Family living arrangements for children ages 0–17
100
80
60
40
20
0
Two parents
(69%)
One parent
(27%)
No parents (4%)
Two biological/adoptive
cohabiting parents
One biological/adoptive
parent and stepparent
Two biological/
adoptive married
parents
Single mother
Single mother with
cohabiting partner
Single father
Single father with
cohabiting partner
Pe
rcent
Grandparent
Foster parent(s)
Other
Nonrelative
only
Other relative
only
There is no “typical” living arrangement for the approximately 75 million children living in the United States.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, Annual Social and Economic Supplements.
These demographics, while current and informative, are themselves in flux. For example, in 2009, 41 percent of American births were to unmarried women, up from 18 percent in 1980 and 33 percent in 1994 (America’s Children, 2011). Field Notes 8.1 is a first-person report from a teen mother about her experiences as she balanced the demands of early motherhood with child care needs and efforts to return to school. Although Kristen recounts here her early struggles, she ultimately triumphed, earning a doctoral degree while raising a happy and academically successful young daughter. Readers should carefully note the ways in which Kristen found support and respect from the education community and the ways in which she didn’t.