single mothers

Joseph Yusuf plays basketball with his daughter, Jakayla Morton, 11, in Alexandria, Va., on March 29.

Parents are struggling with high prices this year. It may shape how they vote

10:00am April 06, 2024

by Ashley Lopez

Inflation is a top-of-mind issue for many Americans during this year's presidential election, and the strain of high prices is being felt particularly hard by people raising children.

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Almost half of all babies born in the U.S. in 2019 were born to unmarried mothers, a dramatic increase since 1960, when only 5% of births were to unmarried mothers.

Why children of married parents do better, but America is moving the other way

9:54am October 22, 2023

by Pallavi Gogoi

Almost half of all babies born in the U.S. are born to unmarried mothers. That's not good for children, says progressive economist Melissa Kearney in her new book, The Two-Parent Privilege.

Griffin and her oldest son, Griffin Shade, 13, make Halloween treats outside their home.

'Incredibly Scary': Single Moms Fear Falling Through Holes In Pandemic Safety Net

4:08pm October 26, 2020

by Chris Arnold

Many single parents collecting unemployment benefits are running out of money to pay rent, with Congress still unable to pass a relief bill to help.

Portraits Of Resilience: How 19 Women Around The Globe Face The Pandemic

6:13pm October 09, 2020

by NPR Special Report

Women often bear a heavier burden at times of crisis. They take care of the kids, the house, the survival of families. NPR photographed and interviewed 19 women over 3 weeks. Here are their stories.

Unwed pregnant women in China face a legal gray zone where they are unable to access public services for themselves and their children.

In China, Kids Of Unwed Mothers May Be Barred From Public Health Care, Education

2:36pm November 06, 2019

Being a mom without a husband leaves many women in a legal gray zone where they are unable to access medical and other public services for themselves and their children. Some women are even fined.

(Left) Shana Steele with her three children. (Top) Vannessa Kamerschen with her daughter. (Bottom) David Meissner with his son.

National

Portraits In Single Parenting: Doing One Of Life's Hardest Jobs, On Your Own

11:48am November 07, 2016

by Maureen Pao

Raising kids is tough, even if you have a partner and a steady income or two. Single moms and dads face even more challenges, and like all parents, are doing the best they can, with what they have.

Pam Rector (left) with her daughter Grace became a single mother by choice when she was ready to have a child. Liv Aannestad is expecting her first child in March through the same process, and like all expecting parents she has some questions.

Single Moms By Choice Don't Need To Do It Alone

6:00pm October 25, 2016

At 36 and without a partner, Liv Aannestad has chosen to become a mother. Eighteen years ago Pam Rector went through a similar process. Pam tells Liv that being single doesn't mean you're on your own.

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Brittiny Spears, 26, is not with the father of her daughter, Zykeiria, 4. "He just still wanted to go out and party and be a little boy," Spears says.

To Break Cycle Of Child Poverty, Teaching Mom And Dad To Get Along

9:52am July 09, 2014

by Jennifer Ludden

An anti-poverty agency in Ohio says the breakdown of the family is undermining all its other efforts, so it is focusing on teaching moms and dads how their relationship impacts their child.

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