What are the problems of single parenting (for both parent and child)? How can they be overcome?

I was a single dad for quite a few years, starting when my kids were 11 and 8 years old. My biggest problem was finding enough time to get everything done......cooking, cleaning, laundry, homework, working full time. I thought I could be super dad and do everything myself until my kids started to complain about my cooking and my lack of laundry skills.

We made a list of chores and the kids learned how to cook and do their own laundry. It gave me more time for other things but I often wondered what was missing in their lives since they were burdened with housework at such young ages.

I asked them that question when they became young adults and it turns out that they really didn't mind. Sure, they missed some play time with their friends but they didn't regret it.

I love your answers from Hippy and Gator already. They humble me reading them. In Gators answer, it reminds me of the saying I once heard "it takes a village to raise a child." In Hippy's answer, it reminds me of a family going through hard times and pulling together to get through it. I bet Hippy's children have a lot of respect for their dad and I bet that Gators nieces and nephews got to see what grace and respect for people meant because they didn't hear a bad thing about their mother. In both answers the children saw love.

However in a perfect world, I think we would all agree we would have it where children have both their parents. But we do not live in a perfect world so children adapt. What upsets me is when people can't get along for stupid reasons. I always remember the story of the couple getting a divorce because the husband forgot to put the toilet seat down. I could not imagine their child..... "mommy divorced daddy because she fell in the toilet and now my home is broken and I go to two Christmas's."  :0(

Sad!

Men and women tend to have different views on the world. By having only one parent, the child often sees that parent's views. However if the parent ha a good support system with family or close friends that include the other gender, the child is exposed to both views.

I was raised by my mom. I didn't see my dad or my uncles much, so I had no strong adult men to help me understand them. I do have two brothers, but they didn't want to tell me what guys were thinking. They just wanted to kick their butts for thinking it. As I got older and talked to male friends I got a better understanding, but I know girls who grow up into women who never have good male friends. So they never understand.

I have also had guy friends who were single dads who needed help with their daughters. They either asked if I would talk to them, or ask how they should handle it. I would tell them to talk as openly as they could about most subjects, but when it came to dealing with changes in their bodies, I tell them to have to girl talk to a female relative they felt comfortable with, like an aunt or their grandmother.