Parenting is not easy, and doing it without a partner adds another level of difficulty. On this National Single Parent Day, observed every year on March 21, let's celebrate the fathers and mothers who take care of their kids alone by giving double the love.

There are more single parents today than before, National Today said. From 1980, when 10% of households with children were headed by a single parent, the rate rose to 30% by 2008.

The reasons for single parenthood vary – for some, it is by choice and for others, it is due to their circumstances. Although many of them get much-needed help from family and friends, there's no denying that single parenthood can be challenging.

This Sunday, celebrate the single parent in your life by showing your appreciation, whether it's with a treat, by taking a day off or with a simple message of encouragement. Perhaps single parents may also celebrate the day by showing their appreciation for those who are always there to support them.

Here are some encouraging quotes on single parenthood, courtesy Brainy Quote, Country Living, AZ Quotes and Quote Master:

  • "My first love is my mother. She did so much for us children as a single parent. I watched her make a dollar out of fifteen cents. I thought she was either a magician or she had God's actual phone number. She wasn't a motivational speaker; she was an inspirational speaker." – Betty Wright
  • "It's difficult, but far from impossible and we smile more than we cry." – Regina King
  • "People ask me 'What about gay adoptions? Interracial? Single Parent?' I say 'Hey fine, as long as it works for the child and the family is responsible.' My big stand is this: every child deserves a home and love. Period." – Dave Thomas
  • "My younger sister had kids before I did, and managed to earn a master's degree while raising them as a single parent. Now she's a brilliant second-grade teacher. I'm in awe of her ability to juggle everything and still be a great mother." – Idina Menzel
  • "I knew going in that being a single parent would be one of the toughest jobs I'd ever have. I'd been a talk-show host, actor, comic, and on and on, but this gig was going to be my defining moment." – Arsenio Hall
  • "Just because I am a single mother doesn't mean I cannot be a success." – Yvonne Kaloki
  • "She has to have four arms, four legs, four eyes, two hears, and double the love. There is nothing 'single' about a single mom." – Mandy Hale
  • "Seven years after becoming a lone parent, I feel qualified to look anyone in the eye and say that people bringing up children single-handedly deserve, not condemnation, but congratulation." – J.K. Rowling
  • "Raising a family is difficult enough, But it's even more difficult for single parents struggling to make ends meet. They don't need more obstacles. They need more opportunities." – Bill Richardson
  • "Remember that a single mom is just like any other mom and that our number one priority is still our kids. Any parent does whatever it takes for their kids and a single mother is no different." – Paula Miranda
  • "I truly have a village supporting me. My son has godmothers, godfathers, grandparents and so many others in his life who love him as much as I do. They're there for both of us. I may not have a mate or a husband, but I'm definitely not a single parent." – Jill Scott
Single Parent
Pictured: Representative image of a mother and her daughter together. Pixabay
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