If you live with one parent, you know that a lot of other kids do, too. More than
20 million kids in the United States live with one parent. Separation and divorce
are the most common reasons for this. In other cases, the mom and dad may never have
lived together, or one of them may have died.
Living with one parent instead of two can bring out a lot of emotions. These feelings
can be pretty strong, and they can be confusing, too. You might feel terribly sad
and angry because your parents divorced.
You also might feel happy that your parents split up and aren't fighting anymore,
but you may also feel upset when your mom introduces you to a man that she is
dating. You might love the uncle or grandma who takes care of you, but sometimes you
might wish you could have one family with both a mom and a dad.
Emotions all by themselves aren't either good or bad. They're just feelings. Because
living with one parent can sometimes be stressful,
it can help to talk about
it. You can talk with your parent, a relative, school counselor, or another trusted
adult. Talking with other kids who live with single parents can be a great idea, too.
Single Parents and Work
Single parents are often working parents because someone needs to earn money to
pay for food, clothing, and a place to live. Having a job means your mom or dad
is able to provide these things and more for you. People work for other reasons, too.
A job can let a person use his or her special talents and skills. A job can be important
because it helps people in the community. Or a job can simply be exciting or interesting.
But even though you might understand why your mom or dad has to work, sometimes
it can be hard to accept. "Not now, I have to work" isn't what you want to hear when
you'd like to do something fun. This can be especially true during the summer or school
vacations. You're home, they're gone, and the days can seem really long.
Many kids simply take care of themselves for all or part of the time that a parent
is at work. This can be all right, but only if you're prepared to handle the responsibility.
You need to know what to do in case of an emergency, as well as how to use your time
wisely. And if you're by yourself,
you should know how to handle loneliness, too.
Other choices include going to an after-school program or staying with a neighbor
or relative. During the summer, many schools and towns offer summer programs and camps.