re: Definition of "single mom"

Someone who is not dating, and raises kids on their own. If you have a boyfriend that lives with you, then you aren't a single mom. And if your living with a man and he isn't helping you with your kids, then your a dumbass. And when I say that I'm not referring to anyone on here, just a friend of mine I think of when I hear single mom.

I had never heard the term solo parent until now but that really adds some clarity. Not that any moms have to classify themselves into a certain category of parent, but it is nice for me to have a term other than single parent to describe myself because obviously that can be interpreted in many ways...

I considered myself a single parent as long as I was parenting and supporting my children by myself. I still consider myself a single parent, I'm in a relationship with my youngest's father, we don't live together and he does help support and care for our shared child. He helps me care for my older two children but I financially support them on my own

Quoting Devil Duckie:" no relationship. you're either single or your not. If you have a companion, you're not single.... it's not rocket science. "

This

to me, anything other than being in a relationship with a partner who's helping raise the kids is a single parent
a single mother can be dating, but still be a single mother
a single mother can have a long term boyfriend, but if he isn't a partner in the child rearing, she's still a single mother.
that's kinda how i see it.

My mom was a "single mom" growing up that's all I knew. No support financially from my father, nor did she ask for it. She was fine doing it on her own, I am very proud of her for that. I think single mom as doing it all on her own, no coparent.

I realize many out there use the term to apply it to unmarried moms. I guess that would suffice too.

But I think a mom who is doing it all on her own and another mom who is just unmarried, but the unmarried one has a BD who is involved, pays support, and whatnot does not have the same issues as one who is totally single with no support.

Or it may be more of a pain in the ass to have to deal with a BD's bs. Who knows.