Single motherhood still rejected by most Americans, survey finds

Although most Americans have grown more comfortable with same-sex unions or bringing up children, they still see mothers as harmful to society, according to a new poll of attitudes towards the country's growing number of non-traditional families.

Most types of non-traditional families are broadly accepted or at least tolerated, including same-sex couples with children, single parents and childless women, according to a Pew Research Center Social and demographic trends. But two decades later Murphy Brown TV caused a furore public for having a child without a husband around, many people continue to draw the line when it comes to single motherhood.

The poll illustrates how dramatically attitudes have changed the not too distant past, when the typical family was a couple with children and virtually all other types of family was considered abnormal. Today, nuclear families comprise just one in five households in the United States, Census Bureau statistics. And almost four out of every 10 births are women, according to the National Center for Health Statistics.

"People are embracing these changes, but they are accepting," said Rich Morin, a senior editor of the Pew Center and author of the report. "The days when people were made to wear a scarlet letter or were avoided after divorce are ancient history".

The survey asked about 2700 people for their views on the seven modern trends relationships that are upending what used to be considered the traditional family: unmarried parents raising children; gay couples, parenting. mothers. partners living together outside of marriage. working mothers. interracial marriage. and women who never have children.

The results suggest that Americans fall largely three fields of equal sizes.

Approximately one-third said trends have no effect on the company or are positive. People who had positive views of family change by an overwhelming majority were women, Hispanics and East Coast residents that rarely if ever attend religious services.

Another third considered most harmful changes to society. Only accepted trends were interracial marriage and fewer women have children. They tended to be older, white Republicans who are married and religiously observant. They also were more likely than South Midwest.

The third group tends to accept all changes except for the single motherhood. Virtually all of them said that the increasing prevalence of mothers without male partners to help them create children is bad for society. This group tended to be young, independent and democratic or more heavily minority.

Andrew Cherlin, a Johns Hopkins University sociologist studies families, said Pew Research underlines the widespread acceptance of the father of two families of almost any genre.

"Working mothers are acceptable to almost everyone," he said. "Two parents who are unmarried are tolerated or acceptable. But many people, including parents, parents. There is a strong belief that children need both parents. "

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Teen charged in accidental shooting death of girl

A teenager Houston Southeast surrendered to police Monday afternoon and was charged the accidental shooting death of his girlfriend of 16 years of age, during a meeting with friends in your home.The teenager arrested, identified by friends of girl killed as Donald James, 16, is accused of murder criminally negligent and will be reserved for Center James of juvenile detention in the County of Harris has written a letter to the family of his girlfriend, Waddieonne "yonnie" Griffin, a student from eighth in Caldwell Middle School, apologizing for his death, which happened outside your House on a block of Alvin 4900 Saturday morning. But her family still irritated with him about the shooting ".If this (shooting) had been anything other than an accident, would have been the charge of murder, "said the researcher Division homicide Police Department Houston M.F."fil "waters, noting the charge was based on statements of witnesses and other evidence. "It was an accident by a boy of 16 years of age".James ' family declined to comment on Monday, and his mother was crying when he arrived at his home in Houston East. Police said James told them that he has is home.Griffin, James and some friends were standing outside his house, at 12: 55 Saturday when Griffin asked James to give him a gun that a friend had brought to the residence, police said. Griffin wanted to trim the weapon so that nobody would get hurt, investigators of homicide HPD said.As James attempted to drop hammer the weapon to a position of not firing, the hammer slipped and caused accidentally firearm, police said. The bullet hit Griffin on his left arm and then traveled through the left side of chest. Her boyfriend tried to help her up police and paramedics arrived, HPD homicide investigators said.In duplex humble that Griffin shared with his mother in a 5100 block of Mallow, miniature poodle girl killed, Paw Paw, is tied to a leash for your bed well done, crying as he waits for her return home. The teen girl baby picture and bronzed baby shoes sitting on top of a TV at the foot of his bed. Magazine pages representing women hairstyles are written to your wall of my room. "As time goes by, I keep thinking that she will come home, you know? "said the girl's mother, Linda Griffin, a single father who works in the health care industry home."I'll never take my daughter anymore. Was my best friend. We could talk about anything. "She said that she remains very irritated with James about the death of his daughter. "I hate it," said Linda Griffin, who said she didn't like daughter's relationship with James "from day one." She said she wants James to serve jail time for shooting your daughter.Griffin said that she had sent a text message to James telling him that she does not approve of it dating her daughter and that she wanted to stay away from the girl. "He knew how I felt about it," she said.But Yonnie continued to see her boyfriend without the knowledge of his mother, telling her mother that she was in the House of girlfriend playing on the computer when she was actually in the House of James ', said his mother.On the morning of the shooting, Linda Griffin said that she was asleep in bed when she heard a loud knocking on your door. When she answered, was James. The 16-year-old boy was hysterical and crying, she said and grabbed her and she hugged when he relayed the news that her daughter had been shot.He only was screaming, ' sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, Miss Linda, I'm sorry, ' "she recalled. She said that she ran for the House of James ' and then rushed to Memorial Hermann Hospital, but her daughter died before she arrives.Griffin said that she and her daughter returned to Houston for two years ago, New Orleans, where are originally. Her daughter is set to rest in New Orleans, she said.peggy.ohare@chron.com

