Before discussing the problems and circumstances that a single mother and her child will face in future, it is good to understand the term “single parent” or “sole parent” first.  Single parent can be a single mother raising her one or more children without the assistance of her children’s father or vice verse. Moreover, you will see the variation in the meaning of this term because of the religion and national laws differences about single parenthood. The reason for single parenthood might be a divorce, adoption surrogate motherhood, death of the spouse and so on.

As we know, mother is a main source in developing certain capabilities in her child like communication skills, social skills, social normal behaviors and is also responsible for his/her mental and physical growth. But these developments are made gradually and with the passage of time become noticeable when children start interacting with others

No doubt, there is no alternative of a mother in this world who can teach her children that what is right and what is wrong. She is a best source for building-independence in their children and is responsible to control the child’s behavior-disorders. Mother should point out positive and good qualities of her child at every stage of life so he/she can adopt good qualities and avoid bad ones. Moreover, you can find various personalities, who attained success & fame in their lives are raised by their mothers alone like: Mother Teresa, Tom Cruise, Bill Clinton and Bill Cosby.

Besides this, there is a perception that raising a boy is more difficult than a girl for a single mother, yes! It is true to some extent. Because boys tend to be more active than girls so  it is  important that arrangements for releasing their excessive-energy like sports is done at an early stage in their life. Emotional situations males respond in a different way than females it is important to keep the lines of communication very open, mothers need to handle the situation with patience in tricky manners. As a single mother, you are fulfilling both(father and mother) responsibilities at-once so you should give your boy the realistic perspective that there are all kind of families in this world, some are with a father and other are without a father. These tips will help her in developing her boy like any other boy who is rising with a father. Otherwise single mom will fail to raise her baby mentally, emotionally and physically normal and healthy. And as a result you can see a violent behavior in their personalities. It is also important to also have positive male role-models that can teach your son valuable lessons that are best come from a male point of view.

In short, day by day single mother and child families are increasing in numbers especially in western societies. But, the out come of single mother and child is mostly depending on the social network and the communication with-in her family. As a single mom is playing the role of father as well as of mother she needs to manage efficiently  multi tasking in every facet of life, performing not only the house hold duties, work and her children.With the help of great time management and a proper  schedule, she can manage every with greatest of ease, some times it is just more  challenging.

There are a lot of misconceptions and stereotypes when it comes to single parent households, but when single parenting statistics are closely examined, these false ideas are quickly put to rest. United States census data from 2000 shows that at the time there were 13.5 million parents with sole custody. In fact, most of these households even have more than 1 minor child to take care of. Additionally, 84 percent of these households have mothers as custodial parents leaving only 16 percent headed by the father.

Single parent statistics state that of all the households headed by the mother, 44 percent are divorced or separated, 33 percent were never married, 22 percent are women who have remarried, and only 1 percent are widows.

It is a common misconception that single moms can support themselves and their children with child support received from the father, but single parenting statistics make it clear that this is not the case. In fact, the stats show that the average amount a single mother would receive from child support is about $4,900 a year. That’s not enough to pay for one person besides support a family. It is common for the mom to work at least part time, and the average income earned in a year is about $28,000. So even with help from the father, it can be difficult to make ends meet.

When it comes to a custodial mother’s work status, single parent statistics state the following: 79 percent are employed, 50 percent work full time all year long, and 29 percent work part time or for part of the year. It is also not as common as you may think for single moms to need welfare or some other financial assistance program to support themselves for their children. Only 31 percent of these moms receive some form of public assistance and only 6 percent are enrolled in welfare, also known as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families.

Another common myth which single parenting statistics puts to rest is that most single mothers are teenagers or young adults. Actually, 37.7 percent of all custodial mothers are 40 years old and up. Also, while it is true that many of them live below the poverty level, just barely getting by, the stats show that only 27.7 percent of these moms live in what is considered abject poverty. However, this is still larger than custodial fathers, only 11.1 percent of which live in poverty.

The few examples of single parenting statistics that we have looked at in this article have painted a picture of the average single parent which is much different than is commonly accepted. Most single parents are responsible individuals who work hard in order to support themselves and their children with the limited resources they have available.

To focus on the family and put them first is as natural to mothers as breathing. Failing to focus on the family is rarely a choice for any Mom—it is simply a way of life.

