How do the daily struggles of a single mom or single dad differ?

1. 86

   Sunshine625posted 12 years ago

   How do the daily struggles of a single mom or single dad differ?

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2. 68

   megmccormickposted 12 years ago

   Hey Sunshine,
   I don't think that they would differ very much. Regardless of your single parent gender, you still have to solve the problems of child care, juggling work, home, chores and spending good quality time with your children.  I was a working single mom and I relied a lot on family and friends for support with childcare, transportation etc.

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3. 85

   billybucposted 12 years ago

   Great question and I wish I had more time to answer....I was a single dad for fourteen years and I believe the biggest difference is not having the support group at home to share with, to draw strength from, to ask questions of, to talk to, to be held by....parenting is a huge responsibility under the best of circumstances, but to do it alone....it's tough.

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4. 60

   ask-singleDadposted 12 years ago

   Wow. Very nice 1st question on my page. Please do not forget to read the replies and comments from others ie... meg and billybuc, below. Not being a single Mom (lol) I can only tell you what I have observed.
   
   I believe that single fathers are largely ignored by the public. They are just now becoming noticed as a growing part of the population. If you search "single parent" on the web, almost everything is for single mothers. I believe it is harder for single fathers to date, find support/support groups etc.. I also think that more single dads are "doing it alone" than single moms. What I mean by "doing it alone" is: without any support. I have noticed that many employers consider single moms part of the norm, but single dads are discriminated against. When someone finds out that I am a single parent, they are surprised, but not so much if they meet a single mom. Now to single moms.
   
   I think (sadly) that there is still an attitude that single mom=slut, or that it is somehow her fault she is single. I know and have known many single moms and yes, some were single because they were just not good people to be around. Most were single because the man walked away from his responsibilities or denied any responsibility at all (she's a 'ho' attitude). Economic trials can (I believe) be more complicated for women, as traditionally, women make less at the same type of job than men.
   
   I thank you for your question and hope this reply was what you had hoped. If not, please feel free to ask for more detail(s) or direct me toward a different line of thinking. KT.

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5. 60

   fpherj48posted 12 years ago

   At first response, I'd be tempted to say there must not be too much difference, but I've not ever exchanged notes in detail with a single Dad.  I have a tendency to think that "raising kids" is just that, raising kids.  It seems that a loving Mom or Dad could do an equally fine job.  There may be a different sort of struggle involved when they reach the teen years....with Dad raising a girl-child.....I don't know.  Just guessing.  Good question, Sunshine!

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6. 86

   Sunshine625posted 12 years ago

   To ask-single dad, You inspired me to ask this question. If you aren't able to find a support group geared towards your lifestyle how about creating one? You could start with an online support group and you never know where it could lead. I wish you luck and welcome to HubPages!

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7. 81

   raciniwaposted 12 years ago

   Being a single mom for 8 years, i realized that nothing can compensate the role of a father or a mother in a child's life...No matter how much effort a mother or father would do, he/she couldn't fill that empty void in each child's heart...

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8. 62

   Horse Feathersposted 12 years ago

   Becoming a single parent in 1986, granted sole custody by the state of California.
   likely a little more of a struggle for me considering all my family lived in Michigan.
   Childcare being my biggest concern at the time. I had two children 14 mounts apart. Once out of diapers I found a great daycare.  They really love my kids and helped me a lot. Before that I had trouble. Trust and competency.
   The best time of my life with my children!
   Funny stuff when I moved to Michigan the with the child support people. They would always want to know why I wasn't paying support and I had to enplane over and over again "I was the one receiving support."
   http://horse-feathers.hubpages.com/hub/ … le-Kid-Dad
   
   It's all sad. The children suffer without a mom and a dad. The trials are the same now that there are more single dads.
   
   I would get a kick out of the guys I worked around. Always winning about paying support and having it go up.
   I would tell them you should pay and it should go up. There your kids wright. The response would be you don't have kids and pay.
   My response....Oh yes I have kids buy i get paid support. They couldn't believe it.

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