Happy Single Mother: Real advice on how to stay sane and why things are better than you think

by Sarah Thompson

Being a single mother wasn't always part of the plan. The fear of it kept me and my family in a situation that wasn’t good for any of us. I never thought it could be the life change we all needed. Yes, it can be exhausting, lonely, and financially tough. But it can also be empowering and joyful, in ways you might never have imagined.

At first, I felt like a big failure. And how was I supposed to feed and clothe my children, keep a roof over our heads, and work wearing something other than pyjamas, while also remembering to at least once a week drink a glass of water? But as I began to let go of other people’s expectations, I started to enjoy the freedom of being a single I was liberated, empowered and able to be the authentic mother I wanted to be.

In this book, I share my own experience of single motherhood, alongside insights from fellow solo parents, child psychologists and other experts, providing reassurance and tips to help Raise resilient, emotionally intelligent children Manage your moneyNavigate the world of datingForge meaningful friendships Discover the untold joys of the single-mother life
From one single mother to another, this book celebrates solo parenting and tackles the issues that we face daily, offering a fresh perspective and practical advice for anyone who has ever felt the weight of disappointment and guilt at their single parent status, declared themselves a failure or worried about their children's 'outcomes.’

I hope reading about my experiences will help you feel excited and proud to be a single mother.

‘Full of real advice, hopeful and uplifting, Sarah Thompson is the friend every single mother needs in her life.’ Emma Bunton

‘Refreshing… I related so much… it felt like I was being seen… empowering. I found myself laughing out loud quite often while reading it.’ Goodreads reviewer

‘As a single mother it’s so wonderful to feel validated and know you’re not alone. There is hope in this journey. Enjoyable and helpful read!’ Goodreads reviewer

‘A really good read… interesting, informative, entertaining… a well-researched and intriguing book that was exactly what I needed.’ Goodreads reviewer

‘I really enjoyed this… I'm a single mum and it's great to know there are others out there feeling the same way… reminded me to appreciate the good that has come from being a single mother. I highly recommend this.’ Goodreads reviewer

206 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 3, 2022

Reviews

[Natalie all_books_great_and_small · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

***AUDIO BOOK VERSION***
Happy Single Mother is a book I had hoped to get more from than I did. The title is a little misleading as the author isn't a single mum in the sense of being on her own as she admits at the start her ex-husband plays a huge role in her kids lives. This book was more about the downside of being a single mother in relation to things such as systemic, social and financial problems and issues we face which I know all about having been a single parent twice (I have a bog age gap between my children). I had hoped this would be more uplifting than it was and offering more support than it did. I did like the wisdom the author offers and found her narration to be easy to listen to and relaxing to listen to too. Some mothers will probably benefit much more than I did from reading or listening to thus book, sadly it wasn't the best for me.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

A relatively short read, not quite a “self help” manual and not quite a lengthy Mumsnet post. This probably falls somewhere comfortably in the middle. However, there are some good pearls of wisdom in here although certain aspects of single motherhood are never fully explored.

The author has a very good support system in her ex husband and her wider family, which is just fine, but I felt there was little to no mention of women like myself who parent without this. The author does talk about single mothers by choice, eg those who have used a donor, which was an interesting aspect.
There was some rather obvious points about becoming financially literate alone, and how to socialise with other single parents. But what I did find most helpful was the discussions about how single motherhood can be a method of self care, choosing our own lifestyles and not having to worry about input from a significant other.

Overall, a nice but not groundbreaking read about single motherhood in a modern society.

[Kirsty Mills · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit too angry for me. Far from the title suggests, much of the book is about how yes, it is pretty shitty to be a single mum and it’s bloody hard and no you will probably end up alone in the end. Not what I wanted to read or needed to hear!

[Mags (mbooksbycandlelight) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a nice book and I was happy that I read it, but I do wish it was longer or maybe developed a little bit more. The whole thing felt a bit like a cross between a basic self-help book and a very long blog post. Though maybe, if the target audience is working adults with very little free time, the length of the book can be considered a good choice. I just needed a little more; since this is such an interesting and important topic that really should be talked about more. Also, the title is a little misleading. This book was more about all the social, systemic and financial problems experienced by single mothers. Sure, the kids are all right, but the mothers not so much, therefore the happy part of the tittle is somewhat ill fitting.
TW.: mentions of J. K. Rowling, Divorce, Financial Struggles and Poverty, and Female Oppression

I received an eArc from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Klare · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wasn’t sure how I was going to find this or if I was even going to complete it. But it was quite interesting to read how raising a family as a single parent differed so much from being in a couple.