Single Parenting And Gender
Should children be raised by a parent of the same gender?
It has been really interesting raising my son. I wasn't sure exactly if I could be male and female for him, and it has been the most amazing experience because I get to raise him to be the kind of man that a girl is going to come up to and say "Oh my god, thank you so much". I am doing it in a way that I am training him to see things from a woman's point of view, and yet be sensitive to him being a young man. It has really been beneficial to both of us. A lot of times people think that they have to raise the same sex, like a mother raises a daughter and a man raises a son. However, I think it is really beneficial to raise the opposite sex. I think it is really important, though, like when a man raises a daughter, to have a strong female role model in the house because girls need it and the same for boys. Boys need the strong male role model. So as long as you understand that and have that base kind of covered, I think it is great to raise the opposite sex child.
What are some tips for a single mom raising a son?
When it comes to being a single mom raising the son, depending upon the age, it's really important to respect him as a boy. Sometimes a mom might look at the son and see the father in him and get really angry or frustrated. It's really important to see the child as the child and not as the ex's child. It just comes out in certain ways, so it's something to look at. Also, it's really exciting to raise a boy as a mom because you get to mould him and help him have good relationships with women. As they get older you also have to respect them and give them space, because soon they want their door shut all the time whereas before it was always open. It's important not to take it personally. It's just a passage of growth.
What are some tips for a single dad raising a daughter?
When it comes to a father raising a daughter, I think it's really important to have a female role model of some type, even if it is a Grandmother, or a family friend, or a big sister, that the daughter can go to when she is too embarrassed, or doesn't feel like she can talk to her Dad about it. Another thing is, men seem to be really overprotective over their daughters, and I think it is important to maybe communicate more before you get strict or want to lock them in the closet. I think it is really important to let them know, maybe with your words, that maybe you are fearful, or you are protecting them, and just keep a communication that is really open.
