Reply to What does "single parent" mean?

Forum Index » Infants, Toddlers, & Preschoolers

Reply to "What does "single parent" mean? "

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Does it really matter?  I'm a single parent because I have my kid 24/7.  I get CS only because my ex doesn't want to end up in prison.  If it was left up to him, he wouldn't send a dime.  My neighbor is also a single parent.  She is divorced and has her kids half of the time and gets some CS.  My mom was a single parent when my dad died.  He left her life insurance money.  We are all on our own in varying degrees which is where the "single" comes in.  I have it harder than others because I never get a break nor can I afford babysitters but I'm in the same boat as my neighbor and my mom.[/quote]

It does matter.  My mother was a single parent - my father refused to marry her when she got pregnant with me and never wanted anything to do with me - no child support, no visits, no birthday cards.  She deserves credit for bringing me up 100% on her own.  I have a work acquaintance who is always talking about how hard it is to be a "single parent".  She is divorced and her ex has her son every Wednesday night and every other weekend.  She gets ample child support.  She is NOT a single parent.  [/quote]

Whatever you call your work acquaintance, her situation is harder than a parent living with their partner. [/quote]

The definition of "single parent" has nothing to do with how hard it is.  I'm a single parent.  I have one very easy kid.  He is currently away at sleep away camp for six weeks.  There is nothing hard about being his parent this week.  However, since I am not married, not partnered, don't even have a bf/gf.  I am a single parent.  One way you can tell I am single is that you could, conceivably set me up with your brother or your single guy friend, and not feel like you were aiding and abetting adultery.

My friend has a much harder situation than me.  She has 11 kids, 10 still at home.  She home schools them all, except her oldest who is graduated and married, and the youngest who is too young for school.  4 of the kids have disabilities, and she provides extra care.  She also has major health issues, that might or might not be early stage ALS.  Yes, her life is very hard.  But since she has a husband, she is definitely not a single parent.

Single = not married/in a relationship status.  It is a relationship term, not a term to define how much work you have.  [/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics