In recent years, shared parenting has become the talk-of-the-town in the United States. The reason? Family experts and some legislators strongly advocated that an egalitarian approach to parenting is the most ideal concept for families who are in the middle of divorce or separation.
Not only does it promotes equal sharing of parental duties and responsibilities, shared parenting is also considered the best approach and the commonsense solution as it prioritizes the well-being and best interests of both the parents and the children. Despite some skepticisms, shared parenting has become the recent trend in the United States, wherein several states including Missouri, Nevada, South Dakota, Utah, Minnesota and Arizona have passed their own version of this somewhat controversial child custody concept, with more than 20 U.S. states having the same proposals.
Unfortunately, this shared parenting concept is also facing criticisms, with some experts saying there's really no "one-size-fits-all" when it comes to parenting. In a previous Parent Herald report, it was also noted that shared parenting may not be an ideal solution in high conflict and complicated arrangements.
According to the press release that was recently sent to Parent Herald via an email, the National Parents Organization, a charitable and educational association that is focusing on promoting shared parenting, outlined how a more egalitarian approach to parenting can help bridge the pay gap among divorced and single mothers. Hence, the organization has strongly encouraged family courts nationwide to support shared parenting as women's equality effort.
Wage and workplace inequalities have been persistent in the United States. Sadly, it has not received significant attention during the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election campaigns. But through shared parenting, the National Parents Organization is optimistic that it would help close the gap pay.
Several studies also showed how shared parenting has become the most beneficial to children's health and well-being in cases of divorce or separation. But one major benefit is the fact that it narrows the so-called pay gap as it allows mothers to pursue careers, professional development and work-life balance.
"Shared parenting is an all-around win," National Parents Organization founder Dr. Ned Holstein said. "I can't think of a better way to help single moms than to make shared parenting the norm after separation or divorce."
The press release also highlighted some vital information about shared parenting and single parenting. As per the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, shared parenting produces happier and healthier kids as the arrangement lowers their stress levels.
Single parenting, on the other hand, is accounted for 63 percent of teen suicides, 90 percent of homeless and runaway children and 71 percent of high school drop-outs. These numbers is based on the federal statistics from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Census Bureau.
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