Not long ago ’bringing home the bacon’ was traditionally the father’s role, but now many working mothers are ‘bringing home the bacon’ too. Today, 50% of the mothers in our country are working full time, and most of these moms experience the stress of trying to balance it all, with parenting being one of the big stressors . Sound familiar?

The Only Way Working Mothers Can Focus on the Family AND Have It All

Although working mothers bring home some of the bacon (and if you are a single mother, all of the bacon), it hasn’t changed the fact that most working mothers are doing all the cooking of the bacon too.

It’s probably no surprise to you that married women consistently report doing more of the household chores than their spouse. In addition to taking on more chores, it is common for working mothers to put unrealistic expectations and pressure on themselves—to be the perfect Mom, perfect spouse, perfect daughter, perfect friend, and perfect career woman as well. Yes, many of us working Moms have an invisible, mental “S” tattooed on our bellies, as we strive to be that unattainable Super Woman! Yet sadly, Super Woman is often Super Stressed Woman.

When interviewed on the radio, I am often asked if it is possible for working mothers to have it all. My response is always, “YES! It is possible for working mothers to have it all—BUT only if they ask for and accept help.”

The trouble is, most working mothers have difficulty hanging up their Super Woman cape and won’t accept much help (if at all).

Three Ways to Prevent Parenting Burnout for Working Mothers

Even though most Moms know it takes a village to raise a child, most mothers don’t ask their village for help. This puts undue stress on both moms and their families. The following simple tips can help you prevent the stress that leads to parenting burnout.

1. Parenting is a big job. Realize you can’t do it all alone, effectively. You can’t do it all (and do it well) by yourself. The best thing you can do for your family is to ask for help. Burning your candle at both ends only leads to parenting burnout, and this is not healthy for you nor for your family.

1. Graciously accept help. When someone asks if they can help you, always answer “Yes, thank you” and then figure out how. Let others in your life, especially your children and spouse, help you more. We all want to contribute—you may recognize this truth in the sense of achievement you get from doing so much. By accepting more help you will boost your children’s and spouse’s self-esteem. When they do help, remember to thank them, and focus on what they did well. Remember, focusing on what our loved ones didn’t do does not motivate them to want to help us in the future.

1. Find ways to farm out the things you don’t like to do. Don’t like to iron? Consider sending it to the cleaner and use the extra time to focus on your family. Don’t like to clean but love to cook? Trade chores with household members, or with a girlfriend who loves to do the things you don’t.

How Mothers Can Focus on the Family and Get Their Work Done

The day you die your inbox will have messages unanswered, your laundry hamper will still hold dirty clothes and your to-do list will likely have items left incomplete. On that day though, will you look back and feel that your focus on your family was a fulfilling journey, or sadly realize it became a chore you felt you had to do?

Make certain your focus on the family is satisfying—choose to balance your work and family by finally hanging up your “Super Mom” cape and letting others help you. It is all about prioritizing. Let go of what truly doesn’t matter in the big picture, and cherish what truly matters to you—your loved ones, your hobbies, and the time you take to truly be present at work and at play.

Parenting is one of the toughest jobs we are ever given. A small, unformed mind and body becomes ours to guide, nurture, and raise into a responsible and well adjusted adult. If you’ve lost the co-parent in your life as a daily support whether through divorce or other external circumstances, single parenting can feel like an even more daunting task.

Bering a single mother is of particular challenge given that statistically single mothers struggle a bit more financially as women. In the midst of all of the demands of raising a child and supporting the family practically and financially, it becomes of paramount importance that self care be high on the list. Think of it as positioning your own oxygen mask on an airplane before adjusting your children’s masks. Here are 3 tips to help single moms stay sane:

1. Take very good care of yourself physically. Doing this will help you with energy, focus, and emotional stability as you face the various pressures and stresses of single parenting. Eat healthy foods, avoid “junk” and highly processed food, take supplements as needed (a food based multivitamin and fish oil are a good start for many people), and exercise regularly to increase fitness and boost your mood.

2. Gather your support network and accept their help. You will need adult support for you emotionally, as well as practical help so that you can prevent being overwhelmed by parenting alone. When people offer to help you, don’t pretend to be superwoman and turn them down. Accept the help with gratitude and make the most of it!

3. Do a small thing for yourself each day. Make a list of activities or little indulgences you really enjoy. Pick one thing off this list to do for yourself daily. This helps send your mind a message, that you are worthy and deserving of a little spoiling. As much as you give your children and your job, etc, you need to give yourself something to look forward to.