Where's Daddy?: How Divorced, Single, and Widowed Mothers Can Provide What's Missing When D

About half of today's children live in single-parent households (usually with a mother) at some point during childhood. It is also estimated that 66% of noncustodial fathers see their children less than once a month (and 50% less than once a year). Moreover, 52% of such fathers do not pay child support. Citing these figures, Wassil-Grimm ( How to Avoid Your Parents' Mistakes When You Raise Your Children ) explains some of the reasons why fathers may disappear from their kids' lives and includes case histories illustrating the varying viewpoints of parents and children. She offers custodial parents suggestions to help keep noncustodial parents emotionally and financially involved. Finally, Wassil-Grimm shows single mothers how to force ex-husbands to make child support payments, if necessary with help from the government, and how to obtain Social Security benefits. The author covers these issues and others in a constructive yet realistic spirit, aiding single mothers without bad-mouthing fathers. (July)