Father or motherless? Does it really make a negative impact?

I don't think a child needs THEIR mother or father, but they do need A mother AND father. My oldest son's father is not around, but my husband treats him like he's his own. He's treated no differently than hubby's bio kids, and that's what's important. My son has both a mother and father, and I do think that's important. I grew up with no father, the closest I had was some male family friends. It wasn't enough. Kids learn a lot from their fathers, and from watching their parents interact with each other. It shapes the way they interact with their spouse someday.

i am only child and it;'s sad to know that i would have been a better being if i have a sibling to share my life. i have been alone most of my life because my parents seperated when i was 10. my father left us for my stepmom. though eveything is good between us now but my mom and i were never the same. my mom can i only spend some time whenever she comes home from work abroad. she's been there in KSA since i was 8 years old. my father too that's why i was left with the care my grandmother and my aunt (father's side). but i grew up parentless. my grandmother can only attend to my concerns whenever she's home. she's a politician there in our province and my aunt, is also busy working. we can only meet after their work which is after dinner. so, i can say i am misguided in a way. though i know i have a happy childhood but all i think about was play. when it comes to school activities, i am very poor with my academics. but my teachers were kind enough to give me passing grade because my grandmother was well known in our place. when i was in high school, that was the time my mother decided to transfer me to the city. under the care of my aunt, her sister. she wants me to have a good education. that was the time i became familiar with the world. i was a loner in my high school because no one can understand my humor (since i came from the province) and the school i got in was a private school. some classmates of mine bullied me until sophomore year. it was quite sad for me. but i gain some "friends" when i was in junior year. i never told my mom about that because i don't want her to worry. my grades we're low too but thankfully, i still passed. i know my response is quite long and boring. but i guess, a parents guidance is very, very important. until now, whenever i get myself into trouble, my mom, after the lecture of course lol, will apologize to me on her absence when i was growing up. i understand her in a way because the reason why she has to work abroad is that, she can earn a big amount and she has to sacrifice being a mother to me so that she can give me a good future. =)our relatinship now is still a struggle but getting better in a way. we all have our stories here and i know i can't just judge anyone because i don't know the journey in their lives. but i would really wish that whenever a child is born here on earth. he or she would have a parent by their side. to support them al through the way as they grow. =)

I really believe there are negative impacts in not having the daily influence of a father or mother in a child's life. It has become the norm for those absenses to be taken into acount in the small psyches of our youth. Sad. Very sad.

ya it hurts.we need someone to really care on us.no one in the world could love u more than a mother r father..anyway it happens sometimes..be sure tat we help people we lost their parents.love can overcome it

I think that a household with both parents is always better but is not always possible. I think that if the parent that is there can play both parts then the child should be fine. I do believe that every boy needs a strong male figure to guide them and do boy things with them. If you as a mother can do that then more power to you. Also, I think that little girls need a strong independent mother to teach them about being a woman and how woman should be treated is also important! When I was younger I remember my dad trying so hard to do girl things with me an dmy sister and I appreciated that but it wasn't the same!

I feel it does. i lost my father at an early age, and i feel i missed out on alot of lifes lessons due to this. i mean i had no "father son" good times. ill never be taken out for a drink with my old man. i can go to him and ask for advise. its realy not very fun. iv had to go into the unknown without a father behind me to back me up. but then again it has also made my emotions alot stronger too.

I also think--it depends! There is a reason we have both mothers and fathers, and it's hard for a single parent to be both. I have to give them credit for trying, because I've been there, although briefly. I think that children who don't have both parents at least need a strong role model, perhaps a relative, whom they can relate to as the absent parent. I think the absence of a father is especially hard on a daughter. Her father is the one who teaches her, unconsciously and by his behavior toward her, how to accept love from men. A father who is absent, maybe not even physically but emotionally, from his daughter may end up with a daughter who becomes sexually active at an early age because she wants a man, any man, to love her. But a father who does not behave appropriately toward his daughter can also cause serious problems! I'm speaking in general terms, of course. I don't mean to imply that all girls who have an absent father become promiscuous, I'm sure many don't, but it's a common cause of such behavior. But all families and the individuals within them are different. Pehaps some of the positive effects counteract the negative ones!

I definately have to say that I really believe that an absence of one or the others as role models in your life can really make a difference. For any child the amount of positive role models that they can look up to and learn from while growing up really impacts the way that they turn out as adults. If a young boy does not have his father around, nor any positive male influences, then how can he really learn how to be a man? Yes, he can turn out to be a great citizen and person - I'm not saying that - but when it is his turn to be in relationships and get married, become a father himself, he will have missed out on learning from that male image that was lost. Please don't get me wrong - anyone can teach him or herself to do and become whatever they want - I'm not saying that if you did not have one or the other around that you will never become great or anything like that. All I'm saying is that it is probably harder and that the absence of a mother or father can really have an impact on a child's life. I think that as long as they are given tons of love and have other types of positive role models in their life while growing up, that it can definately also help cushion that impact and help them along the way though!

I had a happy family when I grew up. But I'm sure it has impact either way. Because mothers and fathers are role playing different things to their children. It won't be a good thing at all to not have either one. I think kids or I should teenagers are easier to "go bad" growing up in a broken family.

Hi, Instead of 2 personality's influence,the child will be getting one. naturally, his behaviour-bloom will be influenced by one only. It's a Loss, for the child. =Lahiri,Kolkata,India.