Editing Single parent (section)

===Widowed parents===
Historically, death of a partner was a common cause of single parenting.  Diseases and [[maternal death]] not infrequently resulted in a [[widower]] or widow responsible for children.  At certain times wars might also deprive significant numbers of families of a parent. Improvements in sanitation and maternal care have decreased mortality for those of reproductive age, making death a less common cause of single parenting.