Even in today's sophisticated society, single parent families are often stigmatized and thoughtlessly perceived
as not entirely as functional as two parent families.
Most single moms can verify how such a stigma
seems to linger over our heads like a dark, ominous
cloud. Men assume because we have children, we are
desperate for husbands, schools believe us to be operating
with a disability and very few churches have created
ministries exclusively for us.
I could go on.
By some, our families are viewed as abnormal, incomplete
or fragmented. Our homes are called “broken”
and are indirectly associated with producing defective
or maladjusted children. The sad reality is that
the majority of the people who raise these criticisms
have had limited exposure with successful single
parent families and are narrowly interpreting “so
called” research written by people who know little about
us or the human side of our families. Allow me to
be among the first to tell you that contrary to popular
opinion, most single moms succeed wonderfully at
raising healthy, happy well-adjusted children. In numerous
categories, our family types outshine our two parent
contenders.
By no means am I glamorizing single parenting as an ideal family
situation. Two-parent families create a continuum
of support invaluable to healthy youth development.
Nonetheless, the story doesn’t end there.
Our families possess some specific, undeniable strengths
that effectually enable us raise healthy, well-developed
children. Our one parent families can create a
less troublesome environment than several of our
two-parent counterparts. For example, parents in a distressed
two-parent family are often overwhelmed with
maintaining a healthy marriage and can easily overlook
the emotional and developmental needs of their
children. Likewise, two parents in emotional duress
inadvertently model an unhealthy, undesired model
of family life in plain view their children. Growing
up in such an atmosphere can influence harmful patterns
and cycles of broken relationships throughout generations!.
On the other hand, single parent families don’t fall victim
to such pitfalls. Ideally, we can engineer stability
and emotional wellness within ourselves without
the added worries connected with caring for a spouse.
In short, all we have to worry about is ourselves!
Within our homes, our children see no arguing or
power struggles between authority figures. As a
result, many single parent homes are better equipped
to provide a relaxed, fun home atmosphere for children
to grow, develop and thrive. It has been stated
that children of healthy single parents frequently
acquire competencies and valuable life skills that
prepare them to be productive, independent adults.
Also, if functioning well our families tend to be
to be closer and cooperative with one another.
Undoubtedly, our family structure does have its fair share
of challenges, but none of them are fatal. Yes, ideally
a child should have two healthy, well-balanced parents.
That's the way God intended it, but it doesn't
always work out that way. So we must accentuate
the positive and go on to excel as mothers, flourish
as women, and produce healthy young people despite
being single and despite the prejudices against
our family types. So, hold your head high and embrace
who you are and where you are during this "single
parent" season in your life."
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