WHY SHOULD THE ABSENT PARENT PAY CHILD SUPPORT??

Shakira Gibson Week 10 Mrs. Fergie Tuesday C

Did you know that there is over $100 Billion in accumulated unpaid support owed to over 18 million children in the United States, according to the Federal
Office of Child Support in the Preliminary Statistics in 2003 (streetdirectory.com, 1). Introducing my body paragraphs, I will be addressing why absent parents should pay child support, the effects of the children, and the struggles of a single parent.
If the parent is present or not they should support their child/children.

The government currently spends $500 million dollars per year chasing payments from absent parents, of whom 95 per cent are fathers (Rowena Mason, Telegraph July 13, 2012).If you are not taking the necessary precautions to prevent from bringing a child into the world, then by every means necessary you should help contribute to the care of that child. There is no excuse as to why you cannot get a job or a hustle to help out. I know that some people have ego's the size of a globe or their pride gets in the way of them getting a job at a restaurant, grocery store, mall and etc. However, when you bring a child into the world all of that should be put aside to help with the financial support of your child. The child did not ask to be here, you made the choice to bare responsibility for that child. If both parents are doing what they are suppose to do no child should be without clothes, shoes, shelter, food, water, lights and gas do to one or both parents neglect to uphold their obligations to that child/children.

There are approximately 13.7 million single parents in the United States today, and those parents are raising 21.8 million children. The percentage rate of custodial parents is 84 per cent are mothers and 16 per cent are fathers (U.S. Census Bureau, 1). The main struggles of a single parent is trying to make ends meet. I work everyday and make pretty decent money, but it's not enough to where I am comfortable. Playing the role of both parents, mother's teaching boy's what a father should, and father's teaching daughter's what a mother should. Having to take care of all the responsibilities around the house (i.e. cooking, cleaning, laundry, yard work, bills, and help kids with homework) can be overwhelming for one person to handle on a regular basis. Stress play's a major role of being a single parent not able to pay the bills, having a social life besides being at work, lack of sleep, the kid's are growing that means stuff is more expensive, gas inflation, and school activities. This alone can cause anyone to be depressed or lash out at any given time. The parent's need to work together to help take the load off of just one person, no one should have to go through this alone it is not healthy for you or the children.

Children from a single - parent household account for 72 per cent murderers, 60 per cent of who commit rape crimes and are eleven times more likely to exhibit violent behavior (Kristin Ketteringham, YahooContributor.com July 6, 2007). Not all kids that have been raised by single parent turns out to be violent, abusive, or murderers. Consequently, these are some of the things that kids do to fill the void of that absent parent. The kids in today's society are cruel with bullying and teasing about their appearance, which would cause them to go out and steal and rob so they can have the latest clothes and shoes to fit in with everyone else. They drink, experiment with drugs due to lack of communication or time spent with the custodial parent, because the parent is working long hours to provide for the child. They drop out of school because there is no parental guidance or discipline, become sexually active at a very young age seeking the attention or love from others, and other possibilities such as:
(pregnant, molested, prostitution, gangs, strippers, drug dealers, and etc).

The opposing view that I chose was very disturbing to me it quotes: "If a woman should have the consent to murder(abort) a man's child without his consent, then a man should have the right to deny financial support for the child of a woman without her consent" (ufcarazy, 1). I can see where the man is coming from in a sense, but in reality he has to understand why the woman have chose to abort that child. It is a huge responsibility to account for someone else's life besides your own, if you are already struggling and barely making due with just yourself how can you bring a child into this world knowing what the outcome may be. As a mother I know from experience that abortion is not the first thing that comes our mind when we are pregnant. I pray, think about the future of the child, the struggles I have with my other children, and my financial situation and have came to the conclusion that I will not be able to provide for the child in a way that he/she deserves financially, emotionally, and physically. On the other hand if I were to have the child and the father is saying all the right things that I wanted to hear at the time, and then decides to up and leave you with all the responsibilities of taking care of that child. Regardless of the fact if a mother chooses to have a live birth or an abortion in the end the women is left with the heartache from the abortion and the struggles of raising a child on her own. With all that being said a woman should be able to make the decision of abortion, adoption, or raising the child without the consent of a man.

My thoughts on this topic is very sensitive to the fact that I am a single mother of four beautiful children, I was in a relationship with my kids father for twelve years. During our relationship he has never held a steady job, so I was the one that worked, paid the bills, and provided the needs for our children. We have been separated now for almost five years and since then he have given possibly a total of $400 to help with his children. He always say how much he loves the kids and if he had it he would help me out. I might sound cruel or unappreciative, but my oldest is thirteen and I am still waiting on that day for you to help out, the last time I checked love does not pay any bills, buy food, clothes or shoes. I do give him credit for coming to get them and taking them off me and my mother's hands for a few days. I have recently decided to put him on child support, somehow he is receiving Social Security for Narcolepsy, so I can only get $20 per child and five dollars per child for health care per month. I am in strong belief that any absent parent mother or father should have to take on equal responsibility for the upbringing of their child/children. The kids are the one's who suffers in the end!!!

In conclusion, If we had more parents that participated in their children lives the child will have a bigger and better future to look forward to. Children today need's the support of both parents to instill in them their family values and morals. I will do my best in the upbringing of my children but you can only guide and hold their hands for so long, until they are able to make decisions of their own. In this paper I gave you my opinions on why the absent parent should pay child support, the effects of the child, the struggles of a single parent, opposing view and my thoughts on this topic. Parent's step up and take responsibility for your actions.

MLA Works Cited

Davis, Detra. "Collected unpaid child support". streetdirectory.com. Web.

Ketteringham, Kristin. "Single Parent households: How does it affect the children". Yahoo! Contributor Network, Web. 6 July 2007.

Mason, Rowena. "Absent Fathers to be fined $500 for missing child support". Political Correspondent, The Daily and Sunday Telegraph, Web. 13 July 2012.

Ufcarazy, "Legal Abortions Promotes Health and Justice for Women". Opposing views, Web. 7 April 2009.

U.S. Census Bureau. Interview by Jennifer Wolf. " Single Parent Statistics".

About.com Guide. Who is the "Average" or "Typical" Single Parent. Web.

26 February 2010