Number of single-parent families rising: census data

[CBC News]

Lone-parent families make up a record one in four Canadian families with children, according to census information released Wednesday that shows the so-called nuclear family in dramatic decline.
Married couples with children were the only group to experience a drop in the five years since the last census.
There were 1.4 million lone-parent families — 26 per cent of all families with children — last year. That's up some eight per cent from five years earlier. While the vast majority of such households (80 per cent) were headed by women, the number of lone-parent families headed by men was up 15 per cent.
More than 2.1 million children are now living in a lone-parent family.
Evidence of the lone-parent phenomenon reaches back to the early 20th century, but the reasons more and more Canadian children are being raised by only one parent are drastically different than they were 75 years ago.
Regardless of the cause, poverty is a common thread.
In 2005, the median household income for two-parent families in Canada was $67,600. For lone-parent families it was $30,000 — meaning half of all single-parent families were bringing in less than that amount annually.
Full Story
Is there a price to pay for the rise in single parent families?





More...

 

[Outta here]

Is there a price to pay for the rise in single parent families?

A subject close to my heart. I'm a single parent and this question has loomed over my head often. Over time though, I've come to see that we often underestimate the resilience of the human spirit - particularly within our children.

Yes there are prices - particularly the most overt one regarding income levels in single parent homes. I could list more, but I'm more interested in discussing the evolution of what we call 'the family unit' and it's impact on not only our kids, but our society.

One in four is a single parent family. Think about that. How long before it's one in three, one in two...

Is this going to change our concept of what constitutes family values? Will this place even more onus on the "village" to contribute to the raising of its' young? What else will change?

I'm of the opinion that eventually, our societal values will adapt - the idea of coming from a single parent home will become normalized.... we're not that far away from that now. More likely, coming from any type of home will become normalized - whether it's 2 parent, gay parent(s), single parent, blended family, multi racial...

What I do worry about, is the journey getting to that point. Will we adapt gracefully, or will we mangle the childhood years of a generation or two before we figure out how best to ensure the well being of our children and our families - whatever they may consist of?

 

[gerryh]

It has been said that it just takes 2 to make a child.... but it takes a "village" to raise that child. Unfortunately our society seems to have lost sight of that little pearl of wisdom.

1 in 4 families may be single parent families, but, those single parents should also have the support of their extended family, friends, and neighbours to help with their children. All too often though, in today's "high speed" life, people feel that they don't have time for anything more than their own. This is unfortunate as ALL our kids are our future, not just the ones living under our roof.

 

[Outta here]

It has been said that it just takes 2 to make a child.... but it takes a "village" to raise that child. Unfortunately our society seems to have lost sight of that little pearl of wisdom.

1 in 4 families may be single parent families, but, those single parents should also have the support of their extended family, friends, and neighbours to help with their children. All too often though, in today's "high speed" life, people feel that they don't have time for anything more than their own. This is unfortunate as ALL our kids are our future, not just the ones living under our roof.

Interesting. I think you nailed it on the head with the key to how we'll not only cope, but eventually thrive within whatever framework we find ourselves parenting within. I have had the support of my family, friends and even some employers in helping me do the best job as a parent possible. Throughout the entire experience, I've been blessed with an extremely supportive 'village'. For that reason, along with the continued presence and involvement of their father, I don't think this particular single parent home is working out too badly.

I'm thinking in another few decades, the manner in which my kids are being raised will be very commonplace. We'll have figured out how to adapt our social support systems - from family to cultural attitudes and priorities.

Did you know it's mandatory now for couples in Alberta who are seeking a divorce to attend a "Parenting After Separation" workshop? That's adaptation. I think we'll see alot more proactive options being created as we figure out what prices we need to avoid. I also worry that the only way we're going to figure it out is by getting it wrong first.

Sometimes I wonder if this is the generation that's paying the highest price - our kids are falling into cracks everywhere across the globe. Homelessness is rampant within the youth community of some of the most affluent countries in the world. So is serious drug addiction.... and mental health issues.

More and more though, the long term impact of these problems is becoming evident, resulting in more attempts to provide feasible interventions. I think we'll be fine eventually. It's just getting there I worry about.