Finally, fathers may be receiving the praise and recognition they deserve with less negativity. The U.S. Census Bureau reports 24 million children live in America. Nearly 13 million children live in single parent households, with 10.4 million children living with single mothers and 2.5 million children living with single fathers. It’s obvious there are father factors that plague children in America and worldwide. The roles of both parents have changed significantly in the last century but even more in the last decade. Mothers are spending time outside the home working, starting businesses and taking jobs which require traveling out of town and abroad. Fathers are now at home more, doing housework and providing care for their children. Fathers seem to be working less in what is known as traditional types of employment. Research indicates that both mothers and fathers wish they could spend more quality time with their children.

More challenges are faced by the single mother and single father. Each is forced to leave the child in childcare and may lack the finances to afford adequate care. Some single fathers may produce higher levels of income but their jobs may require more overtime and weekend work, necessitating after hours daycare and weekend babysitters. Fathers who make minimum wage may not be eligible for assistance from federal benefits which single mothers receive for housing and other various child welfare programs.

Widespread disagreement on what roles fathers should play continues to be socially debated. What research does indicate is there are negative results when fathers are absent from the home. Some consequences for the child due to the absence of a father or providing parenting include:

1. Children in father-absent homes are four times more likely to be poor.

2. Children in father-absent homes exhibit higher levels of aggressive behavior.

3. Infant morbidity rates are higher for the infant of an unmarried mother.

4. Adolescent boys and girls are at risk for dropping out of school.

5. Adolescent boys in single-parent homes are at higher risk of status and property delinquencies.

Single parents face stressors that are immense, but many of them at their best provide the role of both parents and do a fantastic job of nurturing, caring and providing appropriate parenting when given minimal support. The single parent ultimately realizes they can never replace the other parent. For this reason, the need and possible option may be to co-parent. Agreeing to work together for the sake of the child should be the priority. Co-parenting is proving to be very effective. Children, who have fathers to nurture and provide love, do better in all life experiences and are more capable of being successful and contributing to society.

More research is being done on single fathers and programs are becoming available. Many contributing factors such as poverty, lack of education, unemployment, substance abuse, mental illness and imprisonment indicate the need for help. With entitlement programs being eliminated, community groups, churches, organizations and even ex-offenders programs are finding resources and finances to assist fathers with parenting education and other skills needed to become a responsible parent. Research and data can’t substantiate why some children may be resilient and have great self-esteem in father-absent homes, but facts confirm that a father’s love can only enhance and enrich healthy child development.

References:

U.S. Census Bureau
National Fatherhood Initiative