| News reports often contain dire reports on the | | | | to compare the two homes and make decisions |
| effects on kids being raised in single parent families. | | | | about which model works best for her when she |
| Certainly, there are drawbacks to living with only one | | | | reaches adulthood. |
| parent. But, there are also many advantages for kids | | | | Stepparents can also be a benefit. A child may feel |
| who are raised in a one-parent home. | | | | comfortable confiding in a stepparent instead of a |
| Conflict-ridden homes have been shown through | | | | parent when the going gets tough. Your kids could |
| research to be the worst living situation for kids. If | | | | gain an extended stepfamily which offers more |
| the prior two-parent living environment included | | | | opportunities to get establish strong ties with other |
| ongoing conflict, a change to living with only one | | | | people who care about your child. They may even |
| parent can have positive effects on the kids such as | | | | get exposed to new experiences that shape their |
| a gradual lessening of anxiety. Kids learn how to do | | | | choice of livelihood or recreational interests. |
| relationships from observing the adults around them. | | | | Kids in single parent families tend to become |
| It's often better for the kids to see no relationship | | | | independent faster than other kids. The sole parent |
| with the parents living apart than to have a poor | | | | probably has a job and many other items to tend to, |
| relationship model when the parent stay together. | | | | so the kids often have to learn how to do things for |
| Kids who live through the breakup of their parents | | | | themselves such as fix a snack or finish a chore. Kids |
| learn how to handle hardship and being different from | | | | that have two parents or especially, a stay-at-home |
| their peers. Even though your home may not | | | | parent may not have as many opportunities to take |
| represent the cultural ideal living situation, it can still be | | | | part in the daily household tasks. Kids also learn that |
| filled with love and shared good times. | | | | they should not be completely reliant on a future |
| Single parents often end up spending more time with | | | | mate, since they could also end up living alone or |
| their children than they did when they were with | | | | parenting on their own. |
| their former partner. Cooking duties may be reduced, | | | | The opportunity to celebrate each holiday twice is |
| since kids are often satisfied with simpler meals. | | | | often the favorite benefit of kids. Christmas at two |
| Some partners are not very involved with | | | | homes can often result in more gifts than the kids |
| housework and if this was the case, there may be | | | | would have gotten had the parents stayed together. |
| more time due to having one less person's laundry to | | | | A home with two biological or adoptive parents does |
| do and messes to clean up after. | | | | provide many advantages. But, a one-parent home |
| Having two homes can turn out to be an advantage | | | | can also offer positive benefits for the kids. You can |
| for your kids. They get to see other styles of living | | | | sympathize with your kids about the loss of their |
| and get exposure to other personal beliefs if | | | | two-parent home, but focus on the advantages of |
| stepparents are involved. If the circumstances at the | | | | your new lifestyle and fill your home with love. Your |
| other home are less than ideal, the child will be able | | | | single parent family can be a successful family! |