Should a tween decide the parenting time schedule?

Our conversations about co-parenting challenges highlight your commitment to doing what’s right for your kids. You’ve taught us (and we’re grateful) that co-parenting issues change as kids get older. Also, parents’ relationship statuses change. Frankly, we’ve never talked about kids’ roles in deciding parenting time schedules. So, when this conflicted single mom – who asked [...]

When your tween wants to meet your date

Single dads are valued members of our Singlemommyhood community. So, when this divorced dad with a tween daughter contacted us via Facebook to share a parenting dilemma, we instantly thought of YOU to offer this devoted dad some advice. Here’s the situation: “A couple of months ago, I started dating a woman, and I think [...]

Will our blended family make it?

We heard from another single mom this week who has fallen in love with a single dad. Woot!  And they are expecting a new baby this fall. Yet, their family “blending” is not going as smoothly as she’d like. Here’s why: Both this single mom and her partner each have a 10-year-old — and their [...]

Is your kid begging you for a Facebook page?

When Rachel told me that she knows many tweens who have Facebook pages, I was baffled. After all, Facebook has strict age requirements — – you must be age 13 or older to get an account. So, I wondered: are these kids lying about their ages?  Or are their parents allowing them to bend the [...]

“I’m hot” isn’t a weather report

Like many of our readers, we are both the mothers of daughters. So, we understand firsthand what it means to go clothes-shopping with tween and teen girls. We also know that clothing companies often market to tween girls who want to feel “grown-up.” No judgments at Singlemommyhood, but we’ve wondered if some of these T-shirt [...]

My young daughter wants to look *sexy* Help!

A single dad who frequently stops by sent us a terse email yesterday.  This single dad wants to know what to say to his nine-year-old daughter, who told him, “I want to look sexy.”  Say what? Here’s the story: This single dad is raising his third grader — and fifth grade son –  solo. Their [...]

When Dad talks to his daughter about her period

The dads who comment at Singlemommyhood continue to amaze us. You’re so present and genuine. And add so much to the conversation. Thank you. So, when we got this recent note from a divorced mom of a tween, it was these great dads who came to mind. For months now, this mom has been preparing [...]

Does your child have a cell phone?

Last summer, when Rachel, aka Single Mom Seeking, told me that she’d gotten a cell phone for her eight-year-old, I couldn’t believe my ears. Her daughter wasn’t even in third grade yet! Rachel tried to explain: “The phone isn’t for her: it’s for me.” I thought: How did we ever survive childhood?! Seriously, I’ve talked [...]

How do I tell my kid that I’m dating?

You might have heard at Single Mom Seeking that I’ve met a new guy. We haven’t even reached the two-month mark yet — so I’m really glad that I’ve kept my romantic life separate from my parenting life. But if all continues to go well — and it’s going really well! — I do eventually [...]