Single Moms, Multiple Problems

By Audrey Hwang

They say it takes a village to raise a child, but for single parents, the whole work of a village rests on their shoulders.

Being a parent is hard, but doing it alone without a partner is even harder. The responsibilities that are usually covered by one person all depends on the single parent. There are five times more single mothers than fathers. They have to juggle their social lives, jobs, schooling, and any family issues on top of their child.

But when theres no safe places to keep their children for a low cost, they’re faced with a difficult decision. They have to either pay a babysitter, pay for daycare or leave them at home alone.

The first two choices aren't viable for those who can barely keep themselves afloat. Leaving children home alone isn't safe and parents only spend their time away from home worried about the safety of their child.

Without reliable child care options single parents turn down job opportunities or reduce their working hours, directly impacting their ability to earn a steady income and provide for their families.But without these promotions and opportunities, they in turn have to struggle to make ends meet and skimp out on payments for food and clothes.

Binkies and bibs don't always pay the bills.

In a 2018 survey conducted by the Center for American Progress, they found that mothers were 40 percent more likely than fathers to report that they had personally felt the negative impact of child care issues on their careers. 

Too often, mothers are forced to make decisions based on child care considerations rather than in the interest of their financial situation or career goals.

The impact hits every single parent struggling to raise their child alone. But for women, who are statistically suffering with higher poverty rates, it hits even harder.

But when society places standards for what women have to do to become ‘good moms’ it places a larger burden on the shoulders of single mothers.

For fathers, playing with your child is a sign of exemplary effort, whereas for mothers it's just their job. Cooking a healthy meal for your children is a standard for mothers, but when fathers put in the effort to prepare meals, it's a dad going above and beyond to provide proper nutrition to their children.

The double standards that society places on mothers force them into believing that they are never good enough. But especially for lower income mothers, who can't afford luxurious lives for their children, they’re seen as terrible moms.

They make do with what they have. It's not perfect, but it's better than nothing.

Support for parents is what this country has always been lacking. Being there to make the lives of single parents easier and bring safety to their children should have been the standard years ago.