HW12- Front Page

EFFECTS OF SINGLE-PARENTHOOD

ON FILIPINO CHILDREN

A Research Paper Presented to

The Faculty of English Resource Center

School of Accountancy and Business

Asia Pacific College

Magallanes, Makati City

In Partial Fulfillment

of the Requirements for the Course

Research Writing 

Portia Fajardo

December 2012

HW11: Effects on Parents

When you are a mother, you are never really alone in your thoughts. A mother always has to think twice, once for herself and once for her child.
- Sophia Loren


The effects of single parent families are usually termed negatively. Single parent has become a bad word in many contexts and most people often don't understand what leads the situation to be that way - being a single parent family. Sometimes, they don't even have this sympathy of what a single parent is going through raising her child. Regardless of being on a single parent family, single parent should be able to do their best for the child even though they are doing many responsibilities at a time that should be shared by two people. However, being strong for your child sometimes difficult to do because of the effects of single parenthood on you as a parent.

According to an article I have read entitled Effects of Single Parenting: It Can Be Positive, a single mother will face many effects - negative or positive of being on the situation.

1. Loneliness
It states on the article that loneliness happens to all of us. We just have to learn in dealing with it properly. Therefore, a single mother should focus more on the good things happening to her life instead of focusing on the bad things. For instance, a single mother will look for some ways just to relieve their loneliness. She is more focused on dating and looking for someone who can help her overcome her loneliness. With her eagerness in finding that someone, she might forgot that things shouldn't be rushed. If she rushed things and marry a wrong guy again for the sake of just being with someone, that would only make her more miserable.

2.  Being Strong
The article also states that a single mother should be thankful of the difficulties she might experiences because that could definitely make her a stronger person. A single parent will not rely to other people for there emotional well-being. She will also learn to deal with the problems that she had never dealt before. Moreover, she would also be more understanding to people and may also help them in overcoming emotional difficulties they might also experiencing.

3. Overcompensating
According to the article, a single mother may feel guilty that she is the one who puts her child on that situation that may result in spoiling the child. It says there that a single mother should never spoil her child fro it will not replace the missing part on the child. It is better to show love and provide quality time for her child. Moreover, she should learn to say no sometimes because you are a parent to make the decisions for your child whether he/she likes it or not. Though the child might blame you and took advantage of the situation just to get what he/she wants, a single mother should not always give it for you both are in it together and should work as a team. Always remember that you are not less worthy if you are single. Furthermore, she should learn to have a self management. Balancing of time between work and the child might be tough, but she should give quality time for her child to avoid the misconceptions like the feeling of being neglected of the child to her.

Single parents should be responsible for doing everything. Though it may be hard at first, it would be really better if they should learn to take challenges on themselves because even they have supportive parents and friends there have times that no one can help them in overcoming these struggles.

As a conclusion, single parents should always think positively and keep sound attitude. They should also think of the betterment of their child in the near future. They must learn  from the challenges they are encountering so, it will be more easy for them to face the challenges they will be encountering more along their way.

HW 10: Social Problems of Parents

And each of us can practice right ourselves, treating each other without discrimination, respecting each other's dignity and rights.
-Carol Bellamy

Discrimination in traditions, policies, ideas, practices, and laws exist in many countries and institutions in every part of the world. It is also present now in relationships between non-traditional families like single parents. Single parents especially the mothers are commonly discriminated by there inability of rearing the child and carry the consequences because they are women.

As what I have read an article entitled Discrimination and prejudice against single parents, it stated there that male single parents are not really considered to be part of a model of single parenthood. Even male single parents do not compose of majority, they do not feel that they are being discriminated unlike there female counterparts. Sometimes, they are seen as heroes because they were lone in rearing the child.

It is also stated there that "people who make discriminatory statements about race, religion, sexual orientation, and indeed single parents, tend to be uneducated, prejudiced, and unable to cope with the notion that anyone who has different life to their own or what they see as a 'traditional household' of a male and a female with children."

Moreover, some of the female single parents are also discriminated in the work force. For example, if a woman is undergoing a job interview and she was asked to tell something about herself, and she said that she  is only with her child without the husband figure, the interviewer might doubt in accepting her in the company because the have this misconception that she has the inability of balancing the work in the workplace. In some cases, if she fortunately passed the interview, the probability of being promoted throughout the stay in the company and more responsibility in the workplace is greater compared to those who are single(without children) and married couples.It seems that a common stereotype for a single parent is someone who would not be interested or able to make a move because they have children.

In our generation today, sexism doesn't really matter because today what men do can also be done by women like being a conductor and a driver in a bus, a welder, etc. Same goes with the female single mothers. They can surely do this for the sake of their child. At first, they might feel the struggles of being alone in raising their child, but as time passes by I am pretty sure that they can do it. Those discriminatory statements will not help them to overcome this situation, but can worsen it. Let us just respect there rights and dignity as a person.

HW 9: Interview Report

To be able to finish this paper and prove what I have researched on this past two months regarding the effects of single parenting among children and what are the things a single parent experiences in rearing the child, there is a need for an interview.

I have done my interview from three people - children of single parents, and two single parents - one is a teenage mom and the other is a single mom from separation. I have interviewed them so, I could give concrete ideas about what are their challenges and its effects to them.

