Census data released by Statistics Canada this week about the family structure certainly produced some worrisome numbers.
It starts with the fact that, as of 2011, Nova Scotia has more single-parent families per capita than any other province at 17.3 per cent.
That number would be significantly higher except for the fact that the percentage of single-parent families in relatively prosperous Halifax is close to the national average of 16.3.
In areas of higher unemployment, the numbers are significantly higher - Yarmouth, 30 per cent; Cape Breton, 25 per cent; and New Glasgow, 23 per cent.
Closer to home, it's not much better with Truro showing 22.2 percent of families with a single parent and Stewiacke with 21 per cent. Both these numbers are up from five years ago when Truro stood at 21.8 and Stewiacke was 16.6.
Percentages for the rest of Colchester County are not available but it's probably comparable.
In addition, the percentage of married couples in Truro has declined slightly from 63.2 percent in 2006 to 61.6 per cent last year. Stewiacke declined from 72.7 to 65.1. That's also under the national average of 67 per cent.
Not surprisingly, the percentage of people in Truro who are divorced has climbed from 9.4 per cent in 2006 to 10.2 per cent.
And here's another telling figure. Nearly 40 per cent of households in Truro (39.9. per cent to be exact) have only one resident, compared to 38.3 in 2006. The percentage in Stewiacke has jumped from 24.6 per cent to 30.7 per cent in the last five years.
Once again, Colchester County figures aren't available but with places like Bible Hill and Valley being a preferred destination for families to live we'd argue that the number of homes with only one resident is probably considerably lower than Truro.
What does it all mean?
Well, in a nutshell, it's further evidence that the traditional post-war family unit is a distant memory in many households across the country.
That trend is not likely to reverse anytime soon, either. Not with the parents of baby boomers, for whom marriage was an institution, dying off and younger generations waiting far longer before committing to long-term relationships. Even then there's no guarantee that children will be part of the equation.
Time will tell what sort of society that will produce. We have some concerns.
