Many children go through a tough time when growing up with a single parent. It is difficult being raised by one parent, heavy emotions, monetary issues, and social problems all kick in when this happens. There are many who have gone through this. An example is Marshall Mathers, a.k.a. Eminem. Eminem experienced living with his single mother, and younger brother Nathan Mathers. As Eminem grew up, according to him, he grew up in a poor household and a mother who basically hated her children. Eminem also speaks about how his mother, who was “victim of Munchausen's Syndrome.” This disease is a disease in which the parent believes the child is sick and finds a way to abuse of the child. Eminem and his brother had to go through some of this abuse, receiving beatings, being forced to eat prescription pills, and being the subject of hate and occasional neglect.

Children may suffer, but parents also go through the same rought experience. An example of this is the mother of the famous rapper Eminem as mentioned above. Eminem’s mother, Deborah Mathers, suffered through various obstacles in her life. She had her first son, Eminem, at the age of 15 with an 18 year old. Eighteen months after his birth his father left her alone with the young child. She had to raise him, as she did she developed Munchausen’s Syndrome.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the TED Talk above, 16-year-old Stephanie Gonzales gives insight into her experience of being a child of a single-parent household. She gives first hand experience on how her lack of a father created an emotional void in her life. The lack of a father created an unconventional family dynamic, where her brother served as the male figurehead in the household and the mother was absent a lot of the time due to her being the breadwinner of the household.

 

Girls like Stephanie demonstrates the emotional burden this places on individuals. Without a complete and stable family unit, children are unable to experience what they need to grow up properly, negatively affecting their cognitive development leaving them and their families to struggle through life.