Parent vs. Two Parents Single

¶ … Parent vs. Two Parents Single Parent vs. Two-Parent Families: Little Difference In today's society, children are raised in a variety of family types. Some have a traditional two-parent household while others are raised in single parent homes. Divorce, one parent's decision not to remain in a relationship with the other parent, and death are a few of the reasons for single parent homes. Popular opinion has nearly always favored two-parent to single parent homes.

However, with the plethora of single parent homes now filling the country, many are wondering whether the number of parents in a home really makes a difference. Are other factors, such as parenting style, support from outside the immediate family, economic concerns, etc. more important than having two parents? By examining the parenting situation, economic conditions, and support networks of single and two-parent families, one can conclude that neither situation is ideal, or better than the other; instead, a variety of variables result in a happy childhood.

Growing up in a single parent family or two-parent family has implications for parenting styles. Single parent families may be forced to take on more of the parenting responsibilities, and so exhibit diminished capacity when it comes to parenting. Further, when a single parent dates, this may cause strife between parent and child, making the child feel as if he or she is competing for affection.

However, the single parent may also be able to form stronger bonds with his or her children because he or she does not have to divide his or her attention with a spouse or partner. In two-parent families, there is more than one parent to lavish affection on the child and protect the child from harm. However, this also provides a forum in which parents may fight or cause conflict, injuring the child greatly.

If times are difficult between husband and wife, focus may shift from the child, putting that child's well being in jeopardy. Thus, comparing a single parent family to a two-parent family when it comes to parenting offers both positives and negatives for either family, suggesting that one is not superior to the other. A family's economic status is also greatly affected by whether the family is a single or two-parent family.

In single parent families, it is generally up to one parent to provide the income off of which the rest of the family must live. That parent may struggle to make ends meet, allowing children to spend more time in childcare and in poverty. However, single parents may also have economically sound families if they have stable, good paying jobs and other sources of income, such as investments.

Two-parent families may be more likely to be able to provide for the children because of the potential to earn a higher income. In a two-parent family, children may not be as often subjected to the stress that comes from an impoverished economic situation. But two-parent families are not immune from the hardships of economic times, and children may face just as many of these stressors in a two-parent family if one parent does not work or looses his or her job.

Thus, while two-parent families may be slightly more likely to provide a greater deal of economic security, the single parent family can also be one greatly affected or not at all affected by economic hardship. Finally, support networks are perhaps the greatest resource that parents and children have; they are the people that parents and children can turn to in the event of an emergency or time of need.

Growing up in some single parent families, many children see large support networks that consists of parents' friends, family members, colleagues and members of the community. These are the support networks that aid a child the most when he or she is struggling through school and personal problems. With these support networks, single parents do not feel as overwhelmed as they might without them.

However, some single parents have few people to support them as a result of family feud, poverty while growing up, and a host of other reasons, and these single parents may struggle economically, emotionally, and psychologically, making the home a difficult place for the child. On the other hand, many two-parent families often have large support networks. Family members may form part of that network, while the parents' friends and acquaintances, as well as the congregation of a place of worship, can form.