Being a single parent can certainly be a scary and daunting job. Not many people choose to be a single mother or father. There was a time when being a single parent was almost sacreligious. It was as if being a single mother or father was simply wrong. While it's understood that in many cases, especially those involving religion, divorce is wrong. But we are in the year 2009. Sadly, divorce happens. Single parenting is definitely on the rise. There are more than 13 million single parents in the U.S. today.

Who are these single parents? Where do they work? Are they educated? Do they meet the stigma of sitting at home, collecting welfare checks? Most likely not. Many single parents, both mothers and fathers are hard-working, dedicated, happy, functioning members of society. And the constant changes in welfare are forcing those who have been collecting to go out and do one of two things. The first is to get an education. Many are firm believers that, if those who are on welfare get an education as well as learn how to manage their money and their lives, it will keep them off of welfare in the future. The other option is to go out and work, regardless of their education. Either way, collecting welfare until your child(ren) is/are grown is a thing of the past.

This is not to say that collecting welfare should be a shameful experience for anyone. At one time or another, we are all in need of some assistance. The problem occurs when that assistance is abused.

There is another side to single parenting. Those who may choose to be single parents. They work diligently out of the home and in the home. Many companies offer telecommuting positions to help their employees remain available for their children as well as remain able to earn and provide for those children. Regardless of whether a single parent work out of the home, in the home or a combination of both, credit is due to them.

Being a single parent means you have to be everything to the people in your world. At home, you must be a nurse, cook, plumber, dishwasher, housekeeper, launderer, therapist and so much more. Outside of the home, you also have many roles. The main one, of course, is in whatever position you hold in order to earn the money to care for your family. Balancing work, home and possibly dating is an enormous task for any individual. You may find yourself pulled in what seems to be a million different directions and there's only one of you to go around. Finding the right balance is the key. When you can find that, be it through support groups, friends or family, life can be quite peaceful and happy.