A Mother's Day Ode to Single Mums

It’s the hardest job in the world, and you do it all on your own. That’s superhero-status, if you ask me. Being a single mum is one of the toughest tasks a woman can be faced with in her life, but you always handle it with charm, compassion and grace (even on those weekends that you’ve worn the same sweatpants for two days and haven’t showered in three).

Being a mum is so much more than taking care of your children. It’s about managing a house, working hard in your career and still being able to, at the end of the day, snuggle down with your kids and make them feel safe and loved, even when you aren’t feeling those things yourself. A single mum is able to hug someone when she needs it most, because she knows that they need it more. She listens and knows when to let her child rant about their rough day and when to interrupt and offer some sage advice.

She worries night and day, because a mother’s job is never done, and single mums don’t even get the break of having someone come home and takeover.

So this day is all about honouring you, because a single mother isn’t just a mother. She is a heroine, a doctor, a cook, a maid, a chauffeur, a guardian, a confidant and a best friend.

You Make the Greatest Sacrifices

You ladies are empowering to us all, and if you get sick of hearing about what a hero you are, take a moment today to stop and relish in the fact that you’re seriously kicking butt. You may not always feel like you’ve done the right thing. Chores may be perpetually undone. Money might be tight. You lose your temper from time to time, but that’s okay. You’re only human. And your kids know better than anyone else that regardless of what might happen or be said, you love them more than life and you do everything you do just for them.

Many of you are out there raising young boys without a father around, struggling to teach them how to be a man when you’ve met so many rotten ones yourself. Don’t be worried. Your love and compassion will be etched onto your son’s heart, and he will learn to appreciate women far more deeply than he ever could have otherwise, seeing how much you sacrifice and how hard you work just for him.

The Payoff

Even though being a single mum is rough, and you dread those date nights when you have to scrutinise every detail of the man across the table and wonder whether he’d be a good fit as a father, you’re still a gem. Get dressed up, do your hair, paint your nails and slip into that dress you haven’t touched in years. Being a single mum shows how powerful and independent you are, and that’s pretty darn sexy.

So Happy Mother’s Day to all of you tough, stubborn, courageous, giving and selfless single mums out there. You are truly the unsung heros of this world who we’ll never be able to thank enough.

Main image source: Shutterstock

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72 Comments

- - sharna_booth_weinrowski said
  - 28 Jun 2022
    8:08 am
Single mums are just incredible

- - Forgetful Mumma said
  - 13 May 2022
    10:34 pm
I’ve known a few single mum in my youth and was always amazed by the bond they had with their children. They seemed to make it look so easy, but now I know how hard and lonely it really must have been! I couldn’t imagine being a single mum. I find parenting so difficult, even with my very hands on husband. I do take my hats off to them

- - shanika said
  - 26 May 2021
    1:11 pm
I really respect single mums.

- - rnash02 said
  - 10 May 2021
    8:51 pm
Single mums do an amazing job, raising their kiddos alone

- - Mumofboys said
  - 10 May 2021
    11:01 am
My mum was a single mum she tried her best and still does x

- - meedee said
  - 10 May 2021
    11:00 am
Yes indeed. Raising children without the help of a partner certainly makes things much harder. Some people have a lot of help from family and friends. I have watched one single Mum I know that is always on about how hard her single parenting life is and im stunned. I always think if I had been given what she has been given that life would have been so much easier. Her bills are paid by grandma and grandma even purchased a property for her and her 2 children to live in. Grandma gets ths kids school supplies each year and uniforms she also pays for internet and pay tv. Pays for them to go on a weeks holiday each year. If that had been me Id have been jumping for joy.
I had my 3 kids with no family around me and in a new country so no friends. But we made it and we made the best of what we had. I know my kids were thankful for all I did for them when they were little.

- - tessie said
  - 09 May 2021
    12:43 pm
They are just like all Mothers except they also have to be Fathers. They are so strong I don’t know how they do it

- - sars_angelchik said
  - 06 May 2021
    1:06 pm
I don’t know how they do it and they definitely have my respect!

- - mom322089 said
  - 06 May 2021
    12:08 pm
Happy Mothers day to all the mums out there.

- - ella12 said
  - 06 May 2021
    11:49 am
This certainly resonates with me and makes me a bit emotional.

- - Ellen said
  - 06 May 2021
    7:52 am
Yes, bravo and respect to all those single mums out there !

- - mom466213 said
  - 06 May 2021
    1:02 am
Oh I totally respect for the single mums out there, being a mum is the best thing I’ve ever done but I’d definitely struggle without my husband help

- - Frankiielot said
  - 05 May 2021
    8:54 pm
This is just lovely.
I really commend single mums as I don’t know how they do it! Hubby is a shift worker so I feel like a single mum most of the time as he’s either at work or asleep and I feel like I’m going to lose my mind some days and honestly wonder how single mums don’t go crazy. Even five minutes of having hubby look after the kids while I have a quick shower is a blessing, to not have that would make me go insane.

- - mom321823 said
  - 05 May 2021
    8:39 pm
That last line – snuggle down with your kids and make them feel safe and loved, even when you aren’t feeling those things yourself. ????

- - Mrs.twinmama said
  - 05 May 2021
    8:17 pm
Single mums you all rock!!!

- - Zmijka86 said
  - 05 May 2021
    8:12 pm
I can’t even imagine do it by myself..

- - mom462038 said
  - 05 May 2021
    11:21 am
Yep, single mums do a wonderful job, so much more difficult then if you had a partner. Although my partner was useless, I may as well have been a single mum
- mom160421 replied
  
  05 May 2021 , 4:16 pm
  Ditto, and I’ll bet we’re not alone
- - mom468034 said
  - 05 May 2021
    10:42 am
Thank you so much for putting this article out. I am a solo mum with twin boys of 3 and a girl nearly 6. I left a controlling , abusive relationship because I didnt want my kids thinking this was the model to learn from. It made an already hard life even harder, I work full time and have no family in Australia to help, but at least if I am sad it is not because of anybody else. I get to life a life without dread (well apart from when the bills arrive.) I’m afraid I lose my temper more often than the writer of this article, and I can’t ever see a point where I would bother looking for a new partner, I just dont have the time to fit anyone else into my life. If I dont have the time for me, I certainly cant spare it for anyone after my kids. How do we do it? Be honest, not doing it isnt an option, is it? Me, I set the bar low and try to get through /keep going. That and Sertraline, an evil sense of humour and a wonderful psychologist. Happy Mothers’ Day to all of us, proof that not all superheroes wear capes.

- - mom467577 said
  - 04 May 2021
    6:56 pm
Happy mothers day to all the single mothers! I know so many whose kids also celebrated them on fathers day too because of such an amazing job they did raising them.

- - meedee said
  - 25 Apr 2021
    8:12 pm
There are some very amazing single Mums out there.