[seatides]

Welcome to the brand-new forum for single parents here at Families.com. It's great to have a place where we can talk with other single parents who know what it's like!

My name is Fran Hopkins and, just in case you haven't visited there yet, I write about the experience of single parenting over at my Single Parenting Blog. I would love for you to stop over there and let me know what you think or feel about what I'm saying. Just click on the link in my signature if you'd like to check it out.

I'm happy to "kick off" our first conversation here in the Forum. Could we all introduce ourselves so that we can get to know each other a little bit? I'll start.

You already know that I'm Fran; I've been a single parent for almost 10 years. I was widowed at 40 when my late husband, only 45 years old, died suddenly and unexpectedly of a heart attack. Our only child, a little boy, was not quite 6 and in kindergarten at the time.

Single parenting is one job I NEVER thought I'd be doing. But life hands all of us challenges and there's a reason for this one -- a reason that God sent my son to me, knowing that I'd mostly be raising him by myself.

I try to remind myself of this whenever things get tough. I figure, if God thinks I can do this, then who am I to question God? I'm not going to let either Him or my son down.

So how about you? Why are you at the Single Parenting Forum? I'm looking forward to meeting you!

[cckeimig]

Wow, I'm surprised not more folks have participated here. I'm Christina, mother of two (ages 5 and 1), living in Mexico at the moment (and for the past almost 8 years, actually), and wishing I could run home to Mother, as it were. At least until I get my feet back under me. But it's not going to happen just yet, so I need to get things under control on my own. Thus my participation on this site. You know, support network.
Anyhow, I've read some of your blogs (and commented on them, in fact), and I find them helpful in general. I look forward to getting as much as I can out of this site as a newly-single mom (as of August 2005, even if the divorce still hasn't been finalized).

[seatides]

cckeimig, thanks for the introduction! You're right, I know there are many more single parents here at Families.com than have actually introduced ourselves.

I read your comments to the other posts and it sounds like you're experiencing the usual single parent challenges already. I hope we can help you with them here.

If there's ever a particular topic you'd like to see discussed in the Single Parenting Blog, just let Valerie or me know. Or start a new thread here in the Forum and we can all jump in and share what we can with you! We'd like this to be a place where we can all help each other meet the frequently daunting challenges of single parenthood.

Again, welcome, and take care.

[cckeimig]

Thanks, I appreciate the support I've already received from the folks on this site. I'm trying to turn things around in my life and snap out of my depression, as it were. Funny, that, since I kicked him out. But I s'pose it's really to be expected...

[godschild]

Hi my name is Pam
I am new to all of this, I have been a single mom since the begining of time. This is great to have a site where there is support.
I became a single mom because their father did not want to be there. It is one of the most hardest, but yet rewarding job. My oldest son just turned 20 (which completly blows my mind, people think we are brother and sister.) My youngest is 14, both of my kids are taller than I am. Anyway, like i said this great to have a place of support.
Thank you

[mcmama]

Pam, we are very happy to see you here. This forum is a wonderful place for discussions, information, and all sorts of support. Enjoy!

[jahspromise]

Lori here.
I'm almost 41 years old, and I am a single mom of six children. Though only four live with me at this time. I live in Western Wisconsin.
I became a single mom, when I divorced my husband back in 2000, and again when I broke it off with my MUCH younger boyfriend. lol He was 23 and I was 38.
It's great to find a place of such wonderful support.

[scoobydoo_fam]

hi
my name is sam and i am a single parent of two 3 yearlds ( not twins ) we have not seen the kids father since harry was 4 weeks old and have had no contact from him either.would be great to chat to other single parents
cheers

[MaineSuse]

Suse here. Single mom to 2 smart, thoughtful and thoughtFULL teenage boys (14 & 12). They make me smile every day and are the biggest blessing of my life. Their dad is still an active part of their lives (we've been divorced for over 8 years now).

[scoobydoo_fam]

would be good to chat sometime.we are in chat now if you would like to join us
hug
sammy