I have interviewed my two classmates who experienced being on the situation. They said that single parent family is really different from the traditional two parent family because for them it can lead to loneliness, the feeling of always being alone, and the attention given by the parent is not that fulfilled. They experience psychological and emotional problems like the feeling of always being lonely, lack of attention and guidance which affects their view about their parents. With regard to academic achievements, both of them said that they don't have any problem about it. They said that if you are in the situation, you should be stong to prove others that even you are in a different situation than them, that should be a hindrance to their success. Both of them experience social challenges. They said that they feel being alienated, always feel alone because they are thinking about the situation, and they just always smile to hide the problems they have because of the situation. They cope these challenges by praying to God because they said that He will not give this thing to you if you cannot overcome it and by believing on themselves. Just always think that you are still lucky that you have a parent who still take cares of you unlike other children who are orphan. One of my classmates that being a child of a single does not have any benefits or advantages, but my other classmate said that, it teaches her to become independent, strong, and determined person. She believes that a child who experiences now being on a single parent family might lead her future family to become complete because she will make sure that the one she experiences at the present will not happen to her future children.

In addition, to strengthen more my study, I have also interviewed a child of a single parent. According to her, her mother left them when she was only 8 years old and she doesn't have any idea of what is the reason behind the negligence of her mother. Her grandmother was the one who looked after them. She felt that there is always that missing part of her in spite of the presence of her lola and father that made the situation difficult for her to cope with. Her experiences being in a single parent family are: (1.) When she was in kinder she did not join the family day and (2.) when she was elementary there is an investiture for girl scouts and supposedly the one who should put the pin on her uniform was her mother, but the one who put it is her adviser. Despite of being envious to those families who are complete, she is still happy because she is with her six siblings and the one who are sending them to school is her tita. Until now, she is still asked by other people if her mother will come back she will be mad at her. For her, she is mad to her mother. However, if her siblings accept their mother, even her youngest sibling don't even see her personally, she will accept her for the sake of them. When her grandmother died, that was the time when she really felt that she don't have a mother who guided her. Every night she is crying because of what she feels. Because of uncontrolled emotions, she was not able to handle it that's why she attempted to commit suicide. With regard to school, she does not have any stigmas because when she was in highschool she was able to graduate in a private school. However, one of her eldest brother graduated in public school because her brother did not take his studies seriously. He was the one who was greatly affected by being on a single parent family. When it comes to socializing, she is quite timid in approaching people because she is very quiet, but as time passes by she was able to get along with to other people. For her, the disadvantages being in a single parent family is she does not experience the feeling of having a mother. How a mother will raise her; how a mother will give pieces of advice to her daughter in terms of her growth, education, and love life. However, she learned how to be independent. She was able to make decisions for herself. And she can distinguish easily what is right from what is wrong without asking for some pieces of advice from others.

Meanwhile, I also interviewed a teenage mother so, I would be able to provide information about what are she experiencing. According to her, the first stigma is how she will be a mother to her child because she will think of how she will raise and rear her child, how she will take good care of her child, how will she provide a good future for her child alone. She will think how she will start new life for herself and for her child - the future that awaits ahead of them both. Financially, at first it was very difficult for her because she just leans on her parents since she was not able to provide her child's day care needs for she is a teenage mom. When she was now had her work, little by little she was able to provide the daily needs of her child. In socializing to other people, it is also difficult for her also at first because sometimes other people are always questioned her of being a single mom for they are asking of who is the father of the child. Sometimes, she also feels being discriminated by other people. At first, she was greatly affected, but at time goes by, she learns how to be strong enough for her baby because someday she will be the one who will give her the strength. She also said that if you will be weak and very emotional of what happened always, nothing will happen to her that will just might affect her child. Her initial reaction when she knew that she is pregnant was shocked because she did not expected being a mother in just a snap, but whatever happens she accepted the situation and she believes that her child is a blessing for her. She learned to be independent by not being a burden to her parents even she knew at the first place that they are the ones who supported her all the way and encourages her to learn from her mistake and to be matured and strong for herself and her child. She believes that she should persevere more for her baby. Her family who is always there for her and pushes her to be responsible and gives her moral support to overcome this stigma.


Furthermore, a single parent from a separation was the other one I interviewed. Her struggles of becoming a single parent are the financial capability and lack of sleep especially when her child is ill. According to her, it is also difficult to balance the work and being a mother. However, she keeps on nurturing her child's mind that what they only have should fit on their lifestyle. In socializing, for her there is no problem at all because her friends were very supportive to her all through out. In discrimination, she just ignore it. She keeps on telling to herself that there are many people who are also experiencing what she experiences now. She just enjoy her life because if she will be affected of those discriminations, it does not help working out the situation, but worsening it. It may also affects the child's life. She learned not to easily give her trust to someone because she is afraid to happen again what she experiences now. But if it is about her child, she shows being resilient and strong. She does not show that she is experiencing difficulty sometimes in raising her child because she felt pity to her child when her child sees her worried on something.


In conclusion, with the result of my interview, the answers I have been expecting were said by the interviewees like the social, psychological, financial, academic, and emotional problems and its effects to them. However, some of the answers contradicted the foreign studies I have researched on like the academic effects on the children. But all through out the interview, the results of the interview almost matched what I have expected.

HW 8: Chapter 3

Chapter 3

SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS,

AND RECOMMENDATIONS

SUMMARY

     This paper attempted to determine the different effects of single parenthood on Filipino children.
     The research design used in this study is the descriptive research method wherein data from documents and interviews were used to answer the answer the research question stated. The research findings are the following:


 1.  Nowadays, single parents are not just presently existing in Western countries, but also here in the Philippines.

2.   Because single parent family are now common in the norm, a single mother now serves as a pillar and a light to their children.

