As a result of both the rising age of people entering marriage and the frequency of divorce, men and women spend, on average, more than half their lives unmarried. In addition, with a longer life span, many people find themselves living as widows or widowers for longer periods of time. Needs of singles include basic issues related to companionship, the need to handle all household tasks themselves, and the feeling of being unaccepted, particularly in churches where families with children receive most of the attention. More than a third of U.S. children will live in a single-parent household for some period during their childhood. A key issue for adults in these households is the need for support from other adults.
Many families bring to marriage children from a previous marriage.
Children raised by grandparents. Just as adults feel they are moving away from a direct parenting role, many begin again by parenting their grandchildren. Fatigue is a major factor in their ability to address the needs of their grandchildren. Also, it is a challenge to find time to engage in adult activities when faced with childcare needs. Families caring for aging family members.