. In single-parent families, each child's help and cooperation is needed on a daily basis.
Single parenting presents challenges that often require new skills and further education. Single parents may discover new strengths they didn't know they had as they take on new responsibilities.
Single-parent families can provide support to each other. Groups can be a valuable resource for activities, sharing, personal grow


and new relationships

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and yet I wonder why carers are praised for taking care of a sick spouse ,parent etc and yet parents caring for theyre children alone arent given similair support?


Does anyone believe that one parent families are less stable than a two parent family.

I'ld rather be in a stable good single parent family than an unstable bad two parent family.

Overall better to have two parents family though.

Sprintcyclist wrote on May 20^th, 2007 at 11:21pm:

I'ld rather be in a stable good single parent family than an unstable bad two parent family. Overall better to have two parents family though.

agreed, but it is very tough for single parents who do a fantastic job---and this is in spite of the tough legislations.

I know and have known may single families. Not an enviable situation.
They would all LOVE a partner to help them. Esp a guy I work with.

Sprintcyclist wrote on May 23^rd, 2007 at 11:53pm:

I know and have known may single families. Not an enviable situation. They would all LOVE a partner to help them. Esp a guy I work with.

yes sprint,

A thankless task.

The most heartfelt thanks I have heard from children is for their single parents.

For good reason. Kids are wise.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Divorce-is-bad-for-environment/2007/12/04/1196530636018.html

Irked spouses looking for a reason to stay married were offered a novel rationale by US researchers on Monday: divorce is bad for the environment.

The global trend toward higher divorce rates has created more households with fewer people, scientists at Michigan State University reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

More households means more energy expended to build, fuel, and provide water for them, the researchers wrote.

"Globally, the number of households is increasing much faster than the number of people," said co-author Jianguo "Jack" Liu in a telephone interview.

"Even in regions with declining population, we see substantial increase in the number of households. Divorce is the main reason for reducing the number of people in a household," he said.