There are several
challenges facing single parents in the upbringing of their children. Nwachukwu
(2008) summarised these challenges thus:
challenges facing single parents in the upbringing of their children. Nwachukwu
(2008) summarised these challenges thus:
·
Emotional
problems
Emotional
problems
·
Financial
problems
Financial
problems
·
Social
problems
Social
problems
Emotional
problems
problems
Single parents,
especially mothers tend to suffer from a feeling of rootlessness and lack of
identity after divorce/widowhood. This is especially true of women whose
identity was formerly associated with that of their husbands. In many single
parents, feelings of guilt, shame, resentment, anger and anxiety about future
are so dominant, that they bring out personality changes.
especially mothers tend to suffer from a feeling of rootlessness and lack of
identity after divorce/widowhood. This is especially true of women whose
identity was formerly associated with that of their husbands. In many single
parents, feelings of guilt, shame, resentment, anger and anxiety about future
are so dominant, that they bring out personality changes.
Igba (2006)found that
widows experience traumatic grief following the death of a spouse, depression,
helpless, hopeless, loneliness, emotional imbalance and short-tempered.
widows experience traumatic grief following the death of a spouse, depression,
helpless, hopeless, loneliness, emotional imbalance and short-tempered.
i.
Financial problems
Financial problems
Financial crises are a
standing situation with most of the single parent families. It becomes difficult
in meeting the basic needs of children such as food, clothing, school fees,
maintaining the previous standard of living and meet personal expense. This
situation leads to economic helplessness. Single parents become the primary
wage earners after the death of their spouse. They are then forced to shoulder
responsibilities of spouse which lead to depression in single parents
(Nwachukwu, 2008).
standing situation with most of the single parent families. It becomes difficult
in meeting the basic needs of children such as food, clothing, school fees,
maintaining the previous standard of living and meet personal expense. This
situation leads to economic helplessness. Single parents become the primary
wage earners after the death of their spouse. They are then forced to shoulder
responsibilities of spouse which lead to depression in single parents
(Nwachukwu, 2008).
ii.
Social problems
Social problems
Single parents discover
that there is little place for them among married couples. Most of the widow’s
social life is centred on activities with other women. If she is economically handicapped,
then she is unable to participate in many community social organizations. Most
single mothers do not attend any social functions after the death of their
spouse due to the feeling of low self-esteem and lack of identity and financial
problems. These women hesitated to make new friends and hence experienced lack
of companionship.
that there is little place for them among married couples. Most of the widow’s
social life is centred on activities with other women. If she is economically handicapped,
then she is unable to participate in many community social organizations. Most
single mothers do not attend any social functions after the death of their
spouse due to the feeling of low self-esteem and lack of identity and financial
problems. These women hesitated to make new friends and hence experienced lack
of companionship.