Am I a single mum? Definition?

[GreensAreGoodForYou]

The kids are with me all week aside from three hours one weekday and 6 hours at the weekend (with their dad). I’m not married or dating. So am I a single mum? A single parent? A solo patent?! Does the ‘single’ just refer to your dating status? And what kind of parent am I? Am I co-parenting even though he only sees them twice a week? (He pays child support.)

Help me label myself?! What am I?

You're not married or living with the father of your children, so I would say that makes you a single mother. The father is a part-time dad.

Single parent

For me, single parent means that one parent is doing all or nearly all the parenting on their own. So, as with your situation, your ex doing 9 hours a week with his children does not prevent you from calling yourself a single parent.

Thanks! That confirms my self-labeling. A friend said the single refers to your dating status, so if you had a boyfriend or were engaged or married you would no longer be a single mum! With the married option I kind of get it since there’d be an assumption that the now-step-father is parenting too.

Single parent is also good.

Thank you!