Reply #79: Beyond your own story, can you see that it's not always ideal? [View All]

[progressivebydesign]

In America, two wager earners can barely afford to care for a child, unfortunately. I see that Nordic countries have high unwed parent childbirth rates, but they also have medical care and child care provided by the government.

You were obviously an exlemplary parent, and did a great job with no money and no partner. I wish there were more like you out there, as so many kids are left behind with emotionally and financially overwhelmed single parents. Sadly, statistics show a huge correlation between boys raised without a father figure, and problems in school, and experience in the criminal system.

Ideally, it wouldn't matter if one, two, or even three, people raised children, but the financial reality of our country now, is that it's a stress emotionally and financially to raise a child alone. I'm happy for you that you made it work and your children have been successful. My Mom was left with 3 children and zero emotional or financial support, no work skills, no car, no social or family support. She did a great job, but frankly... we would have all fared much better in life had she had a partner of some sort of help with us. It stretches one person so thin in all ways, that the kids aren't usually better for it.