What is a single parent to you?

I know everyone views this differently and I was wondering what makes a single parent to you? Is someone seen as not a single parent to you because they have close friends and family who help out although the parent is single and the other parent is not around period? Or if the parent is single and the other parent sees their kid or kids frequently is that still considered a single parent to you? I am just being curious, just a random thought I had lol.

Quoting Melissa ღ:" I know everyone views this differently and I was wondering what makes a single parent to you? Is someone ... [snip!] ... or kids frequently is that still considered a single parent to you? I am just being curious, just a random thought I had lol."

a single parent IMO is a parent who has no parter to help co parent with and is financially having to figure things iout on their own


for example a mom who's BD is not in the picture at all, even with family help I consider it being a single parent

A single parent is someone who is raising a child without the help of the other parent.

I don't look at the relationship status (whether they are dating someone or not). To me a single parent is the only parent taking care of the child, while the other parent is either off doing their own thing, or they have passed away. I know that may seem weird, but I've had friend's who are divorced, but the other parent is very involved and even though they are single(not dating someone), they don't call themselves a single parent because the other is so involved. Does that makes sense? When I think single parenting I think only about the partnership of parenting (whether the two parents are working together or not), not their personal relationship status(If they are dating someone or not). Also, I don't count the family and friends. Yes, they can be a huge help with parenting, but to me the "single parenting" thing is only about the two parents, not whether outside parties are pitching in. And glad to see I am not the only one that has odd random thoughts.

Quoting ❥New Beginnings:" a single parent IMO is a parent who has no parter to help co parent with and is financially having ... [snip!] ... their own for example a mom who's BD is not in the picture at all, even with family help I consider it being a single parent"

Yea, that is how I see it as well. I have heard others say they don't see a person as a single parent when they have family who helps out, so I was wondering if others viewed it that way as well.

I'm married but am a single parent. my husband is in prison.

Quoting Melissa ღ:" I know everyone views this differently and I was wondering what makes a single parent to you? Is someone ... [snip!] ... or kids frequently is that still considered a single parent to you? I am just being curious, just a random thought I had lol."

Anyone who does it alone. Help from friends or family is one thing, but when you have to work to support your kids and you aren't with the father, then you're a single mom. I don't care if you're dating someone else... those aren't his kids and not his responsibility.

Now this is where it gets iffy.... If you share 50/50 custody, yes you're single but you have the father around to help and see the child.

Quoting Olivia Paige's Mommy:" I don't look at the relationship status (whether they are dating someone or not). To me a single parent ... [snip!] ... two parents, not whether outside parties are pitching in. And glad to see I am not the only one that has odd random thoughts."

Yea, makes perfect sense. I see it the same, I really didn't understand how someone would see it not as single parenting if they had family around when the other parent wasn't helping period. I wouldn't consider myself a single parent if my BD was actually around even if him and I weren't together. I think that even though a family may help out they do not co-parent the child.

I consider myself a single parent. BD is off galavanting and when he is supposed to have them every other weekend he pawns them off on a 13 yr old, well now he doesn't get them at all since my daughter came home with the end of a joint on her foot. Other than that I do it on my own. I mean my mom babysits for me while I work but other than that I cook, work for the money we have, and take care of the kids.

Any parent who is no longer in a relationship with the other parent is a single parent.

Quoting ❥New Beginnings:" a single parent IMO is a parent who has no parter to help co parent with and is financially having ... [snip!] ... their own for example a mom who's BD is not in the picture at all, even with family help I consider it being a single parent"

What do you call a mom who has full custody, but the BD pays child support and gets visitation? A semi-single parent?

Quoting ßea:" Anyone who does it alone. Help from friends or family is one thing, but when you have to work to support ... [snip!] ... where it gets iffy.... If you share 50/50 custody, yes you're single but you have the father around to help and see the child. "

I don't see myself as a single mother of Novali even though SO isn't her sperm donor. I guess I always saw "single mom" as relationship status.  

Quoting Rumpelstiltskin:" What do you call a mom who has full custody, but the BD pays child support and gets visitation? A semi-single parent? "

I honestly don't give a dude props for paying child support unless he went and took the initiative to file it. If it wasn't for them forcing my BD to pay child support he wouldn't pay for smurf period and hasn't.

Quoting Melissa ღ:" I honestly don't give a dude props for paying child support unless he went and took the initiative to ... [snip!] ... the initiative to file it. If it wasn't for them forcing my BD to pay child support he wouldn't pay for smurf period and hasn't."

But if he does pay child support and has visitation, is the mom still "single"?

I don't understand how the word "single" can be subjective!  

Quoting Rumpelstiltskin:" But if he does pay child support and has visitation, is the mom still "single"? I don't understand how the word "single" can be subjective!  "

Well, if the dad is a part of the child's life then I say no that wouldn't really be a single parent but I guess it has its own levels like, when my BD did come around he didn't even co-parent. He held her for a few hours and left, he never did smurf for her. So even though he came around he wasn't co-parenting and I still viewed myself as a single mother.