10 Single Parents Who Prove Parenting Solo Can Still Build a Happy Family

In the United States, nearly 1 in 4 children comes home to a household with one adult. That adult cooks dinner, pays the rent and answers the phone when the school calls, usually on a single paycheck.

A Pew Research Center study of 130 countries and territories, published in December 2019, found that the U.S. has the highest share of children living with one parent in the world: 23%, compared with a global average of 7%. American children are also far less likely to live with grandparents, aunts or uncles (8% versus 38% worldwide), so a single parent often has no built-in backup for the school run or a sick day. The 10 stories below are about those moments, and about the family routines that grew out of them.

I’m a single dad raising a 13-year-old daughter, Lily, in Tucson, Arizona. It’s been just the two of us since she was 4, our whole little family. I read two parenting books and watched a pediatrician’s video to prepare for her first period, and I still got it wrong.
Last month, at 10:40 on a Wednesday, she called me from the school nurse’s office, crying. I was in the middle of a roofing shift. I told my foreman I had an emergency, stopped at a CVS for a pack of pads, clean underwear, and leggings, and made it to her middle school as fast as I could.
I was so relieved to get there in time that I overdid it. In the hallway by the lockers, with a dozen kids around, I held up the bag and said, “Sweetie, I’ve got your period stuff!” Her friends laughed. Lily took the bag from me without looking at me and whispered, “Dad, please just go.” That night she ate dinner in her room, and I sat in the kitchen staring at a plate I didn’t touch.
The next day, Ms. Alvarez called. “Mr. Hollis, I heard about the hallway.” I started apologizing and asked if the other kids were still laughing at her. She paused. “Watch how you act. Your daughter is going to make the rest of us look bad, in the best way.”
She explained that at lunch, a sixth grader named Chloe had gotten her first period and hidden in the girls’ bathroom, too scared to tell anyone. Lily found her, gave her a pad and called the nurse, who phoned Chloe’s father to bring clean clothes.
When he arrived, Chloe was so embarrassed that she refused to come out. So Lily, standing outside the stall door, told her what I had done the day before, including every word I shouted in the hallway. Chloe started laughing, and a few minutes later she walked out to meet her dad.
The nurse had overheard the whole thing and told Ms. Alvarez. I told her I’d panicked and just wanted to help, nothing more.
That evening I told Lily about the call. She smiled and said, “I was so mad at you yesterday. But I’m kind of glad you came.” Then she added, “Just don’t announce it to the whole school next time.”

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“Just wanted to share a picture of my son being an absolutely precious goofball. I may not have another parent to share it with, but that’s okay. Every day with him is wonderful, even when it’s hard.”

I was single when my 3 kids were all under 5. No help from family, no help from the father, and no financial help either, but I made it. I got a job waitressing and doing promotions, working overnights most days. I paid for childcare by myself. It was so hard. Almost impossible.
My kids are teenagers now. I have a very happy and easy life. I met the man of my dreams. My kids are happy and healthy, and I have everything I have ever wanted. You will struggle only for a time; be confident in yourself and accept help when it’s offered. Take care.

farmerssahg / Reddithttps://www.reddit.com/r/AskWomenOver40/comments/1k5y9pd/comment/molqsht/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

Single parent at 22 after my second son was born. I suspected him of dishonesty but never got confirmation until a year after our breakup. I left him and my family was not happy and made comments about how I would find it hard to find a man who would accept me with two small children.
I got a job. Hardly saw my kids because I was working so much. It was tough. I started hanging out with old friends (when my ex would have my sons) and started dating a friend from high school.
I cannot explain to anyone the chemistry I felt. The safety I felt with him. After a few months I knew I loved him and I was scared.
After 6 months of dating, I let him see my kids. It was for 5 minutes, just to gauge things. A month later, we all hung out. He was awesome with them. Eventually we got engaged. I married the man I was supposed to be with.
The man who showed me unconditional love. The man who is an amazing father to our children. My best friend. My ex is happy with another girl. He finally settled down after years of being lost, and I’m really happy for him.
We co-parent well. Everything turned out the way it was supposed to be. My kids are extremely healthy and happy. You will find someone who loves you. Love yourself and your child first, and the rest falls into place.

