For many years, growing up with a single parent children has been viewed as different. Being raised by only one parent seems impossible to many. The problem lies in the difference between children raised by single parents versus children raised by both a mother and a father. Does a child need both parents? Does a young boy need a father figure around? Does the government provide help for single parents? What role do step-parents and step-siblings play? What people must understand is that properly raising a child does not rely on the structure of a family but should be more focused on the process or values that are taught to these children.
Children of single parents can be just as progressive with emotional, social, and behavioral skills as those with two parents. Some People claim that the only way for children to gain full emotional and behavioral skills is to be raised by both a mother and a father. The simple statement that raw criminals are products of single-parent adolescence is absurd. A single-parent must work full time to be able to afford to provide for themselves and their child. They must also be able to still have time to offer an emotional time for the well-being of their child. However, even though this may seem impossible, it can be done. Unfortunately, not all single parents take the time to perform the vital tasks needed to raise their children. Parents who think they would never be able to provide emotional stability for their children by themselves should have taken the time to think this through before deciding to become parents. A step-parent can cause another confusion and emotional stress on the child since they have just had to adjust to only one parent and now have to adjust to a new parental figure stepping into the family role. Another factor of bringing a step-parent into a single family’s life is new step-siblings to get along with. It might not be justified for a stepparent to punish their step-child as they would their flesh and blood.
Children who are raised with both a mother and a father have more attention from both parents therefore they get the emotional time they need to progress in life. This could be true but not in all circumstances. It would not be beneficial at all to grow up in a two-parent family that did nothing but argue and put each other down. Naturally, a child who sees this from a very young age until they are ready to be out on their own would only follow in the footsteps of all that they have ever known. Growing up with a single parent children who are raised by one parent who devotes their time and emotion to their child would benefit much more than a child who has both parents showing them that fighting and arguing is acceptable. Not all families are lucky enough to have a healthy structure.
Finally, society and the government need to notice these structural differences and take action. There should be government-funded programs to help assist single-parent families with childcare and finances for parents who must work and still have time for their children. Whether it’s a mother and a father, a single mother, or a single father, children need guidance. They will only become a product of what they are taught from a young age and these children are deeply affected emotionally by the amount of love and compassion that is put into raising them. Whichever family structure is implied it must be one of respect and strong moral values that they can someday pass on to their family and the society.
