Acknowledging the Efforts of Single Father in the Family

Being a single parent is tough but having a better understanding of the challenges solo parents face can help many people to offer better support to those who find themselves taking on such roles.

While the majority of solo parents are mothers, there are about 2.6 million families in the United States are headed by single dads. However, the study on single fathers is limited, with many studies focused on comparing partnered parents to single mothers. Single dads may have several advantages working in their favor. According to a Pew Research Report, from 2013, single fathers are more likely to be living with a cohabiting partner (41% versus 16%) which means they're not always entirely on their own.

In terms of education, income, and poverty, single fathers tend to be better off than single mothers. Hence, that doesn't mean that there are no challenges single dads usually face. After all, the majority of society views men as not someone capable of such tasks as women are assumed to be caregivers and nurturers, and keepers of the family.

The truth, according to Healthline, fathers are not only capable and competent as they are also loving, caring, and more than qualified.

Why fathers play an important role?

According to Dr. Gregory Gordon, one of the pediatricians at the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Florida, fathers who are involved help keep children on the right path. His statement is backed up by a study released by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the study is about the nonprofit organization on fatherhood since 2004 and was released in connection with Father's Day.

Gordon says that parenting roles are a lot more blended and dads have realized they can do possible things they think they couldn't do before or looks impossible to them.

The term single father entails men in a variety of family circumstances. About 52% are separated, divorced, widowed, or never married and are living without a cohabiting partner, 41% are living with a non-marital partner, and a small share, 7%, are married but living apart from their spouse.

The role of fathers has evolved and the public now acknowledges their importance not only as a breadwinner of the family but also as a caregiver. The analysis of long-term time use data determines that fathers are narrowing the still sizable gap with moms in the amount of time they spend with their children. The Pew Research survey that many believe that a father's greatest role is to provide values to the children which will be followed by emotional support, discipline, and income support.

Read Also: Does Living Together Before Marriage Makes the Relationship Stronger?

Fathers as the pillar in the development of a child

Daniel Ortega, a 34-year-old in Boston and founder of Solo Parents Society has sole custody of his kids and says his biggest insecurity as a father is that, he has to explain himself all of the time to his children, and when they learn that he was a single dad, that's when all the praise comes.

Men are assumed to be buffoons who don't even know to dress a kid while women are supposed to be the ones who can do everything for the kid. That's likely why dads are praised when things go right, per Parents.

Related Article: Father-Daughter Bond: How Fathers Affect Relationships with Daughters