Late For Work, Late For Play: Single Mothers Stretched Thin.

An ode to the single mother, written as a first-year impromptu essay for Alexandria Rose's English Comp I class.

Late For Work, Late For Play: Single Mothers Stretched Thin.

In the United States, there are approximately two hundred thirty marriages per hour. Divorce, on the other hand, occurs at a rate of about eighty-four per hour. With the divorce rate being somewhere between 40%-50% for first marriages, odds are that if you’re reading this, you know a single mom. She is likely a hard-working woman, often holding down two jobs with a third waiting for her at home. These stresses, this lifestyle, are not thought of as conventionally helpful to a positive mental state for the mother, let alone the child. There is arguably no better way to ensure humanity continues to thrive and push the boundaries of achievement than to ensure children are well looked after by parents. To that end, I believe that single mothers deserve relaxed attendance policies at work.

Single mothers, perhaps quite obviously, are the only people responsible for the well-being of their children. From ensuring their kids are ready for the day, to driving them to all the places they need to go, there is no other reliable, stable person in the household to share the load. This puts a massive strain on the sole parent, who is already responsible for ensuring the family has a home, utilities, and food. In most American cities and suburbs, keeping the fridge stocked and the lights on is already a strain for single-income individuals without the added cost of children. For a single parent, a single income is usually not enough to make ends meet. With 12-16 hours a day spent working, where is a mother supposed to find the time to be a mother to her child? The answer to that question is most certainly not hiding in the cash register at the retail store.

I briefly mentioned “reliable backups” – people in the household or close by who might consistently be available to assist in childcare, in the last paragraph. Expanding on that, childcare is not free. Neither are doctor visits for checkups and injuries. Social programs designed to help single parents are often lacking or non-existent. Sole caregivers are lucky if they manage to find a job that offers reasonable accommodation or financial support for childcare. Most of the time, single parents are left on their own with these burdens and must find ways to share the load within their own communities. In an age where people are making less friends, where loneliness is classified as an epidemic, the need for state governments to step up to the plate has never been more urgent. This is particularly true for states with heavy restrictions on birth control and abortion.

To the employers, taking on more active measures regarding single parents, including support for childcare, incorporated childcare facilities on-site, or a relaxed attendance policy for single parents, would be a huge benefit for everyone. The desire for work-life balance is already strong within an American population that spends more time at work since the advent of labor unions. Single parents have a greater need for this, as they are responsible for shaping the next generation. Relaxing demands on single parents decreases workplace stress and increases productivity. A family-friendly company can be seen as a good place to work, and will have an easier time retaining employees.

“I’m sorry I was late for work,” says Poet Lauren Zuniga, “No there were no traffic jams or accidents, my alarm went off just fine…I had more important stuff to do. Like stopping my daughter, just before she walked into school, to remind her she’s spectacular, and to explain exactly what spectacular means.”