I really dont see it as a big deal. I think when its pointed out that this is a single mum its saying that she has challenges that a partnered Mum doesnt have. I think its good to acknowledge that. If across the board we are to remove the relationship status then wait for the complaints when centerlink payments are changed.

It’s not a competition and no-one is in the same situation. I like to think we all do the best with what we have.

All mothers do the best with what they have or haven’t got to do

Good points! I’m a married mum and I admire all mums out there.

I HATE the term single mum!!

There once was a father and it is the minority of single mums who have no other choice than exclude the father from the child’s life.

In most cases selfishness is makes a single mum rather the separated parents.

Totally agree it depends on circumstances.
Hubby’s mum was partnered with his dad but his dad also used to beat up his mum so that definitely would not have been an easy road to be in.
Having kids is definitely a challenge whether you do it on your own or have a partner to help.
Kudos to all who are doing all they can to raise their kids in the best possible way.

Raising kids is hard work! I take my hat off to do it completely alone. Don’t get me wrong I do the majority of work in my house but it’s nice to delegate some chores to hubby and have freedom to go for an early morning run or go out with friends occasionally.

Every family dynamic has its own difficulties, single, fifo, married.
I am a mum who is married to a very hands on husband. We have three children, two are special needs. Could I manage without him? I highly doubt it! But does having him make parenting our children easier than, say a single mother of 5 non special needs kids who behave and help out. No.

I totally get annoyed by the labels to all people, not just single mum. Like autistic/Down syndrome/adhd etc etc person does this… why can’t it just be person does this? Yes special needs does make things difficult SOMETIMES, but if it doesn’t relate to what they have done then just say PERSON!

I’ve been both and being a single mum is much harder. Even though I was in a bad relationship, I thought I’d be rid of all his crap when we separated/divorced, but because we have kids together, I still had to put up with his crap – plus all the other pressures of bringing kids up alone. Having said that, I’d still rather be single than with the wrong person.

Honestly, I was partnered and now I’m single, I found being partnered with a child was a lot harder for me, than what it is now with it being just my daughter and I. When I was partnered it was like I had another child to look after, I was having to do everything myself, plus look after him and my daughter, clean up his mess as well as hers, pay his bills as well as my own, make all his meals, get his snacks, get his drinks, drive him everywhere. He literally did nothing for himself. Hence why I’m now single. Now its just my daughter and I, the house is always clean, except for her toys of course, i get more time to myself to do things I want to do, things my daughter wants to do, we have no one telling us what we can and can’t do, no one holding us back, no one wasting our money, etc. We are so much happier now and more relaxed and free.

I think instead of thinking about it as who has it harder, I think we should be encouraging and building up all mums. We all would do anything we possibly can for our kids and we should be praised for just that. It’s not a competition.

Both have there challenges and it’s not healthy to think you have it harder

Everyone has a burden, no matter what your circumstances. Choose to be kind to everyone regardless of their situation!

Noone knows everyone’s story. Choose kindness!

At this time with social distancing I would think being a single mum would be sooo much harder as you have no “out”. Normally I would still think being single is harder. You’re a one man band and then when you don’t have the kids around I would imagine it could be quite lonely. Even though some down time would be lovely and I think we’d all like some time alone – when it’s forced upon you it would be hard.

It will make easier for you if you have understand you and supportive partner.Being a supportive partner can mean a lot of different things. Some of it will depend on your partner, but everyone needs support.

I think we all just try to do our best with what we have.

The article seems to frame providing financially as the males role and housework and kids as the woman’s role…. Strange old fashioned assumption and not the reality for most 2 parent families I know.
Most single parents I know of both genders work as well but the author phrases it as if its uncommon for women to be financially responsible for themselves.

You can’t compare the 2 at all too many different factors to consider

I all mums work just as hard as one another, I don’t think it is right to compared a partnered mother with a single mother – I think though each mum does the best that she can personally do for her kids regardless of martial/partnered status.