Do you feel that children who are raised in two party homes are more likely to live happier lives?

Question

This has been a on-going debate between my friends and I. while i think that it is wonderful for children to grow up with both "active" parents in the house, it isn't always going to happen like that. And just because a child grows up in a single parent home doesn't mean they will have more problems in life than that of one who has both parents. Let's look at it for a second. Say both parents live in the home yet , they argue, have little to no commnuication and are very emotionally unattached to one another. Or say a child has both parents in the home but one or both parents work more and spend time with their child less. Wouldn't this effect the child more than that of a child with only one active parent? My friends say a child in a two party home will grow up happier, I say lets look at it from all angles and then decide. What do you think?

Answer 1

Kids are better off in a two party house especially when both parents are kind, loving and are good role models for their kids.

Answer 2

I don't think it's the quantity of parents in the home, but rather the quality of the parenting that will determine a child's happiness. I think it's important for children to have both male and female influences, but it doesn't necessarily have to be part of the living situation. A single mom can have very happy children, as can a single dad, if the children know they are loved and wanted, and are provided a with a safe, caring environment.

Very good question.

Answer 3

Honestly it doesn't matter what kind of home a child will have wether it be with a single parent, both of them, or a legal gaurdian you never know.. and i agree you should look at it from different angles. think about the children that really don't have a family but they're still happy why is that?

Answer 4

Again, I think it goes back to each different situation. Overall, yes, I believe children will be best served in a loving, two parent home. But if the home is not happy, loving and secure, then it would be better with one parent that does embody all those things. Also, again, if the choice is between permanency or growing up in foster care being shuffled from home to home, definately one loving, permanent parent is better.

Answer 5

My mom and dad seperated a few years ago and are now divorced. When we left him I was sad for a while, but then when I worked everything out I found a peace and happiness I never had while the family was together. I have tried living with him a few times, but that ended in a disaster and as long as my father stays out of my life I'm happy. I don't feel like there's something missing in my life, because my Mom is like a mom and dad. She found someone else and I can't be happier for her. I always say rather be happy in a broken family than sad in a whole one. I am very happy my mom left my dad and wouldn't have wanted it any other way.

Answer 6

I think it is better for a child to be in a happy single parent home,than to be in an unhappy 2 parent home. I made the mistake of marrying after my husband died when my daughter was little, looking back, I think we would have been better off if it had been the 2 of us. Just a mother's opinion.

Answer 7

I had both parents in the home and I turned out fine,now I raised my older children alone for quite some time,and both are moody unhappy kids....so i guess it is how the child handles their situation.If a child has grown up in a single parent home,and that is all they know,then they are used to it and know no other way to live

Answer 8

You're both wrong. The important thing for a child is to have love and care from someone consistently, someone to be there for them unconditionally. That is difficult with only one person, and not easy even with two.

The best family of all is the extended family you still find in a few parts of the US, but mostly in Asia and Africa. Several generations live together or in close proximity and everyone takes responsibility for caring for the children, even the older children.

Answer 9

The argument about the parents not getting along or and one is always at work and not have time to spend with the kids is irrelevant, because what really affects children is the realationship with a parent, if any parent is gone/absent, then children begin to show immoral behaviours because of the hurt that they feel.

Answer 10

yes if they've learned enough from their experience of growing up with their single parents.... i wont let my children grow up in the same enviroment that i had when i was growing up i would teach them to have a happy family all together in one roof but there are also instances that children that grew up with a single parent turn rebelous to the other parent causing early marriage that will sometimes cause seperation... at this stage if i'm a single parent or my opinion for single parent is that try to teach the value of family to your children at an early stage... teach them to be humble and the respect to their other parent must not be forgotten... making the same mistakes or judgment made when you got married causing this seperation...