Keep in mind, this episode originally aired just more than 25 years ago. For many of us, that doesn't seem that long ago - a mere drop of water in the bucket of time. I'm sure some of you can even still remember watching the series in primetime. But has society changed so much in a quarter of a century that the family's reactions to a single mother are not only outdated, but inappropriate?

I'd say it has.

In Los Angeles County, 25 percent of households with children have only a mother (compared to about 10 percent of households with children having a single father), according to kidsdata.org. With Mother's Day coming on Sunday, it's important that we remember, acknowledge and honor these women who are single-handedly doing the toughest job there is.

My hope is that most of these women have family, friends or others in their lives who give support. I have a niece who has an 18-month-old baby. As a single teen mother, she was able to finish high school and enroll in college because she has a strong support system made of family members and friends. So, whether it's another mother to share war stories or a trusted sister who can give advice, it's important to not feel isolated because - despite being surrounded by noisy, messy kids - being a single parent can be lonely. When the children are young and need a lot of attention, it's easy for a solo parent to become overwhelmed by the responsibility.

If you know a single mother who is struggling, give them the best Mother's Day gift possible by lending them a hand, an ear or even a couple of hours of free time. There are resources available, too, for single mothers in need of anything from financial assistance to other single mothers to network with. Here are some places to look:

• First 5 LA's listing of Partnerships For Families grantees

• Ready. Set. Grow!'s Parent Resources page for websites, tips and more

• L.A. Parent's page of support groups 

• Catholic Charities can help with housing and other resources

• Mother's Club Family Learning Center offers child care and parent education

Have a happy Mother's Day!

Evelyn V. Martinez

Chief Executive Officer
First 5 LA

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