A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY OF CHILDREN WHO WERE RAISED BY SINGLE MOTHERS

This study explored the lived experiences of children who were raised by single \nmothers; either from birth or at later stages of their lives due to fathers passing away \nor parents separating and divorcing from one another. It focused on how they relate \nto themselves by being raised by single mothers and what effect it has had on their \nrelationships with significant partners, paternal siblings, and other paternal family \nmembers. Five participants between the ages of 25 and 33 were from Vryheid, Kwa- \nZula Natal and the one was from the East Rand, Gauteng. Qualitative research \nparadigm was used in this study. Data was collected using semi-structured \ninterviews. Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was used to make sense of \ndata. Findings revealed that although most participants viewed father presence as \nimportant, they also gave homage to their mothers and that mothers can raise successful children single-handedly. Particularly since some cited having \nexperienced difficult relationships with their mothers but are still grateful for the \nsacrifices made by their mothers. Some participants had strict mothers and others \nhave subsequently formed close friendships with their mothers as they went into \nadulthood. The majority of the participants had no relationship with the paternal \nfamilies, and some attributed their success to their mothers or their maternal \nfamilies. Although some participants experienced more than one form of abuse \n(financial and/or emotional), they have become positive contributors to society and \ndo not view their childhood circumstances as a hinderance to them succeeding in \nlife.