The term “single parent” can be o-so-confusing. How do you define what is a single parent I reality? There are some moms and dads who feel as though they are single because the other spouse is never really there. On the other hand, some would define a single parent as one who get no help at all from others and are doing it all on their own. Some people consider a “single mom” as someone who is a mom but that too if she is not in a relationship. A person can be a single mom, but that doesn’t really mean they do not receive help from others.
The term single parent is as broad as any other term out there. It depends on who you ask and what part of the world you ask it in. In some cultures, the fathers are the financial supporters and that’s it. The moms do all the other work. In some countries, the father may raise the children and do all the work and the mother has considerably little to no interaction in the child’s life.
A single parent dating is still classified as a single parent to most people. As long as you are physically raising the children on your own, without a significant other by your side on a regular basis, then most would consider you a single parent. There are so many gray areas to this term.
The real definition of a single parent, which comes from an online dictionary states
Single-parents (also lone parent, solo parent and sole parent) is a parent who cares for one or more children without the physical assistance of the other biological parent in the home. “Single Parenthood” may vary according to the local laws of different nations or regions.
According to this definition, a single parent is someone who is basically doing it on their own. It does not really matter if you are dating someone casually because that cannot replace a true parent figure. If you read closely what is above, you’ll also notice that it’s according to the local laws of different nations or regions. That means that different countries have different definitions for single moms and dads. If you are of a particular religion, then perhaps there is a certain definition coined for single mothers there.
The definition for single parent changes just like the law varies from state to state and country to country. There are some reasons why people need to know if they are considered a single parent or not. Some of those reasons include:
- Child Support
- Food Stamps
- Welfare
- Court
- Taxes
It’s fair to say that a single parent is not necessarily a person who is single. A single parent is considered someone who is raising their children, on their own. They are free to have the support of family and friends around him or her, but they are the main support for their children.