We live in a society where many kids are being raised by single mums. According to StatsSA figures, more than 1,1 million births were registered last year. However, 64 percent of these birth registrations had no information about the fathers.
Why do so many dads run away from the kids they help make? We asked Daily Sun readers what they think in an online poll.
According to this poll, the top reasons that dads run are because:
1. They are afraid of responsibility
2. They just wanted to have sex, not the baby
3. They feel shame because they won't be able to support the family
4. Their own dads ran so they think that's what dad's do
5. They hate the mum
6. They hate the child
7. They don't want to spend their money on kids
ADVICE FOR SINGLE MUMS
It is really hard for women to cope with being personally rejected. But what makes the heartache even harder to deal with is a dad who isn't man enough to help look after his child.
Women who find themselves in this situation should ensure that they have a strong support system and talk to friends, family and other women who have traveled the same road.
It is hard to raise a child without a dad. But ultimately, what a child really needs is for you to love them and be the best mum you can be.
Do your best to be a happy mum who does not bad mouth the dad in front of the child. Allow your child to decide for him- or herself if the dad is a good or bad person, and don't always remind the child that the dad left. If the child grows up wanting to know more about the dad, be open to that discussion.
