Are you the child of a single parent or a single parent?

Question

I am the child of a single parent and from what I can see despite the condemnation from society most people in these situations ( be it parent or child) have an incredibly strong bond.

I have always had a feeling of 'in this together ' with my mum.

Is it all a myth that children such as me turn out bad? I don't have a single person in my circle of family or friends were any turned out 'bad'. Infact it was the opposite!

I'm 38 btw..not a 'kid' anymore!

Answer 1

Im a single parent

Answer 2

No, my parents are still together to this day.

& I don't think anyone having just one parent, will become a bad apple.

It's all about how you're raised.

Answer 3

yes im the youngest child of a 1 parent family i have 5 older siblings my father left when i was 3 and my siblings were all over the age of 12 they all turned out fine but i went off the rails as a teenager im close to most of my siblings but me and my mother never see eye to eye. but i stil cant say if the reason for me going off the rails had anything to do with coming from a 1 parent family or whether it was just me being wild. thankfully it was all just a phase and im as good as gold now at the tender age of 21 :)

Answer 4

i am a single parent and my daughter & i are close all kids need & want is love and attention from the one who takes care of them

Answer 5

My parents divorced when I was 10 and my mum raised me and my brother and sister alone as a working single other.

I left my girls' father when my youngest was six months and was a single parent for a few years.  I'm now 41, working, normal (in my humble opinion), happy, etc.  I was really glad when my parents split up because I was sick of the fighting :)

Answer 6

I am a child of seperated parents, though was brought up by Mum and stepdad.

Newly single mum so to be honest can't truly guage what it's like yet.

I don't think my kids will turn out bad - they will always have Daddy around even if he doesnt live with us. Parents can be good whether single or in a couple. Plenty of people from together parents turn out bad!

Answer 7

it is a myth that single parents are any worse than any other parents.

Answer 8

I have to say I was a single mom for 13 years...my son is now almost 15 years old...we have a super strong bond as you have described as well. I am 36 and I have to say I wouldn't have wanted to raise my son any other way. Yes it was very hard, but I did it on my own and without any government help.

Nice to see that a child brought up that way now at an adult state can be proud of their connection with their mom. I have been complimented on how nice and what a young man my son is....for ie... holding doors open in public not only for ladies but gents too. He is turning out to be a great young man.

Answer 9

I'm a child of two parents. It does take two by the way. But I moved into my aunt's house because my parents were "unfit" to have children. So I guess you can consider her a single parent.

Answer 10

No I am not

Answer 11

I am a child of a single parent.

Answer 12

I was raised by a single mom,,,my dad died when I was 12, and my husband left when my kids were 10 and 14....I agree with you..I had a special bond with my mother, and my kids and I were exceptionally close...

Answer 13

My mum and dad are in the middle of getting a divorce.....My dads an alcoholic thats why theyre divorcing. I'm 13.

Answer 14

I'm a single parent, and I agree with you about the bond.  I also think that the 'single parent stigma' is more conservative propaganda than hard evidence.

I know many children who have "turned out bad" in one way or another, some of them from single parents.  But in those cases, there were additional factors - drug abuse, poverty, and/or lack of education all came into play as well.  So I've never personally met a child who's life turned out badly just because there was only one parent in the house.

Statistics can be interpreted to suit any cause.  I'll stick with what I know - my child is happy and thriving, even though I'm a horrible rotten woman for not having a father for her in the home.  :)

Answer 15

I'm the daughter of a single parent and a single parent myself.

Answer 16

I dont think we turn out bad...I think we excel because we made it through a challenging obstacle.......I was raised by my mother also and my father was in and out i think the whole experience made me stronger and i am able to cope with situations better because i learned to be independent i have a two year old and am now a single mother it was hard at first but i find it easier without the father around because my son isnt exposed to our fighting i worry how my son will turn out by not having a male role model but i am confident he will be fine because i have help and many uncles an cousins who can be there for him when a needs a male around.....its not the end of the world and we are living proof

Answer 17

I was a child of a single parent and you are right.  these circumstances do forge a unique bond.  I had that with my mum.  Sadly she is no longer here but I miss her and her wise ways so much.  Then some days I look in the mirror and see her there. But sometimes I look more like my grandma nowadays.  :-- )  

What I do remember though is just how very hard it was for her.  The world in those days did not look kindly on divorced women and she worked hard for us without the support of an absent husband/father.

There are single parents out there today who are doing an amazing job, getting it exactly right and I take my hat of to all of them.

Single parents don't make bad kids, bad parents do that.

Answer 18

I'm a single parent, 2 children, a boy 20, and a girl 13.

Both my children have very different characters, my son is more laid back and thoughtful, my daughter is very demanding and can be thoughtless. But what they both have in common is a sense of right and wrong, and respect for others. It's just been a little harder to instill that in the younger one. As a single parent I take my role seriously and was determined that my kids would not be labeled or suffer from labeling. When my daughter has been difficult and shown signs of going off the rails, due to a negative relationship with her Dad, I have banged on doors and demanded that she, and I get the help that we need. Your right we, all of us do have a close bond and my son, who is now working has never hesitated in contributing to the household and giving his sister a shoulder to cry on when I've been exhausted from a long day of work and study. I have no doubt that my kids will be happy and successful, and every stressful and agonsing moments have been worth it. They are kids to be proud of.

Answer 19

I am the child of a single parent. I love my mom very much and I will always thank her for all shes done for my brother and I. Im 16 and Im just fine with only my mom.

Answer 20

my mom was single till i turned 16 and my little sister was 12 or 13 we were happy iour mmom was happy but i was ral;ly sad i was losing my relationaship with my mom,but then i had a great new dad.....its unfortunate our mom died last year

Answer 21

Despite appearances me and the Simmons kid are best mates, we have taken on the world together and won ;)