3.  Single parenthood does not only affects the mother, but also the child.

4.  Single parents have different challenges to cope. For instance, financial, emotional, and social difficulties are some of the challenges lone parents need to overcome.

5.  What single parents are experiencing affects the personality of the children.

6.  Aside from the effects of the difficulties of single parents to children, they are not spared from the challenges on being in a single parent family. Psychological, social, and academic difficulties are some of the challenges they are facing that they need to cope every single day of their lives.

CONCLUSIONS

     Based in the findings of this study, the following conclusions are drawn:


1.  It is difficult to become single parents since they need to fulfill the duties and responsibilities of both the father and the mother.

2.  Because children lack the presence of a father figure or a mother figure, they experience challenges they need to overcome that made their lives to be tough.

3.  Though children experiences these challenges that undeniably can make their lives unyielding at first, being on the situation could help them in being independent and a resilient person.


RECOMMENDATIONS

     After drawing the conclusions of the study, the researcher hereby make the following suggestions/recommendations:


1.  In order for the children to accept and cope up easily the challenges that might adversely affect their lives, single parents should keep on nurturing and telling to their children to understand their situation.

2.  Single parents should always provide a quality time for their children and show unconditional love, care, support, encouragement, and attention for the mere fact that the parents are always beside the children will surely to the coping stage of the children and to lessen the feeling of having a missing part on them.

3.  On the other hand, single parents should also provide time for themselves in order for them to meditate for the things what a single parent is doing to rear the child alone. In addition, single parents should always be optimistic in life. Being a pessimist person will not help the children as well as their situation, but just worsening it.

References:

A. Electronic Media

Support Net. Emotional rescue - coping with emotions of single parent. Retrieved from http://www.careforthefamily.org.uk/pdf/supportnet/SN-SingleParentsEmotions.pdf

Ezzeldine, M. L. (2011). Single parenting. Retrieved from http://www.suhaibwebb.com/relationships/marriage-family/parents/single-parenting/

Wolf, J. Single parenting tips [Survive your first year as a newly single parent]. Retrieved from http://singleparents.about.com/od/support/tp/Single_Parenting_Tips.htm

Gomez, C. Financial problems for single parents. Retrieved from http://www.ehow.com/info_8100185_financial-problems-single-parents.html

Golden, J. Single parents and the effects on their children. Retrieved from http://www.ehow.com/info_8005089_effects-single-parents-children.html

Satherley, J. (2011). Absent fathers are fuelling drug addiction, anti-social behaviour, and crime among young people, says charity report. Retrieved from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2054608/Absent-fathers-fuelling-drug-addiction-anti-social-behaviour-crime-young-people-says-charity-report.html

Tomlinson, C. A. (2011). Psychological effects of single-parent family. Retrieved from http://www.livestrong.com/article/150252-psychological-effects-of-a-single-parent-family/

Kelly, J. Does single parenting affect children? [Psychological effects of having a single parent]. Retrieved from http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/family/single-parenting-affect-children1.htm

Effects of single parenting: Can be positive! [The effects of single parenting on the parent]. Retrieved from http://www.parenting-boys.com/Effects-of-Single-Parenting.html

Discrimination and prejudice against single parents. Retrieved from http://www.weeklygripe.co.uk/a935.asp

HW 7: Survey/Interview Questions

Responses of How Single-Parenthood Affects Filipino Children

Name:____________________              Date: ________________
Gender:___________________           Age: _________________
Signature: _________________

Direction: Answer the questions below legibly and honestly.

1.  Are you living with: (Check the blank that corresponds your answer)
_______   A. Mother only
_______   B. Father only
_______   C. Both mother and father
_______   D. Guardian only
_______   E. Others (Specify:______________)

2. Is being in a single parent family different from two parent family? How do you say so?






3.  If you were in a single-parent family, do you experience some challenges with regard to your psychological and emotional needs? If yes, what are those?






 4.  If you were in a single-parent family, do you experience some challenges with regard to your academic achievements and school life? If yes, what are those?





5.  If you were in a single-parent family, do you experience some challenges with regard to your social needs? If yes, what are those?






6.  How do you cope with those different challenges you are experiencing living in a single parent family?

7. Other than experiencing those challenges being on a single parent family, what do you think the advantages being on the situation?

8. What is your idea about single parenting? Is this good or bad for the parent? How about the children?






9. What do you think are the things that a single parent can do to overcome this problems that may affect the children involved?






Researcher:

Portia P. Fajardo
BSA-AC122

HW 6: Cover Letter of Survey

November 25, 2012

Dear Respondent/s:

I am a student under the supervision of Mr. Dustin Celestino in the English Resource Center at Asia Pacific College. I am conducting a research study entitled Effects of Single Parenthood Among Filipino Children. The purpose of this study is to provide information on the effects of single-parenthood on Filipino children.

Your participation will involve answering of nine questions with a combination of single choice question and essay type questions and should only take about fifteen to twenty minutes you time. Your involvement in the study is voluntary, and you may choose not to participate or to stop at any time. The results of the research study may be published, but your name will not be used. Your identity will not be associated with your responses in any published format.

The findings from this project will provide valuable information about the effects of single parenthood on children with no cost to you other than the time it takes for the survey.

