Are you just the transition relationship?

  “I just started dating a great guy, but I’m worried,” began an email from a single mom we know. “You see, I’m the first woman he has dated since his marriage.  He’s fantastic,” she went on, “but I know – for a fact – that the first person someone dates after a major break-up [...]

Co-parenting (sort of) with your former in-laws

A devoted solo dad told us recently about a perplexing issue with his former in-laws. We’re not even in touch with the extended families of our kids’ bio-dads — so, we’ve got no experience to share. But, we’re always thinking about how complicated family relationships can be. So, we’re eager to get your take on [...]

When you’re a daddy raising girls

Responsible parenting is always on our minds. And the challenging kid issues we’ve tackled together cover a lot of territory. For example, we’ve talked frankly about managing kid issues at school. And about how to decide if your kid needs therapy. We’ve also talked about what to do (or not) if the kids unexpectedly interrupt [...]

Do you house share with your parents?

Zillions of us (not an official statistic) have lived with our parents (both us of … definitely!) as part of our transition to single parenthood. So, we nodded sympathetically when we received this earnest email from a mom with two toddlers (who are nine months apart): Here’s what this young mother told us: “I’m getting [...]

“You’re so lucky that your ex is out of the picture”

Other single moms have said this to us * a lot.* “You’re so lucky that your ex is out of the picture.” At first, we both had the same reaction: Lucky? Really? We raised our eyebrows and wondered: What is that supposed to mean? Eventually, we got it. And after reading your comments on a [...]

When your ex never leaves

As many of you know, neither of us got the chance to co-parent with an ex — unlike so many of you. Thank you for opening up about everything from how challenging co-parenting can be to what’s it is like to spend holidays with your ex. So, when we read this very honest Modern Love [...]

It’s Christmas break and I haven’t met his kids

A single mom we’re privileged to know shared this dilemma with us: “I’m upset because my boyfriend hasn’t introduced me to his kids.” Our single mom friend filled us in on the details by email: “I have a great co-parenting relationship with my ex. My boyfriend, on the other hand, has a terrible relationship with [...]

Happy Father’s Day, Part I

Every day, we find comfort by reading many of the great dad bloggers we’ve discovered. We’re honored to know many of you online — and in person! Because we feel encouraged by you amazing fathers out there, our list is overflowing. So, we’re starting little by little to celebrate Father’s Day with this first shout [...]

To the married moms who envy us: how about a truce?

When “my babies” were growing up I realized that the harshest critics of “singlemommyhood” were often married moms (ouch!). I’ll never forget the one mom who always seemed to work something about my divorce into our playground conversations. Her comments went something like this: “Your kids are really great despite the fact that you’re divorced.” [...]