Murphy, Hillary and Dan… oh my! Single Parenting has come a long way!

[Tom Taylore]

Like just about everything else in life, the concept of Single Parenthood is incredibly easy and vastly complex...

That line sounds like I'm trying to sound intellectual and be "Captain Vague" at the same time!

But in all seriousness, I was contemplating the labels we use when it comes to Single Parenting... For example, even the term "Single Parent"... If you're reading this right now and you feel like this aligns for you, you're probably Single and a Parent...

So what DOES a Single Parent look like? Is it even fair to take this notion and run with it?

I mean, come on... I can't exactly hold up a picture of a Single Parent versus someone who is married with children... although the Single Parent might look a little more tired! (ha ha!)

Of course, there are no answer for these... and really, I'm not looking for ANSWERS... I guess this is me getting "deep" on a Monday.

That being said, the idea of Single Parenting is becoming much more acceptable in general society...

It was in 1992 that then Vice-President Dan Quayle lashed out at the ficional character "Murphy Brown" for gamorizing out-of-wedlock preganancy... I mean, come on, that was a FICTIONAL show... but even the fact that a fictional show that caused a bit of controversey 16 years ago mentioned this is only a reflection of society.

In other words, just because a sit-com writer wanted to portray the "real world" they got crap for it!

In 2008 when Hillary Clinton was giving her consession speech she was talking about how the dreams we share are the dreams worth fighting for.... She mentioned "(a) Single Mom with a young daughter who juggled work and school who said I'm doing it all to better myself for her..." (at 04:19 in the link above)

And it's not like we, as Single Parents, are looking for anything... the recognition we receive is through our families, even if we are Single Moms or Single Dads doing it alone...

Granted this is a step in the right direction for Single Parents and the way the world views "us". Sometimes even just having a presense about something is important... Single Parenthood transcends looks, culture, creed or even a particular "demographic"... Single Parenting is about one thing, and one thing only... Our kids... The children we love and the children who mean, quite literally, EVERYTHING to us...

I am inspired by Hillary, I'm inspired by Barack and as a fellow Single Parent, I am inspired by YOU! Keep up the good work!

Cliff