If you have any questions about this research project, please feel free to call me at (0909)335-3550 or send an e-mail to fajardo_portia@yahoo.com.ph.

By returning this questionnaire in the envelope provided, you will be agreeing to participate in the above described project.

Thanks for your consideration!

Sincerely,



Portia P. Fajardo
BS Accountancy Student, Asia Pacific College

HW 5 : Chapter 2

Chapter 2

DISCUSSION

What are the effects of single-parenthood on Filipino children?

Overview of Single-parenthood

Over the past 20 years single-parent families have become even more common than the so-called "nuclear family" consisting of a mother, father and children. Today we see all sorts of single parent families: headed by mothers, headed by fathers, headed by a grandparent raising their grandchildren.

Life in a single parent household - though common - can be quite stressful for the adult and the children. Members may unrealistically expect that the family can function like a two-parent family, and may feel that something is wrong when it can not. The single parent may feel overwhelmed by the responsibility of juggling caring for the children, maintaining a job and keeping up with the bills and household chores. And typically, the family's finances and resources are drastically reduced following the parents' breakup. (http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/single-parent.aspx)

A. Abroad

The demographics of single parenting show a general increase worldwide in children living in single parent homes. Single parenting has become an accepted norm in the United States and is an accepted trend found in multiple other countries. Debates concerning not only the single parents themselves, but also the children involved, support for the families in single parent households, and more have arisen. Although divorce is one of the main events that leads to single parenting, it may be that the majority of cases in the United States are from pregnancy outside of wedlock. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single_parent)

In the United States, the number of children in single-mother families has risen dramatically over the past four decades, causing considerable concern among policymakers and the public. Researchers have identified the rise in single-parent families (especially mother-child families) as a major factor driving the long-term increase in child poverty in the United States. The effects of growing up in single-parent households have been shown to go beyond economics, increasing the risk of children dropping out of school, disconnecting from the labor force, and becoming teen parents. Although many children growing up in single-parent families succeed, others will face significant challenges in making the transition to adulthood. Children in lower-income, single-parent families face the most significant barriers to success in school and the work force. (http://www.prb.org/Publications/PolicyBriefs/singlemotherfamilies.aspx)

B. Philippines

Filipinos are said to be conservative people since then, but in today's generation Filipino people tend to be liberated. And because of that, a lot of things are going on today that was never heard before. Just like being a single parent households which are scattered all over the world. So we cannot say that it is because of a specific culture or a certain economic status. Rich or poor,there are a lot of single parents out there.

Sad but true, if the same United States statistics more or less represents the same picture of the modern-day Filipino family, it only means that the role of the Filipino father, held as the pillar of the Filipino home, is now also singlehandedly carried by the mother. The Filipino single mom is now both the pillar and the light.

Thus Filipino single mothers, having become the Pillar and the Light of the Filipino Home by force of circumstance, and because of her characteristic Filipino\ resilience in the face of challenges such as single parenthood, she has evolved into a new symbol -- the lamp post. Both a pillar and light to her children, her family.


Challenges of Single Parents in the Philippines

Financial

Not all of the people in this world is given a chance to be financially stable. Especially when the single parent in the family is the mother itself because in terms of income the father is the most capable in gaining it more.

Financial stability is one of the vital factors in parenting deny it or not. It is very significant because it encompasses day care needs, schooling, food, housing, medical/dental assistance and even the gifts and rewards you will give on your child- money really matters.

According to a single parent interviewed by the researcher, being a teenage single mother gives difficulty in providing the child's day care needs at first for the teenage mom is always asking for the help of the parents. Immediate looking of a work is a must to support the daily needs of the child.

Moreover, another single mother was interviewed, but the cause of being a on the situation is separation from the spouse. The single mom had the work; however, the single mom is worried about the finances if the child is unexpectedly ill, sending the child in a competitive school and the house the parent and the child are living in.

Emotional

Emotions are powerful. Different people define emotions in different ways.  It can affect your physical and psychological bodies. Emotions can control your thinking, behavior, and actions. Some people that sometimes ignore their emotions are setting up themselves into physical illness. Negative emotions like sadness and frustration can cause chemical reactions that are very different in chemical reactions released by positive emotions like happy and accepted.

For most people, becoming a single parent was not even their choice. Therefore, it is hard for them to cope with their sudden emotions that they are going through as they go along being a single parent.

The initial reaction of being a teenage single mother is shocked because of the consequences of being irresponsible of their actions. Thinking of how to raise and rear their child, they will eventually feel the sadness of their situation and the anger to the father of their child who left them. At the same time, teenage moms are glad because of the child they have now. They believe that their child is a blessing from God and should not be affected by their being irresponsible.

Moreover, emotional difficulties are also experienced by single mothers from separation. Anger to their husband because of neglecting their family. For them, it is very painful that tends them to be always too emotional by crying because they don't even expect and choose being a single mom and raising the child on their own. If children ask where their fathers are, that is the most challenging part for they do not want their children to be on the situation and also be painful for them.

Social 

Discrimination in traditions, policies, ideas, practices, and laws exist in many countries and institutions in every part of the world. It is also present now in relationships between non-traditional families like single parents. Single parents especially the mothers are commonly discriminated by there inability of rearing the child and carry the consequences because they are women.