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Save money as a single dad

There is much talk and stories from way back when, the struggle of mother, struggling against adversity to give your child a better life, but these compliments are few and far between for single parents. It's articles like these that need to push the point single dads and give some support. Genius BBC dramas like single parent are definitely a step in the right direction, however, often single parents lifestyles are analysed more single mothers. Why? Being a single parent is hard enough so gender issues? Just because your life situation is not widely known as ' standard ' (what it is!) is not required to treat them any differently.

With great responsibility comes … crazy financial matters! Here are some ways to try and help with expenses for children and insightful tips for managing financial problems for the single parents out there!

Check with your local authorities for the benefit and special grants to help with your income. You could claim child care benefits or receive start maternity allowance of £ 500 that you don't have to pay back.

seek help for child care options on a budget you can afford. Some schools offer local programs to care for children and you can apply for child care vouchers through their current employment. You can also check nanny websites such as http://www.thenannysharers.co.uk/or simply use and abuse of favors from friends and family to help with the Baby.

Purchase of furniture and toys for the young can break the Bank, so why not have a look at the classic sites as eBay to use toys and furniture. You can also take advantage of special sales ' almost like new ' from The National Childbirth Trust.

If you are planning on a holiday, but the implications of money and the hassle factor fills you with fear, then take a look at useful websites such as http://www.singleparentsonholiday.co.uk/, they offer a great advice and choice in holiday travel with children that won't kill your bank account!

Also worth checking out site of your local Council to see if there is any support groups from other single parents in your area. Try http://www.onlydads.org/for free advice on finance, labor, legal advice, and relationships to name a few.

Just like a little comic relief, I would like to present you one of my fave bands (please don't judge me!) Man like me who did this fabulous video telling the story of real life of lead singers dilemma as a single dad. Happy!

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New York Blood Center needs more first time blood donors of Afro-American

Single Mom's fate depends on new blood donors

New York, 21 February 2011/PRNewswire-USNewswire  /--a mother hospitalized from Queens is asking more African Americans to become blood donors, so that she and many others may be able to live.  People can call New York Blood Center at 1-800-933-BLOOD (2566) or visit www.nybloodcenter.org for more information about blood donation and where to donate.

Davina Daniels, 37, suffers from sickle cell disease. A resident of Springfield Gardens of African-American decent, she has a rare type of blood.  Blood transfusions African-American donor correspondence are essential to their survival.  Davina was hospitalized last week in New Hyde Park, NY, after suffering from what is called sickle cell "crisis", a life-threatening situation.  But according to the PreciseMatch programme of the New York Blood Center, there was difficulty in finding donors that corresponds to your type of blood for transfusion.

"We now have only one actively giving blood donor supported that can be used for their care," said Melinda Caltabiano, Program Director of the New York Blood Center of PreciseMatch ®.  "We need more African Americans to become blood donors and give blood regularly".

