Single parent is defined as a parent of either sex, who brings up or cares for their children, without the involvement of another parent. According to the US Census figure for 2006, there were almost 13 million single parent families in US. The paper will provide a category for single parents, depending on whether the parent is an alcoholic, drinker and abstainer. The paper will accordingly give classifications as: single parent alcoholics, single parent social drinkers and single parent teetotalers or abstainers. Each category is discussed in detail and the rationality for the categorization is provided.
The category ‘single parent alcoholics’ is a very tragic phenomenon that exists among many single parents. In this category, the single parent, either the father or the mother is a chronic alcoholic and heavily uses alcohol and other substances. I have observed that some single parents from the poorer sections of the society and this includes a majority of Blacks, can be placed in this category. I have also observed that many single alcoholic parents are Black women who have been divorced or abandoned.
These people consume alcohol as a form of support and become totally dependant on it. The effect of an alcoholic parent on family finance is terrible and the family usually ends up living on support. The effect on children is equally bad, as they do not have any role models to look up to. A higher percentage of such children take up to drugs, alcohol, crime and other unsocial behavior. There is also a higher tendency for such children to drop out from schools before completing their education.
The category of ‘single parent social drinkers’ includes parents who consume moderate amounts of alcohol once in a while, at parties and social events. I have observed that a vast majority of single parents are social drinkers. These people are successful professionals who have been divorced or their spouses have died. Single parents in this category lead a healthy lifestyle, are employed or have their own businesses. Children of such parents are well balanced and have a better chance of keeping away from alcohol or drugs. The children go to school or college and manage to a lead productive life.
The last category is ‘single parent teetotalers or abstainers. People from this category have either given up drinking or never drank alcohol. I have observed that many people in this category do not drink because of religious reasons or because they do not like the substance. I have also observed in a few cases that some people do not drink because they have seen their parents or a close relative become alcoholics. A majority of children of such single parents do not take to drugs, alcohol and other substances. The children grow up to be successful professionals and make a career as doctors, pastors, engineers and other professions.
I have provided a categorization of single parents, based on their alcohol consumption. Such a categorization helps in developing a better understanding of various issues that effects single parents. Organizations can offer better counseling and therapy to single parents who are alcoholic and measures such as employment, group therapy and others can be provided. Single parents who are social drinkers and who are abstainers are better placed in life and they can be counseled for help in remarriage, health and other problems. The categorization can be used as a broad reference and can be supported with demographics.