Is it more difficult for single parents to raise children ?

Question

And what is your point of view on the stay at home vs. career Mom/Dad debate?

Answer 1

I am a single mom and I don't find it difficult at all.
I only have one child though and a great support system and a great family to help out. I don't have as much money as I would like but we don not lack for anything and sometimes I wish I could have a moment alone but I know some married peopel whose husbands are never around and I would rather be alone in that case
As far as sahm and working, all families are different. It all depends on the situation.
I had no choice but daycare was great-my daughter is a straight A student and more mature than some 13 yr olds I know

Answer 2

I have been a single mom before with 2 children. I am now married and we also have children together. I think that it is much easier to have some help! Plus, my children have a father figure and it makes a huge difference! Sometimes, it can be hard agreeing with my husband on the best way to discipline the kids though especially when you are used to doing it yourself. There is a huge difference to me though and I would much rather have my husband around to help me anyday! My views on being a stay at home mom....It's hard! I have done both, but I really do not like having my children in daycare when they are really young. I have no problem with people that do it. I just personally wouldn't do it until a child was atleast a year. The guy that said stay at home moms are lazy has no clue! I work a lot harder than I ever worked with my job!! There are benefits too though! I think that every situation is different and what works for you, may not work for someone else. Good luck!

Answer 3

I'm not sure if its a matter of it being more diffucult for a single parent to raise a child. Parenting itself has its owns diffuculties and obstacles whether its a 2 parent household or a single parent home.

As for the SAHM vs. Working Mom debate, every situation is different and every child is different. In a perfect world everyone would be able to stay at home with their kids and devote all their time to them but this isn't a perfect world. Some children are social creatures and flourish is a daycare situation while others are more introverted and benefit from an at-home situation. There is no one way that is good for every single child, there are always exceptions to every rule. There are benefits and there are downsides to each situation, its just a matter of figuring out what is best for your child first.

Answer 4

These are two long debates.

Of course it's more difficult for single parents to raise children. In a normal relationship, the parents share the loads. In my relationship, I was a single parent the day my kids were born so that when I actually became a single parent, the only thing that changed was my finances. That is a huge impact on stress and manageability, but I am making it (6 years now!).

Some people are not cut out to be stay at home people (me) and some people are. It's a tough question, but you do the best you can and no one should make anyone feel inferior for whatever choices they made. Some choices are thrust upon us! It's called life. Some people can conscientiously and proactively make choices and that's great. I love working and being productive in that atmosphere. I depend on this for my self-worth.

Answer 5

i am a single mom and I find it can be harder in that 'if something happens to me.. what about the kids...' kinda thing. YOU ARE IT! I have a dysfunctional family... so I AM it, as far as I am concerned (but not them, lol). Also financially is harder. And child care for when I go to work. But as far as raising my kids, I love it! No one with their opinions or judgements of 'why aren't the kids in bed'... or 'just let them have a chocolate bar'... or 'just give them a spanking already'.. none of that. We have a very relaxed home and no one undermines or judges anyone... I am the authority, my kids are well disiplined, etc... it works great.

Mom/ Dad debate. All I can say to that is that I was raised in a pretty bad home. It took me till I was 29 to figure out that I was on anti anxeity meds... when all i had to do was move away from my family. So I did and am doing very good, and going to school for a better career, have self confidence. If I had been raised in a nuturing envirnoment that supported who I am as a person... (whether it be with a single dad, a single mom, or a gay couple)... I would have 'found myself and my life' before 30 and would still have my family in my life. It is the quality of the home, not the amount and gender of people.

Answer 6

Seems like a no-brainer. Children need two parents because they learn and have different needs fulfilled from both a mother and a father... no such thing as being a mom and a dad.

My POV on the stay at home/career is do whatever's best for your family and after that, it's no one's business. I'm a stay at home mom but I've also had a career. I personally love the whole 50's housewife thing and that's my business and my husband's.

Answer 7

This is a difficult question to answer without knowing your economic situation. It is most definitely more difficult for single parents to raise children as you are the only one there to take care of everything. You have no one to fall back on at home when you need a break from the everyday duties of a parent and believe me, there is more to it than most people realize. If you have an excellent support group such as family and friends you are far better off than most single parents.
As far as home vs. career I can tell you from experience that if you are financially able to stay at home then absolutely do so. My older children, now 33 and 27, never wanted for anything, except more time and attention from Mom and Dad.
After our divorce the younger boys, now 21 and 16, never lacked affection and attention from me as I worked only part time most of the their "growing up" years. For the last 5 years I have been at home and my relationship with the two younger boys is much closer than with the older two. They seem to get by with what I can afford to buy them and place a greater value on money and material things.
Never exchange the time your children need to spend with you during their younger years for the opportunity to buy them better things, or have what everyone else has. You can never take back those years but you can always buy them "something" later on in life as usually your economic situation improves with age.

Answer 8

I think each situation is different. It depends on alot of factors. Raising kids is difficult no matter how much support you have- whether that is dual parents in the same home, dual parents in separate homes, single parents with a lot of extended family, or single parenting with support from friends and community. There can be difficulties in finances within a marriage just as easily as there can be for a single parent relying on one income. I have been in both situations and am currently in a relationship. I sometimes wish I was a single parent again- for the simple fact that I only have to deal with my own feelings in relation to stress and finances and worries and not my significant other's as well. However, my daughter loves her step-father dearly and the love and support he brings to her life is immeasurable in comparrison to the difficulties I may have in squables over bills and chores and parenting styles that must be worked out between us. Each situation comes with many pros and cons that must be looked at and weighed carefully. Although, being a single parent can at times be easier because you can remove the extra emotions and demands of pleasing someone else- you also remove the presence of a loving, supportive parent in life of you child(ren).

For the stay at home debate- that too is a personal issue that depends on the curcumstances of the household and persons involved. Even if the family is financially able to have a parnet stay home- it is not always the best choice for that family. Just because someone is able to stay home, it may not be in their best interest mentally to be at home all day- some people need contact daily with adults or intellectual stimulation to the mind through work to feel validated and to have self-worth, which is important to staying healthy as a family and spouce.

Great question..

Answer 9

I guess it could be harder for a single person to raise a child... specially if the child gets sick and needs to be assisted overnight... and the parent has to go to work and needs to rest well.

But... if the couple is not getting along well and the companion is not helping, if he/she is not supportive, I understand being "not-single" can be more an emotional burden than a help.

I will not say anything pro a mom who works. I had a mom like that and it wasn't an enjoyable experience. I would say that... if money is needed so badly (as it was in my family) don't stay at home. If you can manage with just one parent's income, It would be better if the other parent stays home. That's for the children's sake.

Greetings!!

Answer 10

Of course it's more difficult for one person than two to raise a family. If you can afford a stay at home parent that's a good thing. Another way is to stagger work schedules so that a parent is always home with the kids.

The only time SAHP is bad is when it's a single parent having everyone else pay their way.