While Davina Daniels is hospitalized family members caring for her teenage son, Merrik.

Blood Center of New York (NYBC) which serves more than 20 million people in New York City, Long Island, Hudson Valley, New Jersey and parts of Connecticut and Pennsylvania, serves one of the most diverse areas of the country.  First time blood donors of afro-Americans and Hispanics are especially needed to increase the chances of finding a match of blood for patients like Davina Daniels special.

Sickle cell disease affects an estimated 70000 Americans to 100000.  People with sickle cell have red blood cells that contain an abnormal type of hemoglobin. These cells can become increasingly shaped and have difficulty passing through small blood vessels of the body. This eventually damage vessels and tissues.

Sickle cell disease occurs about one every 500 births of afro-Americans, and about one of all births to Hispanic American 36000.  To inherit sickle cell, a child must inherit two abnormal genes, one from each parent. With just one gene, he or she will inherit the sickle cell trait.  Sickle cell trait occurs in about one in 12 African Americans.

Blood donors play a key role in the fight against sickle cell disease.  People with sickle cell disease require repeated blood transfusions of healthy red cells to replace their ones "anaemia." Over time, patients often transfusion can create antibodies in the blood, requiring more and more precisely red cell transfusions.  These can only come from those who inherited the same antigens or markers in his blood.  How eye color, or other characteristics inherited, as this blood "exact match" is more often found in someone of the same ethnic or racial background.

The aim PreciseMatch ® program of the New York Blood Center is to ensure diverse communities have access to blood products more precisely match where patients may need them, but this cannot be done without public aid.  Please give blood regularly, or become a blood donor today.  If you can't donate, then please ask someone to donate to you.

NYBC urges donors who were notified that they are a match for someone please donate blood every 56 days, regardless of where you currently resides.

To donate blood or for information about how to organize a blood drive, please call Toll Free: 1-800-933-2566

Visit:www.nybloodcenter.org

Any enterprise, community organizing, place of worship, or individual can host a blood drive.  NYBC also offers scholarships for special Community service for students who organise the community units of blood during the summer and winter months.  Blood donors receive mini free on-site examinations, including information about your temperature, pulse, blood pressure and hemoglobin level.  Eligible donors include people at least age 16 (with parental permission or consent), which weighs less than 110 pounds, be in good health and meet the criteria of a donor of all food & Drug Administration and NY or NJ State Department of health.  People over 75 can donate with a doctor's note.

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What really know about why children need both parents?

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The House budget passed early Saturday would cut funding for family planning, which could increase unplanned pregnancies by one-third.

That would likely lead, among other things, to quite a few families headed by single mothers, the most unacceptable form of parenting to many Americans, based on the latest Pew poll.

Of the 2.691 adults who were asked whether it was good or bad for society that there are "more single women having children without a male partner to help raise them," about two-thirds said it was bad. The same adults found it more acceptable for unmarried heterosexual partners or same-sex couples to raise children together.

A similar Pew survey conducted in 2007 suggests attitudes toward single mothers have not changed much in recent years. At the time, the same percentage--about two-thirds of respondents--said single women having children was bad for society.

And yet about 22 million children are living with single parents, according to the most recent Census Bureau statistics. That's about 25 percent of all U.S. children under the age of 21.

Many of those children are raised by divorced or never married working women, who did not graduate from college.

The Pew surveys don't tell us why single parenting is so distressing to so many Americans. But this belief may be based on some scientific research about how children fare in different types of families.

An article published last year in the "Journal of Marriage and Family" explores research results that reveal how children do when parented by lesbians, gay men, heterosexual couples, single mothers and single fathers.

Authors Timothy j. Biblarz and Judith Stacey 33 synthesized the findings from studies of two-parent families and 48 studies of single-parent families. They conclude: "Compared to all other family forms, families headed by (at least) two committed, compatible parents are generally best for children."

Their conclusion is consistent with research published in 2005 by sociologist Paul Amato, who "shows that compared with other children, those who grow up in stable, two-parent families have a higher standard of living, receive more effective parenting, experience more cooperative co-parenting, are emotionally closer to both parents, and are subjected to fewer stressful events and circumstances."

