Some of the news articles described and linked to in this post are clearly inspiring but others may surprise and alarm you. They aspire to broaden our perspective and understanding of single parents and their experiences worldwide.

If you have trouble getting to these links, feel free to email me at singleparentandstrong@gmail.com and I’ll send PDFs of them to you.

Jeans business a lifeline for single mums in Malaysia

Upcycling brings new life to objects that have been tossed aside. In this spirit, a single mother created a social enterprise transforming not only jeans into handbags, but single mothers into self-sufficient, independent women. Suri Lifestyle, formerly known as 2ndChance, began in 2014 after recently divorced Salena Ahmad was ascertaining how to take care of her children and herself. She turned to YouTube where she learned how to sew and launched her business.

Rate of births to white single moms accelerates

Births to unwed women have been increasing steadily from 1980 to 2016 with white, low-income moms nearly tripling their birth rate in the United States. Women with more income and higher education tend to delay pregnancy and family, so they can focus on their careers. However, single mothers are not the cause of poverty, said economist Elise Gould of the Economic Policy Institute. Inequality fueled by stagnating wages is the driving force behind poverty. The article offers clear info graphics and excellent sourcing that expands its scope from anecdotes of single mothers in Philadelphia, PA, to the larger context of single parents in the United States.

Why are there so many single mothers?

More than 60 percent of children born last year in South Africa do not list a father on their birth certificate and around 40 percent of mothers are single parents. The reasons for the absence of fathers and the increase in single mothers are explored from the migrant labor system during the Apartheid era to bride wealth to women’s income. Whatever the reasons may be, the family structure is changing and more children are growing up in single-parent households, not just in South Africa but around the world.

Stigma or separation: The painful choice facing Myanmar’s single mothers

Single mothers are turning over their babies to orphanages or enduring illegal abortions rather than face being ostracized by their families, friends and society. Some of them stay at one of the handful of facilities in Myanmar a few months before and after their childbirth. Instead of giving away their babies, many mothers insist on taking them home and raising them. If a birth center is not available, thousands of women and girls have illegal abortions. Single pregnant women face shunning from their family and the community and are unlikely to receive any support from the father.

Are children paying the price for employment?

Moms and dads, single and married, work to survive and many of their children stay in daycare facilities. The question in headline suggests that children are suffering as result. In support of this opinion are reported attacks and killings of children in other’s care and the childcare industry’s unwillingness to extend its hours for parents who work outside the traditional 9-to-5 workday. The columnist suggested some good solutions: childcare options during nonstandard work hours; more subsidies for facilities with second and third shifts; and onsite childcare in the workplace. My main complaint with this post is the writer’s insistence that the increase in working mothers contributes to this problem. Again, why are the mothers to blame?

Romania marriage poll: One man, one woman definition up for vote 

The argument surrounding the legal definition of the traditional family has been relegated to the LGBTQ community, but this definition has broader reverberations. Romanians are expected to decide through a referendum if a family is created with one man and one woman. With such a strict definition, constitutional protection may not apply to single parents, partners with children or grandparents raising children.

We are gathered here …

This is the first paragraph:

“These days, social workers report what is likely a trend among young families today — more single fathers as sole parents. Moms have flown the coop, seeking self-satisfaction from increased time for themselves, greener financial pastures, new bed partner[s], or chemically induced escape from this life — the same kinds of temptations, which [have] been luring fathers from their responsibilities and joys of loving others as God loves them. ‘Progressive’ politicians encourage this trend, desiring that the ‘village’ [the state] raise the children in order to produce politically reliable subjects who will be incapable of, ironically, self-fulfillment. They will have no choice but to be obedient while dependent on the ‘progressives’ for food and shelter.”

I’ll let you decide.

Norman councilwoman pushes for changing tables in both men’s, women’s restrooms

Changing tables in both restrooms in this Oklahoma community? For single fathers, solo fathers and fathers without their partner, this proposed ordinance was a welcome idea. The councilwoman behind this proposal spoke to the need for accessibility and inclusivity as well as the changing family structure. Only one councilman opposed the ordinance: “My only kind of problem with it is its requiring business to do it.” He suggested providing businesses with an incentive. Isn’t improving the quality of life for parents and children a good enough incentive?

On Thursdays, I will be sharing a blog about a day in the actual life of a single parent. Every fourth Thursday, instead of a personal post, I will put together one where I assemble news on and about single parents nationally and globally.

I would love to hear from you! Feel free to send any comments and questions to me at singleparentandstrong@gmail.com. I am also on Twitter @parentsonurown and can be found by searching #singleparentandstrong.