With all the myths and clichés about step mothers and fathers, dealing with step children can be difficult. Single parents who fall in love and decide to marry may feel that they are not building a new life together on their own; instead, each is moving into a family structure that already exists. Problems of ex-spouses, failed marriages or bereavement will have to be dealt with along with step relationships. However, in recent times there are more and more families taking this decision and enriching each others lives. Click here to Read more
Running a single parent household is a daunting task, and yet it is something that is more frequently heard of today than even a decade ago. Being a single parent could be a result of choice, divorce or death of a partner. When faced with having to deal with the trauma of a separation or death, individuals with children often find that being a single parent is the harder task. Click here to Read more
Children of single parents need more attention and care than those in two-parent households to help them adjust and understand the world. Single parents are often reluctant to ask for help, afraid that it will show weakness or an inability to cope. However, it is often the smartest and most efficient solution. Family and friends of single parent homes can help with tasks like babysitting, picking up children from school or nursery, looking after children when errands have to be run, or helping with homework. Affordable child play groups or after-school care centers are also options that should be considered when deciding on a new routine for a single parent household.
A common problem faced by single parent households is a lack of a role model for children. While most children grow up observing the interaction between two parents and learning about healthy social responsibilities or relationships, single parent families need to be creative about this. Trusted relatives and close family friends often offer a chance for children to observe and learn through interaction. Click here to Read more