This benefit accrues whether the two parents are the same sex or opposite sex partners, according to the research compiled by Biblarz and Stacey and by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Although the Pew survey question does not ask about single parents or single fathers, the research shows children of single mothers have an advantage over children of single fathers.

Even though single mothers typically have lower income, lower status jobs and less support than single fathers, their children were more likely to have better grades, behave well in school, and steer clear of substance abuse problems.

Single mothers were more active parents than single fathers. They spent more time with their kids than single fathers, showed more affection, knew the names of their friends, monitored their homework and set semi-supervised limits.

In some ways, single mothers behaved more like married mothers, and so did single fathers who "displayed some ' maternal ' capacities that seemed to remain latent in married dads when women were around to provide them," the researchers say.

Single fathers parented better than married fathers, by some scales, while two women together parented best. Here's how the researchers summarized the differences:

"Based strictly on the published science, one could argue that two women parent better on average than a woman and a man, or at least than a woman and man with a traditional division of family labor ...Married heterosexual fathers typically score lowest on parental involvement and skills, but ... they improve notably when faced with single or primary parenthood. If parenting without women induces fathers to mothers, behave more like the reverse may be partly true as well. Women who parent without men seem to assume some conventional parental practices and to reap emotional benefits and costs ... Every family form provides distinct advantages and risks for children. "

However much we love our children, the work involved in raising them can be exhausting overexertionâ. Even in a two-parent family, the responsibility is overwhelming. Single parenting is heroic and there are noble, loving, devoted mothers and fathers who these statistics can't fully capture or reflect.

I wish the Pew survey results meant that Americans recognize the challenges single parents face without judging them. But I fear they do not.

Mothers have made a cottage industry of judging one another--married vs. single, working outside the home vs. staying at home, breastfeeding vs. bottle-feeding, co-sleeping vs. Ferberizing. There is no end to the differences that divide us and the ways we use them to validate our choices.

The Pew results show that more than half of those surveyed are optimistic about the future of American families. But that future will not arrive until we accept that the best families are the ones with happy, healthy children, however many parents they have at home.

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MOM still haunted by the tragic loss

As Eunalia Roberts prayed to God to protect their children, they were being killed in his house of Gonzales by armed men. Today marks one year of Asha, Javon, 24, 18, and 13 years of age were shot dead in his house on the Hill so fair. The life of 68-year-old Carmen McHutchinson, stepmother brothers, was also eliminated. 23-Year-old sister of Asha, Jehial, who was also shot, escaped the attackers running at home from a neighbor of refuge.

Roberts clamoring for justice remains haunted by memories of horrendous act. Roberts believed was divine intervention that kept spending that evening on Gonzales. Instead, she decided to stay in the House of another relative. She remembered that after a hard day of work she sat in a bed, attached to his Bible, beseech God to die to keep their children safe. But it was at this exact moment, around 12. 30 hours a year ago, they were filmed several times in the range of white space.

"That day the murderers tear my heart and throw it away. They take all my children away from me, "cried Roberts. A single mother of several years, Roberts remembered many nights and days that she worked to provide for her children and to build your home. "I was a single father for years and I grow my children alone and working day and night to build my house," said Roberts. But, in a cruel irony of fate, the fruits of your labor were not to be appreciated. Unable to withstand the memories and afraid to live in a community stigmatized by gang violence, the House that Roberts struggled to build is practically abandoned. "My house just standing there and I have to work to repay a loan and don't like.
"I now and then go off the air, but can't live there".

