Single Parent Households: A Case Study

Studies within the last three decades have shown that on average 40% of all children raised within the United States are by single parents (Lugaila, 1992). The number of single parent households are only increasing as more and more young adults are having premarital pregnancies and not fully making use of the safety precautions that they have been warned about since they were old enough to understand what sex was. Although many of these young adults are able to provide their kids with the material possessions necessary for them to prosper, not all are able to provide their kids with a stable household such as having the inclusion of both parents. The stability of one’s immediate family household correlates well with a child’s development …show more content…
She was growing fast and becoming wiser. However, as things progressed the relationship between the mother and father soon fell apart and they separated. At the age of 3, Jane only lived with her father and only saw her mother once every two weeks. As a single father, Charlie had to work as much as possible to be able to provide for both Jane and himself even with the help of child support from the mother. Due to the fact that Charlie had to work full time while still going to school, he was exhausted and drained after a long day and would immediately go to bed as soon as he would got …show more content…
In a way Jane was forced into Autonomy due to the lack of parental guidance. At stage 3, Jane has sided with guilt due to her initiatives not being supported by family members. Her attempts at starting new activities have been shot down because it does not fit into the schedule the parents have. Since she has not reached the appropriate age to further breach the eight stages Erikson set forth, it ends at stage 3. Barely being halfway through the eight stages, Jane has already been on the wrong side of things due to the lack of emotional and mental connections from both