Male single parents are not really considered to be part of a model of single parenthood. Even male single parents do not compose of majority, they do not feel that they are being discriminated unlike there female counterparts. Sometimes, they are seen as heroes because they were lone in rearing the child.

Moreover, single mothers are also discriminated in the workforce. For instance, a woman who undergo a job interview. The interviewer knew that the woman is a single mother and the child the mother is raising lacks a father figure. These might result to some misconceptions that single mothers cannot do excellently on their work. In addition, these misconceptions might lead to less promotions and less work in the work force.

In our generation today, sexism does not really matter because today what men do can also be done by women like being a conductor and a driver in a bus, a welder, etc. Same goes with the female single mothers. They can surely do this for the sake of their child. At first, they might feel the struggles of being alone in raising their child, but as time passes by they can surely do it. Those discriminatory statements will not help them to overcome this situation, but can worsen it. The society should respect their rights as a human being.

Challenges of Single Parents' Children in the Philippines

Psychological

Since children are still young, parents should be able to provide enough psychological attention to them for they are fragile; they can be easily hurt. For instance, There is this situation that the parent and the children are not of the same sex, which tend them not to overcome psychological effects of single parenthood easily. If the father is present and the child is a girl, the father cannot attend to the needs of the daughter especially if the daughter is in the stage of being a teenager because the father do not know enough about what a girl experiences during that period. Pieces of advices may be given to the daughter but it is more appropriate and comfortable if the one who gives advices is the mother. This also goes to the situation that the mother is present and the child is a boy. This is more difficult to deal with because girls are naturally more understanding than boys. The mother might be having a hard time talking to the child because the absence of a father to a boy is quite a big deal for them unless they are trying to accept things like those from the very beginning.

In addition, other psychological struggles children might experiencing in a single parent family are loneliness, the feeling of being different, and child-rearing differences. Loneliness occurs because children lack a father within the family and they can see the sadness and stigmas their parents are also experiencing. Meanwhile, children might have the feeling of being different. If all of a child's friends live in two-parent households, the child may feel left out and different from his friends. He may feel he misses something in everyday life that he may not exactly understand. Even if the child's friends live in single-parent homes, their experiences will feel somewhat different because of which parent takes care of his friends and each parent's different parenting style. And lastly, child rearing differences on children could give a possibility that they will experience psychological dilemmas. Both parents can have disagreements about rearing the children. They may constantly battle over power and compete for the position of better parent. Counterproductively, in-laws and friends may get involved, trying to help, but ultimately causing distress for the parents and children.

Social

The word sociable is commonly attributed to a person who is willing to talk and engage in activities with other people. And being sociable is the most appropriate attribute that is being described  among children. Children are very playful, have lots of friends, and their behavior are mostly naughty. However, not all children are sociable enough because they are kind of timid. And behind this timidity on socializing with their friends always have the reason.

Socially, children in single parent families are greatly affected because they will always have this misconception of being discriminated by their comrade for they are different among their group. On the first days of adapting and overcoming the situation in a single parent family, they have the thinking that other people will not accept the differences between them. Because of this, timidity among the children of single parents will be existing on oneself. They will be shy in socializing with other people and they will have this long process in trusting others until they are sure enough that they will not be discriminated.

Academic

Many of us believe that education is the key to success. It is also considered as the great equalizer here in the earth because it does not matter if a person is rich or poor as long as one is educated everybody is equal. Hence, it is the only legacy every parent can give to their children.

Lack of financial capability of the single parent affects the child's educational attainment because of they are incapable of providing a good foundation on their education by sending them to a competitive school.
Aside from financial difficulties of the single parent, another factor that affects the academic achievements of the children is the lack of attention of the parent to the child. As a parent, they should be able to give enough attention and encouragement on their child's studies. Unlike the traditional two-parent families, single parent families sometimes fail in giving the right attention needed by the child for they are performing the responsibilities of both the mother and the father within the family. To provide good education for their children, single parents tend to work hard which leads them to be caught in a dilemma in having difficulty in balancing their time between the work and the child.

On the other hand, some of the children of a single parent are not having any difficulty in coping the situation of being on a lone parent family for they believe that this situation should serve as their motivation in pursuing more their dreams wherein being an educated person is the only for these dreams to be attained.

Effects on the Parents and Children

Financial

Financial difficulties among single mother parents is undeniably tough. These challenges from monetary aspects have a great effects to both the mother and the child. Overcoming these challenges tend a single mother to do jobs more than one. Because of doing these jobs, a single mother might be consuming a lot of hours outside the house which may result to the child's lack of attention and care from the mother. Moreover, consuming a lot hours in work means that the single parent consumes a lot of energy in doing it. Therefore, the lone mother might forget taking care oneself. Forgetting in caring oneself may lead the single mother to be ill. These things might make the situation get worst if the the lone mother forget to rear the child well for the single mother is busy earning money to support the daily needs of the family.

Psychological 

Because of many psychological challenges children are experiencing, these can have great effect on their growth. Loneliness of children may lead to them to the feeling of being always alone, lack of attention, and guidance which affect their view about their parents. And as if there is no person who will care for them at all. Furthermore, because of the child rearing differences for they are reared and raised in a single parent family, these might result to lack of trust by children to people they are socializing with. Since the family is only composed of one parent, many friends and relatives may be involved in raising the child which sometimes even caused more stigmas to both the parent and the child.