Broken heart
Asha and her daughter of four year old Zara Sylvester were inseparable. At the time of the shooting spree, mother and daughter huddled, sleeping peacefully. Zara, who also was hit in the right arm during the attack was lucky to be alive, but use of the Member is limited, allowing you to only partially extend it. "Asha had loved his daughter too much, that she has been living for Zara," said Roberts.  But the loss of his mother took a toll on the child as she constantly cries and asks to see her mother. "Zara was all to his mother. Whenever she would ask if your MOM in heaven, and when she would see her. "She break me much, she's always talking about his MOM. Sometimes I don't answer it when she ask for things. What else could I do but to keep strong? "

Pardon impossible
Forgiveness is healing a broken spirit.
For Roberts, however, forgiveness can be impossible.  Say that the murder of his children completely destroyed their soul, Roberts repeatedly begged that the assassins be brought to justice. "People tell me to forgive the murderers and justice would be sure but if I have to forgive them get justice didn't feel that would never achieve".There isn't a day that I didn't study my children, "said Roberts.
She said that even if she came face-to-face with the authors that it would be a loss of words. "I still don't know that I could tell them because they don't know even if I forgive them because of what they do to me," she said.

Pain has not been stranger to Roberts.
Six years ago, his sister Sherma also lost his life to a bullet. Sherma, a worker URP and her friend Donna George, a teacher of pre-primary education, were each shot twice in the head in Carnelia Gardens in diamond Valley, Diego Martin. Husband of Sherma was a soldier and wife of George an official Coast Guard.
Women, police said, were victims of domestic violence.

Investigation opened — police
Official homicide said while the case into the killings was still open, however, have grown cold.
They said that the lack of forensic evidence have led to a major obstacle. Investigators initially set their hopes on samples of blood taken from the scene that were sent to a laboratory in England to be reviewed by members of particular crime unit of T & T (Sautt). But there was no positive match, suspected to be released from custody of rendering.

Flashback
The shooting, police said, was fired after the family was accused of encouraging "enemies" to the area after two men a belligerent gang crossed the line "border" to get their hair braids. Rival gang members, Gonzales then threatened to "clean up" the family, police said.

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Revealed on Facebook, the bride of benefit-fraud

Posing in an elegant white dress and smiling for the camera, she looks every inch the perfect bride.

Hazel Cunningham then Posted photos of his Barbados wedding on your Facebook page so that your friends could see it in the happiest day of your life.

But unfortunately for her, local Council researchers were also looking at your photos.

Caught: Hazel Cunningham has been arrested after Council officials exposed it as a benefit fraud when they saw pictures of your wedding on Facebook

And discovered that Cunningham, 47-who said that she was a single mother, when in fact she lived with her husband – was fleecing taxpayers millions of pounds in benefits false claims.

She wrongly stated income support benefit and the benefit of the Supervisory Board at the same time as enjoying holidays in Turkey up to three times a year and a wedding Caribbean luxury habitação.

The Court of magistrates Folkestone, Kent heard that she said falsely benefits amounting to an average of 170 per week.

Cunningham, Ashford, Kent, nor notify the authorities of his salary maternity from your employer.

She was sentenced to 120 days in jail after pleading guilty to four counts of making false statements and a lack of notification of a change in circumstances.

And she was ordered to pay the money, a total of just under 15, 000.

She also was processed in 2009 for failure to declare who was working at the same time, claiming a total of 21, 000 for the benefit of disability, housing and Council tax benefits.

Peter Wood, the leader of Ashford Borough Council, which brought the public prosecutor, said: ' this case is another success for the Council to work tirelessly to ensure that taxpayers honest district Ashford aren't defrauded. The message is clear: people who commit fraud benefit will get caught. '

Condemnation Cunningham, magistrates said: ' you had previous convictions, have you ever lied to probation officer, denied his guilt until the last minute and you have also lied in court. '

Paradise: Cunningham was capable of supporting a luxury wedding in Barbados and holidays to Turkey despite claiming income support and housing benefit

Last year, mother of three Kim Stokes who professed to be a mother was caught outside after leaving slip on Facebook had a husband.

The 36-year-old told the Department of labor, and pensions that she was a lone parent, unemployed and separated from her husband.

But after fraud investigators found photos on Facebook showing Richard Stokes, her husband and their children enjoy family activities, she was towed to the courts.

Stokes had been wrongly for over 15, 000 in housing and Council tax benefits and income support for the previous two years, Telford magistrates court heard.

Deputy District Judge David Stott gave Stokes, Telford, Shropshire, a community of 12 months.

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