In the last fifty years, single-parent households have doubled. This issue causes problems with the kids when they get older. It keeps increasing in today’s economy and it’s a leading factor of why some children that had or have a single-parent home are considered juvenile delinquents,

         Fewer than half of US kids live in a ‘traditional’ family home, and one of the largest shifts in a family structure is transitioning to a single parent household. Most kids have parents that are divorced, and impact that it has on kids is unimaginable. They began to suffer from psychological and behavioral problems which can develop into problems with anger, disobedience, and abiding by rules given to them. They are more likely to become depressed, anxious, or become overly responsible kids who end up taking care of their parents and siblings instead of getting cared for by them because they feel that they are responsible for their parents’ divorce. Children living in single parent homes are also exposed to more stressful experiences.

         There are children out there that missed out on their entire childhood because of their family’s separation. They missed their dad teaching them how to ride a bike, or trick-or-treating with their parents, or going out to Chuck E Cheese and spending all of your tokens just to end up getting a Chuck E sticker. Their dad or mom won’t be there when they go to homecoming or prom. One of the parents will miss half of their child’s life. And all the while, the kids just miss the structure of how their family once was. It’s a difficult transition for both sides, the parents and the kids. Everybody has to change their routine by deciding things like who the kids go to during the week,who picks them up after school and who they spend the holidays with. Kids shouldn’t have to carry the stress about situations as such on their shoulders. They’re just children.

        In the United States today, there are nearly 13.6 million single parents raising over 21 million children. Each parent faces their own unique difficulties, and all of them are struggling to give their children a life they deserve, doing their best not to add extra, unnecessary stress, but you can’t avoid all of it. After all, having a single parent household is not easy. It’s just as difficult as losing a parent.