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Single Parent Dynamic Changing
By admin | November 28, 2007
The stereotype of low-income single moms and carelesess teenagers is far from accurate. To start with, the majority of unmarried moms are involved with the biological father, and many told us they live with him. Only 14% of all those polled are currently divorced. Because so many have a partner in the picture, more than half — 55% — said they wouldn’t even describe themselves as single. “My daughter’s father and I have been together for more than six years, but when we found out I was pregnant, we decided that taking on new roles as husband and wife might detract from our upcoming roles of ‘mommy’ and ‘daddy,’” explains Myranda Bellman of Valparaiso, Indiana. “I think the status of the relationship is unimportant. What matters is that the mother and father are dependable and consistent.”
Women today choose not to marry for many reasons, including simply not getting around to it. “I have been with my partner for more than ten years; however, life, money, and the pursuit of an education got in the way,” says Mary Orlando of Spring, Texas. “Two children later, we still have not bothered with the stress of planning a wedding. When my children ask, I will tell them that we are married in our hearts, because marriage isn’t about the dress, cake, or ring — it’s really about two people who love each other unconditionally.” The attitude that marriage is “just a piece of paper” hit home with 32% of the unmarried moms surveyed, and others commented that they either “don’t see the need to mess with a relationship that’s working fine” or don’t want to “pin each other down.” But many of these women may be offering up the politically correct excuses. A whopping 81% of unmarried moms also agreed that “marriage is a sacred institution” and that “a child needs two parents.” And 64% admitted that they “wish they were married. So it seems the definition of a single parent family is changing and that is a good thing.
Topics: Single Parents, Stress of Parenting, Joys of Parenting, Parenting Advice, Parenting News |