Emotional

Filipinos, especially women are very emotional. Therefore, single parents are not emotionally ready of what happened to their family. For them, it is mixed emotions. Anger, happiness, sadness, disappointed, and confused are some of the emotions they have during their first days in struggling of being a single parent. As a result of being mad to the their spouse, children tend to be annoyed and confused on the situation. Instead of being mad because of the situation they land to, might as well give the best attention the children need.

Other than that, for instance, single mothers will look for some ways just to relieve their loneliness. They are more focused on dating and looking for someone who can help overcome their loneliness. With the eagerness in finding that someone, they might forgot that things should not be rushed. If they rushed things and marry a wrong guy again for the sake of just being with someone, that would only make them more miserable. After all, single parents are not the only one who are suffering on the situation, but also the children who are vulnerable and fragile with these kind of stigmas they should not have been experiencing.

In addition, these emotional issues made the single parents to be more strong not only for themselves, but also for their children who are only depending on them. A single parent will not rely to other people for their emotional well-being. They will also learn to deal with the problems that they had never dealt before. Moreover, they would also be more understanding to people and may also help them in overcoming emotional difficulties they might also experiencing. Therefore, single mothers should focus more on the good things happening to their life instead of focusing on the bad things.

Social

Discrimination among single parents is really existing in the norm. These discriminatory statements to single parents made them more resilient. For them, the fact that they are single parents was not even their choice so, they just ignore these judgmental words they hear. However, they cannot deny the fact that at first they are pissed and tend to be more emotional because of these discriminatory statements. On the contrary, they are just thinking that if they will not ignore those statements, it will just make the situation worst that will surely affect their children. In short, they are doing this for the sake of the feelings of the children.

Meanwhile, alienation among children is the effect of the feeling of being different, discriminated, and alone. Their timidity in approaching a person to talk because of these misconceptions they have in mind, children in single parent families will just prefer to alienated on the group than to be hurt by the discrimination of their friends and remember their situation over and over again.

HW 4: Background of the Survey

This research paper focuses about the effects of single-parenthood on Filipino children which is a growing concern issue not only here in the Philippines, but also in other parts of the world like America. Proving this matter greatly helped me this blog because citing my resources will not be that difficult, and so I can provide enough information regarding my study.

Based on articles I have read these past two months, changes in family values are now arising here in our current generation. Different views of what family is like single parenthood is now presently existing.

So far, what I have gathered just proved that single parenthood does not merely affects the parent, but also the children. There are many stigmas a parent might be undergoing through this situation like financial and social problems and how they will surpass those challenges arising within their family. I have also gathered that children may have psychological, academic, and social effects on children. However, these data and information are based on the studies conducted abroad.

Because I only know about what is happening abroad about single parenthood, I have only limited knowledge with regard to my topic. Therefore, I should conduct surveys and interviews about single parenthood here in the Philippines. Hopefully, I could do survey responses from group of random people of different perspective about this matter. If I would be given a chance to have a survey with children who are on the situation, that would be a privilege for me because I could get more information for my study. Apart from that, I will also do some interviews to single moms, so I can also provide enough information about what are the experiences being on the situation they have now and how they will be able to cope it. With the help of these surveys and interviews I will be conducting, I could reflect more on what really a lone parenting is here in the Philippines that can probably make this paper a successful one.

To be able for me to determine the answer about this matter, some of the questions I need to ask are: to whom they are currently living with, what might be there experiences living in a single parent family if they are, and if not what are their idea of what single parenting is and its possible effects on both parent and the child. I will also interview some single parents of what are the things they are experiencing being on the situation and how they are able to surpassed it.

Personally, I have relatives and friends who are in the situation of being a single parent and I could see their perseverance of raising their family. Before, I don't understand what really single parenting is, but going through a two month researching about this matter, this gave a different perspective about what lone parenting is. Hopefully, my peers would also be able to feel the same way I felt when I undergo researches about this.

HW 2 : Social Problems of Children

Filipinos are said to be conservative people since then, but in today's generation Filipino people tend to be liberated. And because of that, a lot of things are going on today that was never heard before. Just like being a single parent households which are scattered all over the world. So we can’t say that it is because of a specific culture or a certain economic status. Rich or poor,there are a lot of single parents are out there. But as I have mentioned in all my blog posts since I started, single parent households have effects on children. Aside from psychological effects a lone family is bringing to child's growth, another issue is social problems.

The word sociable is commonly attributed to a person who is willing to talk an engage in activities with other people. And being sociable is I think the most appropriate attribute that is being described  among children. They are very playful, have lots of friends, and their behavior are mostly naughty. However, not all children are sociable enough because they are kind of timid. And behind this timidity on socializing with their friends always have the reason. Well, I think one of the reasons is the stigma they're experiencing being in a single parent household.

Moreover, because of early pregnancy among teenagers nowadays, many children are usually fatherless that may lead them to have enough self-esteem and antisocial behavior. Why? Maybe because they are seeking an attention that their mother cannot give just like a father. Another thing is, maybe they felt being neglected on their family. Because of these reasons, they tend to harm themselves like smoking, being addicted to drugs, deliquency, violence, sexual activity, and worse suicidal attempts.

As I had continued surfing and looking for articles to prove my opinions about this matter, I came across this article entitled Absent fathers are fueling drug addiction, antisocial behavior and crime among young people which talks about the greater risk of children on the family who are fatherless.

