Abstract
This paper discusses how historically the concept of the single parent family in the United States has led to the belief that when one individual attempts to raise a child there will be hardships and family failure. This is contended because of the reliance of the family on one income and the dual roles that many single parents are forced to play in raising their children. Single mothers act as caregiver disciplinarian financial head of household and housekeeper. The paper further discusses how in addition to these responsibilities most single moms have full-time jobs, and statistics indicate that the majority of single mothers in the country receive no financial support from fathers. Yet, despite the abundance of negative elements that may be possible in the world of the single parent, there is an absolute possibility of success for the single parent to raise a family in this country.

Tags:single, parent, families

Abstract
The paper discusses three solutions that address the generation gap between parents and children. The paper explains how parents must not go too far in their friendship, but they must also be careful not to be too much of a disciplinarian, they must be supportive of the concerns that a child is facing and must speak to children seriously without patronizing them, and finally, communication between parents and children must not be avoided. The paper believes that as both parents and children become more willing to talk to one another, the generation gap slowly recedes and the friendship and shared experiences that were underneath the anxiety and misunderstandings are better able to emerge.

From the Paper
"Very often, parents talk down to their children without meaning to. They think that the child cannot understand adult concepts and so they must present them in a way that they make more sense to children. That is true to a point, but children are very perceptive and often smarter and more understanding than people give them credit for (Casterline, 2009). When things are not explained to them they feel as though they have been left out and they think that they do not matter or that their parents cannot trust them with any information. In trying to help a child and 'be nice,' a parent can actually patronize that child and make him or her feel stupid and uncomfortable. Children should be talked to in the most adult way that they can understand when information has to be given to them, especially about a very serious or grave situation (Casterline, 2009).
"Third, communication between parents and children is difficult, but it must not be avoided (Casterline, 2009). A lot of parents simply do not talk to their children because they are not sure what to say. Those same children do not talk to their parents because they do not feel as though their parents would understand. They want to talk to their friends, but they are not interested in talking to anyone older. They assume (wrongly) that their parents never had to deal with these kinds of things, or that it was so long ago that their parents would not know how to help them. They also assume that they are the only people in the world who are going through, have gone through, or will go through whatever it is that they are currently going through (Casterline, 2009). With that in mind it can be very hard to get them to open up to a parent, but parents must continue to try."

Tags:friendship, discipline, communication

Abstract
The following paper discusses the way in which Kafka through the character of Gregor Samsa, attempts to resolve his conflicts with a patriarchal and overbearing father, conflicts that plagued him all his life. The writer argues that Franz spent his whole life in his father's shadow and 'Metamorphosis' thus is argued to be an expression of his relationship with his father.

From the Paper
"Franz's father's chronic cruelty is also evident in the guise of Gregor Samsa's father. While his mother and sister demonstrate concern and despair, Gregor's father's interaction with his now metamorphosed son are acts that could potentially kill Gregor. The first instance is the initial reaction the father has: he grabs the nearby broom and sweeps Gregor who tumbles back into the room slamming into a wall; the second instance is even more murderous: the father flings apples with the intention of killing "this bug" (Kafka, p. 122); Gregor manages to evade them all, except one. The apple lies lodged (rotting) in his back; and the resulting injuries may have been the cause of Gregor's death.
One can imagine Franz's sensitive being always plagued by guilt and conflict. The physical burden of being at the mercy of his father's cruelty and ridicule, the burden of maintaining the integrity of being himself, and the burden of being like his father. While Franz does succeed in becoming alpha male in the story, it is possible that he did not particularly relish this role he did not derive his identity from his malenes."

Tags:artistic, pursuit, sensibilities, hypocritical, disciplinarian, tormented, critical, son, relationships, published, posthumously