My chosen essential question is What are the positive effects of single parenting? While families with two parents make up the majority of families, a rise in single parented families in recent years has caused this question to become more relevant.

Through my research, I discovered that while there can be major differences between single and dual parented families, much of the time they are very similar. Both types of families have their pros and cons as with all families comes struggle. But let’s discuss the positive aspects of a single parent family using the article ‘Single Parenting: Fewer Negative Effects of Children's Behaviors Than Claimed’ by Dominic Schmuck.

Behavior

In families with a single parent, there holds a stigma of the children in such families having behavioral issues. However, Schmuck states “It appears that traumatizing events early in a child's life are the main reason for these negative behavioral effects on children”. On the contrary children with single parents develop an early sense of confidence and independence from having to pick up extra responsibilities due to the lack of a second parent. Single parents also tend to be better examples for their children as they need to express self-reliance and flexibility. They are their child’s only role model and thus feel a need to set a proper example.

Relationship

The relationship between parent and child are also shown to be stronger in single parented families. This is of course, inevitable as a parent has only their children to focus on rather than a significant other. Children have only one parent to talk to and thus have a need to make a strong connection so they have good communication. As a whole, the parent and child dynamic is just closer than dual-parented families.

In the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus is a single father raising his children the best he can. He is honestly an amazing father as he consistently sets aside time to spend with his children. Frequently teaching them life lessons, Atticus does not shy away from teaching them about the world and how to be a fair, open-minded, and decent human being. Had Atticus’ wife still been alive, he might have seen it as less important to be at home with his family, thus resulting in a weaker relationship with his kids. However, that is very much not the case and Atticus is a loving and paternal father figure for his kids.

Conclusion

Overall, the positives of a single parent family are good relationships, a sense of independence, and a well-developed trust. A lovely sentiment from Schmuck “Society should not look down upon single parents, but encourage and support them in their path of life”.

Works Cited