Definition of single parent

[Perfect28]

To think that single parent means the other parent is not on the scene at all, or very rarely? I feel like this is often used to mean split from the other parent. To me this makes you a co-parent. How do you define single parent?

I'm in a new relationship and we don't live together but I wouldn't say I'm able to unload my emotional load. It is still entirely up to me to parent my DC most of the time.

Only women refer to themselves as a single parent. Men just say they are a parent regardsless of the relationship status.

That is true, but I guess a lot of it is due to the need to establish on some occasions who is the parent carrying out the main/sole responsibility of raising the kids up.

Agreed. Some people are so fucking clueless

If you have a long term serious partner (living together or not) who isn't the child's biological father would you still class yourself as a single parent?
I have a friend who said she was a single mum but dad had the kids twice a week and she had a long term partner. I never said anything but I didn't really think she was a single mum.
My aunt on the other hand was. Never got any financial support from her ex. He used to come and see his children for a few hours a week but when he moved away for work the children never saw him again until years later when they were grown up and he was dying. They only went to see him once though as they simply had no connection with him. Very sad.

How many men have sole custody though? So most men have no need to refer to themselves as a single parent.

For the mum... it comes up a lot people tend to ask your circumstances.

Agree with this, 90% of single resident parents are mothers which is why I imagine men don’t refer to themselves as single parents as often. I do know men that do as I’m on lots of single parent groups but they are in the minority as men generally are the NRP

No, I wouldn't.

I was on a course with a girl in this situation and she kept going on about how she was a 'single parent' even though she lived with a partner with a well-paid job who took on loads of the housework, chores, childcare, etc. She got a grant because of the single parent status and I just thought it was dishonest. She didn't need it. It wasn't meant for people in a two-income household making decent money! The man you're living with not being the biological father of the child doesn't make you a single parent.

I consider myself a single parent because I'm not in a relationship with my child's father. He is physically and emotionally present every week and pays the pittance the state suggests is acceptable in maintenance.

Why do you need to further divide us?

Agree fully with this

I’m a single parent. Eldest kids dad doesn’t contribute and son sees him occasionally. Younger 2 dad is on scene works shifts has when he can and contributes to his children. However, i do school runs, drs/hospital appointments parents night, school runs sports day, camhs stuff etc etc all the leg work and he takes them to the cinema and has movie nights etc. I have a boyfriend but he doesn’t live with me, help with kids or contribute to my household so I class my self as a single parent.