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Single parent households are becoming more prevalent and accepted in today's society. One third of all children are living in single parent homes today. One third of those homes headed by women are below the poverty level. Sometimes single parent situations cause problems between the parent and the child. It makes a parent feel trapped in a child's world, and triggers emotional problems for the children, making the situation complicated. Many parents feel that it is time that society recognizes the problem by making more child care facilities available for the benefit of both the parent and child. Just as parents experience relief once the "war" is over, children are usually happier when parents stop fighting.

Children play an important part in many divorce cases today. They sense it, feel it, and are affected by it. To many children, divorce is a nightmare. They often become of secondary importance because of their parents who are caught up in court battles, and often forget how badly children are affected. No two children have the same responses to their parents' divorce. Some typical responses are as follows:

Some children experience confusion and helplessness, have little or no sense of control, a fear of relationships with one parent or the other, trouble sleeping, concentrating, and controlling body functions. They often experience different moods from withdrawal such as aggression, loneliness, and depression overall. Children often ask themselves, "Where will Daddy live? Who will take care of Mommy? What's going to become of me?" They often feel that they are the cause of the divorce. Keith Black of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Child Guidance said, "I have talked to children from divorced or separated homes, and they keep wondering and asking themselves if they are to blame." Young children have problems understanding what the situation is. However, they do have some understanding. They don't have the confidence or vocabulary to state how they feel. Their feelings are like a bomb waiting to go off sometime in their lives. Children often experience conflicts of loyalty towards each parent. Young children may throw temper tantrums, while older ones may scold or criticize their parents for destroying the family unit. Children experience loss of self esteem. Their feelings can handicap behavior towards in present and future relationships. England's Children's Society in 1983 published a book called Children of Divorce: The report of an

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