In order to gain a more informed understanding about the diversity of the American family, the following overview of single, custodial fathers is presented. In 1995, 2.5 million children lived with only their father. This large increase seems to be the result of a combination of several factors. This, coupled with the explosive divorce rate, accounts for some of the rise in single, custodial father households. Second, is the behaviors of mothers.
Many women choose to pursue career or personal goals over family interests and favor father custody.
Additionally, some mothers with psychiatric, or physical conditions are not able to care for their children. Third, the increase in joint custody arrangements may also contribute to the increase in single, custodial father households. Also, mothers remarry and relinquish custody, or one parent moves and the child moves too, creating a de facto single custody arrangement. Finally, fathers today are more willing than fathers in the past to become full-time caretakers of their children. The vast majority of fathers who have custody gained it by mutual agreement, rather than by a court battle.