Comments on: Happy single parent – can it be?

By: 10 Great Australian Blogs | Planning With Kids

10 Great Australian Blogs | Planning With Kids — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 20:01:53 +0000

[...] This was actually one of the first blogs that I added to my reader, but for some reason when I did a blog roll update (moved it from a page to the sidebar) a few months ago, I missed it of my list. Sorry Jen. On Semantically Driven Jen writes about parenting, blogging and living in Australia. Her writing has a beautiful honesty to it, like in this post Happy single parent – can it be?. [...]

By: Jen

Jen — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 00:45:30 +0000

Single Mom Seeking – I am getting a lot better at holding myself together through the rougher patches – thank goodness. I try to really enjoy the good moments and try to get through the not so good moments.

By: Single Mom Seeking

Single Mom Seeking — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 22:05:00 +0000

Thanks for the link love! Glad that Mary’s book got you to think.

I’ve always considered that “Are you happy?” question to have so many angles?

Most human beings (women, shall I say??) have great mood swings (well, I do!)… and at this point, happiness means being able to hold myself through the rough patches. Being a single parent DOES get easier as you get more practice — and your child gets older. Really.

By: M & B

M & B — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 16:55:49 +0000

I cannot imagine full time but probably 4 days a week like you when Boo starts school.

By: Hazel

Hazel — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 13:11:27 +0000

Jen
I’d first want to ask someone to define happiness and then see whether I fit into being happy as the life-partner of someone with an addictive illness or as the parent of four children with an unsupportive partner. Both states I have experienced as well as a period as a single parent between between the second and the first and whilst there were periods when I was glum, stressed, angry or whatever overall I believe I was happy – and still am even though I still have that elephant in the living room.

By: Jayne

Jayne — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 00:27:02 +0000

Thanks for sharing, Jen!

By: Jen

Jen — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 22:04:25 +0000

M&B – glad to hear it. About working part-time – can you ever imagine yourself going back to full-time? I work 4 days a week and don’t know if I could cope working 5 days a week outside the house.

By: Jen

Jen — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 22:02:55 +0000

Thank you Trish. We are blessed.

By: M & B

M & B — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 16:27:10 +0000

I’m happy I was happy during pregnancy. I was happy as a new mum. And I’m still happy…

More money might make me happier but I made a choice to be a single parent. I also make the choice to only work part-time while my child is little.

Sometimes I feel down, but that has nothing to do with being a single parent. I would be down regardless of my circumstances. Like you I look at the things we have, health, job, social life, good friends and family, and a manageable mortgage.

I think we are both doing good

By: Trish

Trish — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 13:33:29 +0000

wow Jen – I am so privileged to share this story.
Thanks for sharing it.
It must be both hard and a blessing to be a single parent some days. I experienced it for only a few weeks.
I an in awe of you and what a great job you are doing with Jj.
You are both blessed to have each other.