This comment is from Patrick on the post “Are Single Parents the Cause of Child Abuse in Wisconsin?“
I was a stay at home dad for over seven years with our two boys, and now a single dad for over three years, I am the author of a social/emotional learning book for kids and I consider myself the farthest from a neglectful parent one could get. And I think what the author of this post meant by parenting can mean “many different things” was that to “parent” does not necessarily mean the traditional “mommy/daddy” set-up anymore and that children are more commonly being raised by grandparents, 2 moms, 2 dads, 1 mom, or in my case 1 dad 50% of the time and 1 mom 50% of the time. Marriage does not a make someone a good parent! Wanting to be a good parent makes a good parent! In fact I believe i became an even more mindful parent after my marriage ended. In this particular case I disagree entirely that “sometimes addressing a very serious problem in a wrong way is better than not addressing it at all”, in fact that statement makes no sense, sorry.
Photo credit: Flickr / mikebaird
If someone wants to be a good parent, best they can be, dot the i and cross the t, that person will marry before having a kid.
“.. in my case 1 dad 50% of the time and 1 mom 50% of the time ..” Outcomes for shared parenting are far better than outcomes for single mothers. You can read a summary of the vast body of research that demonstrates that children are better off in shared parenting arrangements here: http://fathersforlife.org/divorce/kruk20.htm Despite this mountain of evidence, feminists continue to fight against shared parenting. This goes far beyond the 2007 NOW action alert against shared parenting legislation. It is a systematic, relentless campaign to promote the “sole maternal custody” arrangement as the only model that is acceptable to… Read more »
If marriage makes two people better parents, then Wisconsin should legalize same-sex marriage, so gay and lesbian couples can be even better parents. That would be consistent.