Single Mother Resources
Negative Positives Single Parenting Article
This is a selection made from among articles on Negative Positives Single Parenting. For a permanent link to this article, or to bookmark it for future reading, click here.
Are There Any Advantages Of Single Parenting
from: Karlie BestlerPeople often point out the many disadvantages of single parenting, from loss of economic opportunity for the single mothers to increased incidences of behavioral problems in schools by the children of single parent families. Despite all the negative aspects of single parenting, the demographic is not going away. The number of single parents is actually increasing year by year.
Despite the many disadvantages single parenting presents, not everyone had a choice about being in that category. While most single parenting households are created by divorce or death of a spouse, there are some women who are becoming single mothers by choice. The reasons are usually that they consider themselves economically and emotionally ready to have children but have not found a suitable mate. Rather than marry and risk a potential divorce, they opt for artificial insemination.
The advantages of single parenting for these women is that they can cheat the biological clock and have children despite the fact that they are not married or don't have a mate. This makes the risk of growing too old to have children less of an issue for successful career women who are having difficulty finding a mate.
Another demographic of single parents is those that were in relationships that did not provide a good environment for the children. There partners may have been abusive, chemically dependent or hostile. In these situations, becoming a single parent may be necessary for the safety of the mother and the children. In these cases the advantages of single parenting are security, a stable household and an opportunity to raise a family away from poor influences or violence.
Some advantages of single parenting are not influenced by demographics or culture. They are inherent in the role of the single parent in the household. A single parent household does not have two decision makers. There is only one income earner, but there are no conflicts as to how to spend the money.
Another economic advantage of single parenting can be that you are no longer tied to your spouse's debts, as well as the assets. If you were married, you would share in the assets but would also be liable for the debts. So, although money is a key issue for single parents, it can be easier to manage and plan for the future with only one person spending and making the financial decisions.
If you are a single parent whose child is getting ready to go to college, there are advantages of single parenting versus being married. You may not have to claim the income of your former spouse on the FAFSA form. This might make your child eligible for need-based grants or other monies that have stringent income limitations.
Most people do not go into single parenting for the negative positives single parenting presents. They go into it usually by lack of choice. Once there, it is wise to understand what negative positives single parenting there are.
Related Articles for Negative Positives Single Parenting
Single-Parenting Online News
Grandpa, Mom and Baby, Too — All Under One Roof
As baby boomers age and young people struggle to find work, more families than ever before are choosing to pool resources by moving in together. The economic downturn accelerated this already growing national trend toward multiple generations living under the same roof.
Read more...