Illustrations Show What It's Like to Be a Single Father
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Artist Snezhana Soosh has created a series of paintings that brilliantly illustrate the bond between a father and his daughter and shine a warm light on an often forgotten segment of American parenthood: single fathers.
"I always wanted to have a tender and loving relationship with my own father, but he didn’t know how to show his love, so most of the time was distant and cold," Soosh told The Huffington Post. "I was observing other fathers with their daughters and so loved each tender moment they had together. I think I drew what I lacked and very much wanted — to feel loved and protected by my big papa."
These 10 illustrations show the unique challenges and rewards of being a single father.
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The number of single fathers in the United States has increased ninefold since 1960, according to the Pew Research Center. Single fathers head almost one in 10 American households with children, a dramatic departure from the mid-20th century rate, when single dads represented only 1 percent of U.S. households.
Experts cite a number of factors to account for the change, including an increase in the number of nonmarital births and a shift in the legal status of fathers in custody cases. "At the same time, the role of fathers has evolved, and the public now acknowledges their importance not only as breadwinners, but also as caregivers," Pew reported.
