Reflections on Being a Single Parent
Leslie Sylva and Martin Arinaga
Leslie Sylva and Martin Arinaga are co-hosts of The Good Life Hawaii radio show. They are both single parents. Leslie raised her son as a single parent. Martin, recently entered the world of single parents. Both share heartfelt insights that are useful and enouraging.
What do single parents struggle with that others may not realize? How do you know the time is right to establish a new romantic relationship? How can one person carry the financial burden of raising a family in the recession? How do you deal with feelings of guild? What are practical ways of keeping emotionally stable when things seem out of control?
Relevant Facts:
- There are approximately 13.7 million single parents in the United States today
- Those parents are responsible for raising 21.8 million children (approximately 26% of children under 21 in the U.S. today).
- The majority of individuals raising children alone started out in committed relationships and never expected to be single parents.
- (According to Custodial Mothers and Fathers and Their Child Support: 2007, released by the U.S. Census Bureau in November, 2009)