Sole parenting vs two parents

Does The Development Of A Child Vary From Single To Double Parent Households? Over the years, children growing up with a sole parent have been regarded as different. The upbringing of a child by one parent alone seems impossible to many yet over the years it has become more predominant. This argument has always been an interesting discussion point in my life.

This argument focuses on whether it is beneficial for a child in a single parent household or a dual parent household.

In today’s society, many children have grown up to become emotionally stable whether or not they were brought up by a sole or two parents to show them the jagged path that life bestows upon all human beings. Does a child need more than one parent in his/her upbringing? Does a boy necessarily need a father figure around? What are the roles of step parents and siblings? These questions need answers and the only way is to find out whether there’s a difference in children being raised by single parents versus children brought up with two parents.

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This topic has become one of the most controversial arguments of all time. One thing people must understand is that raising a child does not depend on the basis of family structure but on the core values that the sole parent/parents inculcate in their child as they mature to adults. Children are said to be like “clay pots”, they can be molded into well rounded individuals if given the right guidance of course.

I argue that children with sole parents do not miss out on anything and can be just as blessed as kids that have two parents. Children that go through sole parenting can be just as progressive with social, emotional and behavioral skills as those with two parents.

More ever people claim that the only possible way children attain complete behavioral and emotional skills is to be raised by both a mother and father. With a topic as vast as this one, it would be naïve to simply link these problems to children having sole parents. In the article, “single parent families cause juvenile crime”, author Robert L. Maginnis states, “children from single parent families are more likely to have behavior problems because they tend to lack economic security and adequate time with parents”. This simple statement that convicts are products of sole parenting is ridiculous.

The writer of this article must consider the various difficulties one must go through raising a child singlehandedly. In most cases, a sole parent must work full time in order to provide for themselves and their child. Nevertheless they must also find spare time to spend with their child in order to offer the emotional support for the well-being of their child. Even though this sounds impossible, it can be and has been done!

Keeping in mind the severity of this topic, our society must realize that sole parenting is becoming common day by day. Since the year 1995, the family structure for children aged fourteen to eighteen consisted of forty-two percent living in a normal first marriage family with two parents, twenty-two percent living with a step family (either separated or divorced), six percent living with never married single parents and three percent living in a widowed single parent family.

These horrific statistics not only reflect on the fact that people nowadays put such less faith into relationships before mutually deciding to have children. A staggering fifty- eight percent of children in the United States are a part of single parent families. Regrettably not all sole parents spend time to perform the necessary tasks needed to raise their children. Parents who doubt their abilities in taking care of their children should have thought about the consequences of parenting before they actually became parents.

Keeping in mind that accidents happen one awhile, barring that minority, most adults know what is at stake when choosing to have children. I believe in one golden rule, if you’re not ready, don’t do it! It’s our duty as adults to weigh out all the pros and cons of having a child in our respective current financial and social condition. If the couple spend more time outside trying to earn for the family, it is wise not to consider having a child in that situation. The child could feel neglected in his/her early years as both parents have low income and need to earn more per child added to the family. I firmly believe in the saying “where there is a will, there’s a way”. If you love this child, you can definitely be a good parent.

The writer Magginnis later states that, “boys who do not have fathers as male role models suffer especially”. Whilst keeping in mind the importance of a father figure around a boy, it is still possible to teach the boy lessons he needs to become a man in the near future. I can tell from personal experience that what the writer of this article is trying to convey is false. I never had my father around when I was a toddler and I in fact did have many male role models. My uncle was always there to pick me up when I fell, constantly reminding me “never to give up to the difficulties life throws at us” but to embrace them head on.

Whenever my mother or uncle went to work, my grandparents and aunts always came to look after and provide me with the necessary attention I needed as a child. All in all, my family helped me blossom into the man I am today. Although I came to find out how hard it actually was for my mother to meet the needs of her child, she not only did the best she possibly could for my upbringing but also provided me with the knowledge I needed to become a successful man without the guidance of my father. And for that I will respect her and the rest of my family for the rest of my life.

The term family comprises of several key components, Responsibility being one of the key core values. Most parents do not realize how fortunate they are in terms of passing mere responsibilities to their children whilst other children receive far too many. Children being raised by two parents receive very few responsibilities as compared to children that grow up with a single parent. Making supper for themselves at times because of their parent working extra hours to taking care of younger siblings till their parent got back home are some of the very tedious responsibilities a child in a single parent household must go through. I did experience having a step father in the latter part of my life. In today’s world, about twenty five percent of all children in the United States will come across being a part of a step family.

This may seem like the next best alternative to the single parent as they gain not only emotional but financial stability and assurance. However, a step parent can not only cause emotional stress and confusion on the respective child but will also have to get used to a new parent figure in their lives. After weighing the outcomes, I firmly believe the development of a child does not necessarily involve both parents to become a well-rounded human being. With the right values and agenda, the parent, not necessarily being two parents ultimately lead to the upbringing of a well-rounded individual.

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