CoAbode

As single parents juggle the responsibilities of their lives at work and their lives at home, many nagging concerns arise. Along with financial worries and time management issues, there are deeper, psychological questions that mothers and fathers may be asking themselves. They wonder, "Will my being a single parent affect my child's future negatively?" or "Will my child become successful even if he or she is not from a 'traditional' family?"

Take heart single parents, many inspiring and successful adults came from single-parent homes. Not only do these men and women credit their background for shaping their world-views, they recognize that it was because of their single-parent upbringings that they made it far.

Here's a list of some amazing adults who came from single parent homes:

Audrey Hepburn, besides her famous roles in films like Breakfast at Tiffany's, Audrey Hepburn was the UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador from 1988 until her death in 1993. She received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in recognition of her work with UNICEF, and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences posthumously awarded her The Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award for her contribution to humanity.

"How shall I sum up my life? I think I've been particularly lucky. Does that have something to do with faith also? I know my mother always used to say, 'Good things aren't supposed to just fall in your lap. God is very generous, but he expects you to do your part first.' So you have to make that effort. But at the end of a bad time or a huge effort, I've always had--how shall I say it?-- the prize at the end. My whole life shows that."

Ricky Henderson, Arguably the most prolific baseball player in the Oakland A's history, holds the records for most all-time stolen bases (1,370), most home runs leading off a game (75); steals in a season (130), 1982; most seasons leading league in stolen bases and the title of American League Most Valuable Player for 1990, and baseball Hall of Famer.

Christina Aguilera, multi-platinum selling and Grammy winning artist.

From her song, "Oh Mother:"

"So mother, I thank you
For all that you've done and still do
You got me, I got you
Together we always pull through
We always pull through."

Mother Teresa, world-famous activist:

"The problem with the world is that we draw the circle of our family too small."

Alan Heeger, 2000 Nobel Prize Winner for Chemistry

Of the importance for education, instilled in him by his mother:

"One of my earliest memories (long before my father died), is of my mother telling me of the importance of getting a university education. When she graduated from high school, she received a scholarship to go on to university but went to work instead; she was needed by her parents to help support the family. It was always clear to me that it was my responsibility to go to university; prior to my generation no one on either side of my family had an education that went beyond high school. I and my brother were the first in our family to receive the PhD degree."

Any other inspiring children of single parents to add to the list?