Single Parenting as a Social Proqblem

Social problems paper

Single-parent families in today's society have their share of daily struggles and long-term disadvantages. The issues of expensive day care, shortage of quality time with children, balance of work and home duties, and economic struggle are among the seemingly endless problems these families must solve

As many single-parent households are female-headed, their economic burden is much greater than that of a single-father family. This issue results from the fact that single women typically do not earn the same income as a single man; thus, there is a consequent economic struggle not experienced in the single-father household.

An offshoot of this economic struggle is the balance of work and family duties. Single mothers often must work overtime shifts to compensate for the low salaries, thus taking time away from their children and other domestic chores. This results in a child that is home alone, without adult supervision, or placed in a daycare service for up to 8-10 hours per day. Government subsidized daycare is not yet a realized dream, and many single mothers pay large fees for this service.

Being a single parent is challenging, and a stressful way of life. If you can find the balance between work, home, children and time for yourself, it is a very rewarding experience. But there is no simple answer. The balance for each adult and every family is different. I tried to balance work with a happy and stable family life by considering my financial priority, cooperation and communication, coordinating with friends and family members, and taking time for myself.Managing money wisely helped relieve the financial strain that forced many single parents to work long hours or excessive overtime. I worked out a budget for living expenses and stuck to it. I spent time with my children instead of giving them money for entertainment purposes. I weighed the benefits of my job (salary, insurance, etc.) with what it would cost me in time spent away from...