InvisibleReddithttps://www.reddit.com/r/Parenting/comments/9u06xi/comment/e90i5oq/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

I was a rambunctious 21-year-old when I met my wife. She was 24 and had a new 4-month-old girl. The father had left. We fell in love pretty much instantly. She had a hard time telling me at first that she had a four-month-old. She later shared with me that she had concerns.
We’ve been married two years and have a second child (boy) due in December. It’s obviously been the best relationship of my life.
As for my relationship with our daughter, it’s always been great — she fell asleep on me during our second date with her mom, and that settled everything. When she was old enough to talk, I recorded her asking, “Will you marry Daddy?” and used that in my proposal.

Unknown author / Reddithttps://www.reddit.com/r/Parenting/comments/9u06xi/comment/e918gv3/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

“I am a proud mama. Raising this fine young man on my own has been rewarding. Happy 3rd birthday, son. Mommy loves you.”

When I first became single, I made it a major focus to maintain stability for my kids, which I feel pretty proud of. Especially with how their dad wound up acting/living. Not just in where we were living, or who lived with us, but also in how we ran our lives.
I kept up as many routines and rituals as I could—bedtime stories, home-cooked meals. And then I tried to add. We started doing periodic excursions. Sometimes small, just around town. Sometimes bigger, like going to a museum or something.
When I had a day off work, I’d plan something, even though I’d rather rest at home. I really wanted to create positive experiences and memories for them. I’ve been really big on establishing my own traditions.
It’s been five years out now, and I think we have a really good and solid flow to our lives!

Invisiblefloral_hippie_couch / Reddithttps://www.reddit.com/r/singlemoms/comments/1ifvz39/comment/mawyjq1/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

I’m a single mom of a 2-year-old. My love for my daughter is my superpower. I focus on that, and it gives me the strength to do anything. I do take “me days” off work when I need it, and that helps. I use my lunchtime for my time or to go to the gym.
I love our life together. I know this time is short, so I soak it in and focus on raising her. I’ll have plenty of time to go chill with coworkers or go to social events with people who don’t actually care about me when she is older. lol

InvisibleLegitimate_Mix_7537 / Reddithttps://www.reddit.com/r/singlemoms/comments/1ifvz39/comment/mava16s/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

“I’ve been a single parent to two kids (9m, 10f) with no support from other parent for 7 years. I’m finally at a place where we can have family adventures and live comfortably.”

My son Leo (8) was invited to his best friend Owen’s birthday party in January. I’m a single parent, and it was the week before payday, so money was tight.
Leo told me Owen already had “like a hundred Legos,” so I stopped at Michaels, bought two skeins of yarn for $11 and crocheted him a scarf in his favorite colors over three nights after Leo went to bed. It wasn’t perfect. One end is a little wider than the other.
The party was at a house in a gated neighborhood outside Raleigh. There were maybe 15 kids, a bounce house and a table of presents so tall it was blocking the dining room. I put my gift on the edge of the pile and tried to blend in with the other parents. I was the only one there without a partner.
When Owen got to my box, his mom, Whitney, held up the scarf and said loudly, “Oh, handmade! Cute. I can’t even sew a button.” Two women next to me chuckled. I felt my face burn, and I actually reached over to take it back and said I’d bring something else Monday.
Owen grabbed my hand. “Leo said you made this,” he said. “It’s my favorite!” He ignored the other presents, put the scarf on and walked right up to his mom to show her. Leo came up next to me, squeezed my other hand, and said in a very serious voice, “My mom makes everything for our family.”
About 20 minutes later, Whitney found me by the kitchen and said quietly, “He really likes it.” That was it. I thanked her, and we left after cake.
What I keep thinking about is Leo in the car. He asked if I was mad, and I said no. He said, “I didn’t want you to be sad.” I’m 34, and I’ve been doing this parenting thing alone since he was 2, and I’d never heard him say that before.

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A single parent can be the one who needs the groceries or the one who carefully counts the cost of giving them, and this Ohio story shows both sides of the same porch. What’s one routine that kept your family going when it was just you?