| Growing Up in a Single Parent Home |
| Many children might find it hard to imagine growing up with only one parent. It�s hard to think of being without a father or mother. For me, however, I�ve never known life with more than just my mom. I think society in general gives single parenting a stereotype. Children from single parent homes are unruly troublemakers that get into drugs or other related activities. Single parents are too busy working two jobs to support their children, which are probably numerous, and the children never have any parental supervision or parental quality time. This is what many people see single parenting as, which maybe it�s true some time, but not in my case. I�ve never had my father around, and I can�t really say I am better off. I don�t know what it would be like if he had been around. I do know that I have never felt that I was at any disadvantage because I didn�t have father. If anything, the only downside to my father not being around was my mom having to play both roles. My father and I have spoken on occasion, and there were a few weeks I spent with him when I was nine, but other than that he has never been an extraordinary part of my life. Many times, people ask me what it has been like growing up without a father, and to tell you the truth, I don�t really know how to answer. I don�t think I grew up any different than anyone else. There may have been a few things I wasn�t able to do because we couldn�t afford it or my mom didn�t have the time to take me, but other than that, she�s tried her best to do what she could for me. I have always done extremely well in school. In fact, I was reading before I entered kindergarten, and had the opportunity to skip ahead a grade more than once. My mom was always around to help me with my homework when she could, and until I was old enough to take care of myself, she worked hours so she could be home when I was. There was never a time I felt I wasn�t spending enough time with my mom. Sometimes I think I spend too much time with her. My mom is more like a good friend of mine; we have a really close relationship. This doesn�t affect her ability to be the disciplinary parent, however. I would never admit to it, but I think it�s amazing how my mom can be my friend one minute and my mother the next. In my life, my family and I have gone through many changes. Many times I hear about single mothers moving their children in with their new boyfriends. A lot of times those stories have bad outcomes, and I�d like to say that my mom was never like that. She always took me into special consideration when she was dating. My opinion was strongly valued when it came to the men she was seeing. There may have been a few times when I was emotionally burned buy her or her �boyfriend�, but I easily recovered and don�t have any scars to show for it today. In comparison to my friends, my home life isn�t very different. In some respects, I think it�s actually milder. My mom and I share our disagreements, but we usually get along very well. There is hardly ever any violence in my house, except the occasional pillow flying across the room or door slamming. I have a lot of freedom and my mom and I share a mutual trust. There aren�t many problems going on at my house. It�s actually pretty boring. I�m the only child, well my father has two children, but I�m my mom�s only. Once again, another stereotype stomped. There are a few things in my life I�d change if I could, but find me someone who is perfectly happy with their lives. One thing I wouldn�t change, however, is the way I grew up. I love my mom, and she�s done the best job she could. Many kids that come from two parent homes don�t turn out as well as I have. My father didn�t have much influence in my life, and I don�t think it really affected my life at all. Single parents have a harder job; they have to be the mom and the dad. One person has to be the breadwinner and the homemaker. It�s a tough job, but my mom did it well. Society has given single parenting a negative image in some cases, but looking at myself and my life, I think it�s ridiculous. Growing up in a single parent home has given me an advantage, if anything and I wouldn�t change it for the world. |