This article states that a children growing up in fatherless families tends to lack self-esteem and might do criminal activity. It also shows statistics that, Fatherless young people are 80.3% more likely to be involved in anti-social behaviour, 76.4% more likely to take part in crime, and 69.1% more likely to use take drugs.

Apart from that, it also says there that "Young people are struggling to find a sense of purpose within their families, schools, and community , and believe that peers provide them with what they need." They are thinking that only their comrades will help and understand their situations. Because of this misconception, they do not even think that their friends are good influence or not. Some of them might continue to engage antisocial behaviors that they may use as a form of protection against the problems children are experiencing.

Although youngsters might learn with their experiences in life of being a part of a single parent household that they are aspiring of becoming a better parents someday to their children, their dream may not come true because they often lacked the essential parenting skills needed.

Here in the Philippines, I could see that these problems on children are arising in the society. And  we cannot deny the fact that these are not impossible. Families here in our country are also becoming on the modern aspect and view of a family which is unavoidable.

Single parents experience social issues because they might be thinking that they are different among other families and they are not accepted in the norm. However, the stigma of having only one parent existing in the family greatly affects the children's social life and behavior.

HW 1 : Psychological Effects on Children

Single parent families are struggling from different problems both the parent and the children which may not exist in two parent families. There is this situation that the parent and the children are not of the same sex, which tend them not to overcome pyschological effects of single parenthood easily. For example, if the father is present and the child is a girl, the father cannot attend to the needs of the daughter especially if she is in the stage of being a teenager because the father do not know enough about what a girl experiences during that period. Pieces of advices may be given to the daughter but it is more appropriate and comfortable if the one who gives advices is the mother. This also goes to the situation that the mother is present and the child is a boy. This is more difficult to deal with because girls are naturally more understanding than boys. The mother might be having a hard time talking to her child because the absence of a father to a boy is quite a big deal for them unless they are trying to accept things like those from the very beginning.

This just simply shows that sometimes it is better and easier if the responsibilities and obligations are shared between both parents.

Thinking about this matter made me curious, so I looked for some psychological effects of single parenthood. Along searching on the Internet, I came across with this article entitled Psychological Effects of a Single-Parent Family which gave an answer to my curiosity.

Below are the psychological effects a child might be experiencing in a single parent family stated in the article.

1. Loneliness.

Loneliness and isolation occur because of the loss of the partnership between the mother and father within the family. When a person experiences separation or divorce, it tends to cause that person to feel alone and unhappy. Sharing joys and sorrows with someone else on a regular basis does not occur, and the support within the partnership regarding parenting does not exist. This loneliness and isolation that the parent experiences can affect the children, no matter their age, because they will witness the sadness of the parent.

2. Role Models

While girls may have better role models with single moms and boys with single dads, both will see a different view of the world than if they had both parents living together. For example, a girl only will see her mother operating as a single person, not as part of a synergistic couple. She may see her mother date, but that does not take the place of the child seeing her mother interact with a life-partner. Boys who live with their fathers face the same psychological problem of discovering how to behave with the opposite sex.

3. Feeling Different

If all of a child's friends live in two-parent households, the child may feel left out and different from his friends. He may feel he misses something in everyday life that he may not exactly understand. Even if the child's friends live in single-parent homes, their experiences will feel somewhat different because of which parent takes care of his friends and each parent's different parenting style.

4. Child-Rearing Differences

Both parents can have disagreements about rearing the children. They may constantly battle over power and compete for the position of better parent. Counterproductively, in-laws and friends may get involved, trying to help, but ultimately causing distress for the parents and children. This psychological and negative component of single parenting may cause the child to have psychological issues later, involving trust.

These are the common psychological effects on children, but this kind of issues can be prevented by a single parent.

There is an article that I read entitled Psychological Effects of Having a Single-Parent about how a single parent can protect their children form these kind of psychological risk factors.

1. Talk and listen to children. Explain any changes that are taking place within your family.

2. Shield kids from parental conflict. Don't ask them to take sides. Try to find a way to work with your ex-spouse.

3. Pay attention to your own feelings.You may be burdened with guilt and self-loathing because your marriage or relationship failed. These attitudes can be contagious. If necessary, see a counselor to work through issues.

4. Accentuate the positive. Children in a single-parent home often take on more responsibility, which can teach them independence. Be sure to recognize their contributions and be generous with praise.

A single parent might be having a hard time in coping and doing efforts on how they can make their children accept things on these kind of issues arising to your family, but children are much more affected by these problems because as a child, they are curious and may questions are coming up to their minds. So a single parent might as well do some strategies on how to cope about problems about psycological on children.

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

INTRODUCTION

A. Background of the Study

        Single Parenting is the term we used for a person building a family or raising a child without marriage or without the present of husband or wife. Anyone can be a single parent depending upon the relationship you established with your partner. (http://singleparentphilippines.blogspot.com/2009/12/causes-of-single-parenting.html )

        Single-parent families have become increasingly prevalent since 1950. In fact, one out of every two children in the United States will live in a single-parent family at some time before they reach age eighteen. According to the United States Census Bureau, in 2002 about 20 million children lived in a household with only their mother or their father. This is one-fourth of all children in the United States. (http://www.healthofchildren.com/S/Single-Parent-Families.html#b)

        Sometimes, this kind of family is caused by divorce especially in Western countries where this is legal. If the court finds the marriage unsuitable and no hope for reconciliation between the couple, the court has no choice but to grant the divorce. Apart from that, this is also caused by death of the partner. Many people said that life is too short and no one knows someone's death, and this unexpected happening may lead to some dilemmas to the other partner. (http://singleparentphilippines.blogspot.com/2009/12/causes-of-single-parenting.html)

        Furthermore, the most common reason why this kind of family exists in the society is because of early pregnancy among teenagers. Teenagers nowadays are very curious and aggressive, and tend to feel being neglected by their parents for they are looking for someones attention to fulfill their need of love and affection they cannot feel when they are with their parents.

