Everyone in this world has a different living situation. Most children grow up in two-parent households, but as of January 2024 about 25.1% of children have had to live in a single parent home. Living with one parent is a huge struggle in itself and it’s time we speak up about the topic.
Research shows that children in single parent households not only suffer with mental health issues, but they also have poor social skills and development complications. Sage Journals says that, “Most single parents are overprotective of their kid(s); this can affect the child’s social skill development.”
Having that extra support mentally and financially also plays a huge role in a kid’s life. “Mother-only households are more likely to struggle with poverty,” explains the Annie E. Casey Foundation. They have found that it is extremely difficult for single mothers to support their whole household on one income. This can lead to those families needing government funding and assistance.
Now there are some upsides for these children. Medical reviewer, Dan Brennan says, “Children of single parents are more likely to understand why it’s important to be on top of their responsibilities due to them seeing their single parent struggle with doing so. It has also been proved that children of single parents may be motivated to work harder and achieve big goals due to the struggles that they may have grown up with.
Other research has been conducted and it has shown that having a single parent does not mentally destroy a kid. Amy Brown feels that, “any differences are fixable by ensuring better support for single families, rather than exacerbating harmful stigma.” She thinks that children can have a great life and succeed whether they have 2 parents or not, and that their mental health should not reflect their home situation.
Kassidy Gentry is a 9th grade student athlete at JVHS. She believes that these quotes are completely false. Kassidy has been heavily affected by having an absent father. She says, “Seeing how easily my dad left my mom has made me afraid to get into a romantic relationship. I have terrible trust issues, abandonment issues, and attachment issues. I do appreciate my mommy for stepping up and always being there to reassure me.”
Kassidy Gentry, a freshman student athlete
On the other hand,Braxton Delano is a great example of this. He says, “My mom is always there to help and support me. She’s made my childhood experience amazing even without any additional help. It’s fairly easy for me to take care of everything I need to since she always made sure she had time for me.” Braxton feels that he doesn’t need both of his parents to succeed; having the right parent has helped his situation so much and made his single parent experience easier. 
Braxton Delano,a freshman student athlete
Even though other research has shown that not every kid struggles with a single parent, it has been proven that the majority of those kids do. Expert Dan Brennan has also stated, “Children of single parents are more prone to fall behind in school and engage in unhealthy situations such as alcohol and drug abuse.”
Our counselor can back that statement up. Despite it being factual, Mrs.Flores can see a clear difference between her students that live with both of their parents versus those who do not. She personally grew up in a single parent household so she completely understands the struggles.When asked, Mrs.Flores mentioned that, “I will always understand but never overuse that as an excuse.” Although she does understand the struggle, she still believes that children are in control of their actions.
With all the different living conditions in this world, single parent households are probably one of the hardest to deal with mentally. There are many negatives to being a child living in a single parent home that outweigh the positives. If it were you in their position, it would not be easy to cope with. Give your props to those single parents and the children who have to endure the struggle!!