CBS’ show Murphy Brown is being revived after a 10 year run from 1988 to 1998. The show mocked the importance of fathers by bearing a child alone and calling it another “lifestyle choice.” In the past 25 years the share of children living in a two-parent household is at the lowest since the statistic has been tracked. Sixty-two percent of children live with two married parents—an all-time low.

There are nearly 1,000 households in Charlotte County with children under the age of 18 being headed by a single parent. Many of these families live in poverty, putting a strain on raising children. Our county struggles to deal with this crisis by providing free school lunches and free medical care. It is just hard to raise children in a single parent home.

This past September, a support group called Single and Parenting was formed to help meet the many needs of raising children with one parent. Participation in this support group has proven very popular. The group meets weekly on Wednesdays from 6:30-8 p.m. at the Drakes Branch Baptist Church. Child care is provided for children under the age of 4 years old. The support group deals with issues such as money & career, parenting, emotions and eating & single sexuality.

More information may be obtained by calling (434) 568-4021 between 4:30-7 p.m., Monday-Thursday.