        Teenage pregnancy is increasing rapidly these years at a pace of about 90% than ten years ago. This means the population is multiplying as days goes by. In beliefs and traditions, long time ago, teenagers were not allowed to get pregnant before they get married (usually in countries of southern Africa). They were penalized by paying heavy fines or sometimes were even burnt with fire. But nowadays, the cultures have loose value and people don't care and are not even bothered by this. (http://www.mylistmanager.co.za/ulscommon/publishing/General/9976_What_about_teenage_pregnancy.html).

        Parenting is an unyielding job, but single parenting is even more unyielding challenge, because one parent fulfills the duty and responsibility of a father and a mother to their child/children. Single parenting needs a lot of patience and determination because it is highly demanding for you and your child.

        Being a single parent in the Philippines is not so easy. Since our government does not do anything about it to help all of the single parents here in the country. So it only means one thing, single parents need to be creative and more open to all financial opportunity that can able to help them support their kids. It drains the body of every single parent, working like a dog at work, running a house hold. Provide their children of all their needs from food, shelter, education, medicine and clothing. It also drains their mind by thinking for the betterment of their child from their spiritual, emotional, social, physical and mental behaviors. Single parenting can change the totality of a person. Single parents should have a different method in molding the character of their child for they are prone from bullies and criticisms from other people. Single parents should learn how to deal and cope to the moods of their child. (http://singleparentphilippines.blogspot.com/search/label/SINGLE%20PARENT%20IN%20THE%20PHILIPPINES)

        Changes in family values are very rampant today. Many people are giving broad definitions about family like gay couples, child free couples, grandchildren raised by their grandparents, single parenthood and even one’s self can be considered as family if one claims it; and how they can handle such situations they will be facing. Although at present, the traditional Filipino family is now slowly fading and are now moving into a modern type of families like single parenthood. Hence, this kind of family should be given respect in the society because of the problems they are facing not just within themselves but also with their children whom they live for; as well as the children who get affected with these issues.

        Problems caused by single parenting do not only affect the mother nor the father but also their children.

        The purpose of this paper is to provide information on the effects of single-parenthood on Filipino children.

B. Statement of the Problem

   This study aims to answer this question:

   1.  What are the effects of single-parenthood to Filipino children?

C. Significance of the Study

Through this research, the researcher will be able to determine the common problems faced by single parents; these effects on children; and the coping measures of single parent to strengthen them.

Family. This will provide knowledge for them to provide emotional and moral support to their respective daughters who are single parents. Having one of the biggest roles in the student's support system, this will provide them additional knowledge in escorting their daughters towards success.

Single-Parents. Knowledge of this study will help single-parents cope their problems with regard in raising their child/children. This research will provide them some tips and recommendations in coping single parenting challenges.

Children. Children will also benefit from this study because they are the focus of researching this topic. The effects of the problems in single parent families on them as they are facing this complicated world.

Society. This research paper would be able to help people in the society to keep them more aware with these rampant and growing concern happenings in our country. Moreover, this could also help them accepting those issues present in our place.

Future Researchers. This could aid them and serve as a baseline data for other researchers who wish to improve the scope of the study. This may be used as a guide for those who aim to broaden and emphasize the concept of this study.


D. Scope and Delimitation

         Children have been considered one of the factors that make a family; hence, this study focuses on the effects of single-parenthood on children.

         Due to time constraints, this study will no longer discuss other causes of single parenthood such as divorce, death of partner, and choice. The researcher will concentrate more on the challenges both the single mother and the child are experiencing which affects them. In addition, the researcher believes that this issue regarding single parenthood should be given some focus on. Therefore, this study would be very helpful and relevant to the continuous changes here in our country in terms of family and society.


E. Materials and Methods

        This research employs and informative and descriptive method since the researcher's aim is to inform, to describe and to discuss the effects of single-parenthood on children.

        Information relevant to the study was gathered from some reference materials like journal articles from online sources. In addition, the researcher interviewed three students from a single parent family as well as two single parents - a teenage single mother and a single mother from separation.


F. Definition of Terms

Children. A young human being below the age of full physical development or below the legal age of majority. One that complete a family.

Family. In human context, it is a a group of people affiliated by consanguinity, affinity, or co-residence. In most societies it is the principal institution for the socialization of children. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family)

Financial. Of or relating to finance.

Psychological. Of, affecting, or arising in the mind; related to the mental and emotional state of a person.

Single Parent Family. A household consisting of at least one dependent child and the mother or father, the other parent being dead or permanently absent.

Single Parent. Usually refers to a parent who has most of the day to day responsibilities in the raising of the child or children, which would categorize them as the dominant caregiver who is not living with a spouse or partner, or those who are not married. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single_parent)

Teenage Pregnancy. is pregnancy in a female under the age of 20 (when the pregnancy ends). A pregnancy can take place at any time after menarche (the first menstrual period), which signals the possibility of fertility.  (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teenage_pregnancy)