Essay Example on Two Parents, One Family: A Guide to Raising Kids in a Stable Home

The high rates of divorce and early pregnancies has led to a change in family dynamics. Children have the right to be raised in a stable home, whether it is by both parents, single parents, or step-parents. It is, however, more beneficial to a child when both parents get involved in the upbringing of a family. The current society has a high number of parents raising children single-handedly. However, both parents should bring up children while staying together to provide a conducive environment for the emotional well-being of children. A two-parent household has a lot of benefits to children in that it is economical; both parents can monitor a child's behavior, it is good for the physical and mental health of children and parents work together to ensure the children general well-being.

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Two-parent households enhance better physical and mental health for the family. Research has it that children who live with both parents become healthier and happier when compared to others (Didier, 2017). Parents ensure that they work together for the common good of the child and focus on providing children with the best care. Strong marriages produce children who are more likely to become productive members of society. Children who are raised by a single or step-parent tend to miss out on the love of the other parent, and this affects their mental health. Such children are likely to develop stress or negative thoughts about the missing parent, which could lead to depression and other health conditions.

Households that are financially stable and not struggling with debts comprise of two parents. Most of the single families undergo financial constraints, which force them to live in poverty. Two parents support each other when there is a financial crisis, and this reduces the likelihood of such a family living in poverty. Additionally, two-parent households live in good neighborhoods, with children attending good schools (Didier, 2017). This indicates that such families thrive economically and educate the children to college levels. Statistics show that children who come from single-parent families accrue more depts in college than those who come from two-parent households. It is, therefore, obvious that both parents living together can support each other financially, the reason behind two-parent households living in good neighborhoods.

The general well-being of a family at times depends on the kind of the household. Parents who bring up children while staying together positively enhance the children's well-being. This is an attribute to the fact that two-parent households have close interaction with children and monitor their behavior (Didier, 2017). Such parents are keen on who their children interact with and where they spend most of their time. Monitoring children as they grow up by both parents is essential in the lives of children. The parents can predict any bad behavior or whether the child seems to have a problem. Two-parent households provide a chance for both parents to take part in the children's life equally. Such children are more likely to excel academically as both parents help them set high academic goals, and they are assured of the support. Parents who work as a team to be part of a child's life promote the child's well-being, unlike children who come from single-parent homes.

Quality parenting and good parental relationships are attributed to two-parent households. Most of the step-parents are not capable of raising children the way they could have been raised by their biological parents. Step-parents' rights and obligations are not clearly outlined under social norms; that is why there is a rise in cases of step-parents abusing step-children. Living with step-parents is less rewarding for children who wish to live with their biological parents (Berger & McLanahan, 2015). Two-parent households have the best interest of the children at heart. Such parents adequately support their children without feeling that they are doing them a favor. Children under two-parent households do not feel lonely or left out because the parents fully attend to them. Step-parents at times have undivided attention, especially when they have their children. This makes such parents to give less attention to their step-children, an aspect that hurts such children and makes them feel like they live in the wrong place.

Two-parent households comprise of partners who invest in economic resources and quality parenting to ensure the best for their family (Berger & McLanahan, 2015). Both parents invest in economic resources that promote the well-being and development of the children. Two-parent households enable both parents to come up with financial decisions that involve both their income and they make decisions about how they should allocate their resources. Family income from both parents contributes positively to the children's development and their well-being. It ensures adequate control and discipline due to the close monitoring of children by both parents. Two-parent households focus more on teaching children new skills and providing them with adequate information as they grow up.

The fact that children who come from two-parent households watch their parents interact positively between themselves is a positive attribute to the children's development. Parents who collaboratively engage in parenting activities and show positive interactions have a positive impact on the family's development. Additionally, parents who live together are more likely to provide quality parenting for the children, unlike those raising children single-handedly or with step-parents. Such families are more likely to face economic challenges. Two-parent households enhance quality parenting, and children grow up to be responsible adults as they learn from how their parents treat each other (Berger & McLanahan, 2015). It, therefore, has positive attributes to the future of the children.

On the other hand, as much as two-parent households have positive impacts on the general well-being of the family, they also have a variety of shortcomings. Partners who stay together and constantly get in fights and arguments provide a bad environment for the well-being of children. Moreover, two-parent households focus on providing the best for their children, and this could force them to work hard extremely and have little or no time for the family. Such parents arrive home in late hours and leave early. Most of the children spend more time with nannies as the parents are busy working. This provides such children with little opportunity to spend adequate time with their parents, and they might grow apart. This is due to the pressure for parents to maintain a good life for the family.

Toxic partners who live together for the sake of children affect the children's' psychological well-being negatively. Children who come from such families perform poorly at school and are withdrawn from their age mates. Such children are more likely to end up using drugs just to avoid the thought of their parents always getting in fights. Additionally, the financial aspect that both parents need to provide for the family could be a challenge in the case when one spouse loses their job and leaves all the responsibilities to the other spouse. Such situations lead to disagreements that hurt children.

The pressure from society that expects two-parent households to produce the best children who are well taken of could make parents feel like failures, especially when they provide everything for their children who do not perform well at school. Children who are raised by single parents and live in peace grow up in a healthy environment than those under two-parent households with parents who are in constant fights. Two-parent households prevent children from social family gatherings and make them live with the mindset that a family should be intact without involving members of the extended family. It is rare for a two-parent household to attend social gatherings due to the much protection that parents provide for the children. The breadwinner of the family could get sick or die, and this leaves behind a void that creates devastating problems such as the children would hardly attend school. When one party departs in a two-parent household, it becomes difficult for the rest to maintain a normal lifestyle, especially if the individual was the breadwinner. There is the loss of family interaction in a two-parent household as such families keep their lives private and choose to be distant from other family members, including the extended family.

Conclusion

In conclusion, a two-parent household that comprised of both parents bringing up their children is still advocated as the best family setting. It provides children with a chance to interact and learn from their parents as they grow up. Such families experience fewer economic constrains as they support each other financially, even in raising the children. The households, however, experience several shortcomings as well. It becomes hard for the rest of the family to move on when one partner gets sick or dies, mainly because they contribute financially to the well-being of the family. Such families are less social and hardly interact with extended family members as they avoid social gatherings. A two-parent household, however, remains the best among others as the family carefully grows together for the psychological well-being of the children.

References

Berger, L. M., & McLanahan, S. S. (2015). Income, relationship quality, and parenting: Associations with child development in twoparent families. Journal of Marriage and Family, 77(4), 996-1015.

Didier. S. (2017). What are the Benefits of a Two-Parent Household? Retrieved from https://www.hellomotherhood.com/article/560652-what-are-the-benefits-of-a-two-parent-household/