Many think that a “single parent” is an easy term to define, but that isn’t the case.  When one parent dies, moves away, or disappears, and the other parent takes over custody, than they are considered to be single parents. If there is a divorce, and one parent gets the kids for most of the time, giving them up maybe every other weekend, he or she is considered a single parent. In this case, the other parent will often provide a certain amount of money each month to help the single parent with raising the kids. When a single parent starts dating someone new, someone who helps out with the parenting duties, he or she is still considered a single parent, even if a new partner moves in. Not until the parent remarries, or someone else takes up partial custody of the children by officially adopting them, does the single parent household change to a dual parent household. 

It can seem complicated, but the most important thing to remember is that a single parent is someone who raises their children alone, under their own roof, and is totally responsible for their well being and health. Depending on divorce proceedings, a single parent can often receive child support costs, known as alimony, from the other parent, which makes raising the kids much, much easier.