Table of ContentsWhy is it important to you and your life?How does it apply to the community?Why is it important to the field of parenting? Traditional families consisting of two parents and their children in which both parents are from their first marriage have become less common in the United States. The increasing rate of divorce over the years has also led to an increase in the number of binuclear or single-parent families. Divorce is the most common reason for this type of family, which is also made up of people who have never married or who have never chosen to be single. This radical experience can be stressful and uncomfortable as old, familiar patterns are dismantled by the separation. The new family form of the single-parent family reflects the child's belonging to two separate and distinct households. One parent is usually designated as the physical guardian, meaning the children reside in that parent's household the majority of the time. New patterns, rules, roles and modifications are formed to restore balance and allow the system to function. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get Original Essay Family systems theory predicts that all members are affected when a key member undergoes a major change. Divorce dissolves the effective functioning of the committed relationship between adult partners, which in turn disrupts the functioning of parent-child relationships as well as the entire family system. Adults face a variety of reactions, including depression, weight loss, sleep problems, risk of substance abuse, anger and hostility. There are certain things with adults that should take place for a smooth transition. First, a family metacognition which consists of recognizing that divorce is about to occur and that adults no longer share the same feeling of love and attachment. Second, there is physical separation, which is the actual physical separation of parents. Third, the reorganization of the family system, that is, when adults forge a new relationship with children with different rules, roles and interaction patterns. And finally, the redefinition of family that takes place when the noncustodial parent reorganizes the interaction patterns, boundaries, and rules that govern their relationships with the single-parent family system and its members. A major challenge for divorcing parents is recognizing that they continue to share parenting responsibilities and relationships with their children, even though their marriage has been dismantled. Researchers have learned that children's reactions to their parents' divorce involve a process of adapting to change. This process depends on other factors, including age, gender and past experiences, which occurs in three distinct stages. The first step takes place after the parents have informed the child of the decision to separate. The transition phase begins about a year after the parents separate and lasts about three years. Emotions are equalized and new family patterns emerge, a change in quality of life and the establishment of visitation routines with the non-custodial parent. Then finally, the restabilization stage occurs approximately five years after the separation, when the new single-parent family system is more stable. Several factors seem to influence the course of children's adaptation to the family crisis; the sex and age of the child at the time of parental divorce, adults' use of social support networksavailable to help the child adjust, cultural attitudes toward divorce and single-parent families. Single parent families and their transition through parental divorce mean a lot to me because it can have drastic effects on children of any age. These effects on children can be short or long term, positive or harmful. Short-term effects include behavioral difficulties at home and school that manifest in association with the initial reaction to separation. Long-term effects may not appear until adolescence or even middle age. adulthood, when individuals have difficulty establishing intimate relationships. Other long-term effects appear later, during later stages of development. The sex of the child may also play a mediating role in these reactions. Boys react more to their parents' divorce than girls, although girls react more negatively to their parents' remarriage. Additionally, children who are part of a stepfamily following the death of a parent and subsequent remarriage of the surviving parent may also face unique emotional challenges. Why is this important to you and your life? This specific topic of single parent families and the transition to parental divorce applies to my life as I myself come from a single parent home. Although I was born into a two-parent household, my parents decided to separate when I was 16, the summer before my junior year in high school. This did not come as a surprise to me, however. Things were starting to change in the house, and as a child I could still understand them, even if they tried to keep them hidden. My father worked night shifts from seven in the evening to seven in the morning about three to four days a week, alternating weekends. Having a job like that can be time-consuming when you have kids, because on the days you have to work, you sleep during the day and wake up just long enough to get ready for work. But during his absences, he did NOTHING. He would sit on the couch all day and watch TV until he dozed off. Father-daughter days stopped and he gave the impression that he preferred to be left to sleep alone. So everyone would still be upstairs in their own room to do whatever they wanted. Even my mother, to the point where you wouldn't even think they were married, just roommates. After about two years of this nonsense, my mother sat down with the two of us, my younger sister and I, and asked us how we would feel if they broke up or if we wanted them to stay together. But my sister and I were so tired of her seeming like she wasn't happy with him or him being there, that we said we didn't need him. We could take care of everything ourselves. It wasn't even like he was contributing in the first place. And after that the process began. August of that year came and I remember the first day I saw boxes in their room. It hurt a little knowing my dad was leaving, but I had to remind myself that it was the best thing for us. And I have to happily admit that there was definitely a difference afterward. We moved to another house in the same neighborhood, for other reasons, which also contributed to the refresh. My home was definitely a happier place. How does this apply to the community? This issue of single parent households and parenting is a major issue in today's community because of the harmful risks your children and their lives can take. Whatever the family structure, the.