Welcome to Single Moms World blogg!
Here you will find reflections on the strength and courage it takes to be a single mother and inspiring travel articles.
Moments That Slip Away
Where Did They Go?
Where did all those wonderful people go—the ones we shared laughter, late-night talks, dreams, and plans with? We thought we’d make countless more memories together. But suddenly, they were gone.
All that remains now are memories.
Time and time again, we’re left in shock. We struggle to process it. It’s a heavy reminder: life is fragile, and time is precious.
We promise ourselves to do better—stop sweating the small stuff, break bad habits, smoke less, exercise more, live alongside our jobs instead of inside them.
We promise to make more time for our kids, our families, and our friends.
But then, slowly, it fades. Until the next time.
The next time someone pops into our mind, and we think, “I should reach out.” But we don’t. Not right then.
Are They Thinking of Us Too?
When we think of someone intensely, is it because they’re thinking of us too at that exact moment?
Or is it just us—sending out a signal that somehow reaches them?
We’re constantly searching for the meaning of life. But maybe there’s no big answer. Maybe the search itself isn’t the point.
The more we overthink, the more we fear, the more we forget to appreciate the small joys that happen every single day.
Even a simple smile can warm the heart.
For every idea that comes to our mind, there comes a doubt: “Someone else has probably already done this.”
But thankfully, writers and musicians don’t think that way.
There’s an infinite space for new stories, new melodies.
That’s what I want to teach my children:
When they’re at their most frustrated, when something doesn’t work right away—I want them to remember that they have something special inside them. Something not everyone has.
Something that could bring joy and help to others.
Everything we do selflessly makes a difference.
Squash court walls
It took me 47 years to realize that there are many people you should never share your plans with. You were excited, convinced they would share in your joy—only to discover, sometimes too late, that jealousy led them to sabotage you. Other times, you never even noticed and were left wondering why things didn’t go as expected.
We learn early on that honesty and openness are not always the best policies. Yet, if you are born that way, it’s hard to remind yourself to hold back.
Is this an inherent personality trait, or is it a habit shaped by upbringing—something we can work on and change?
But what is the alternative? Walking on eggshells, weighing every word, hiding our joys, and keeping our dreams locked inside?
Would that mean becoming closed-off and dishonest?
After 47 years, I still haven’t fully learned that not all questions have clear answers, that first impressions rarely reveal the full truth about a person, and that trust and relationships are not constants—they evolve as people change.
The foundation may remain the same, but the thousands of facets of a person are shaped by experiences, interactions, and life’s challenges.
And that, in itself, makes life interesting.
Are we constantly rushing, trying to adjust and present ourselves according to society’s expectations?
Do I have a subscription to bad luck and problems?
No—everyone struggles with something. Challenges make us stronger. We need strength not just to endure, but to find solutions.
We also learn that it’s wise to recharge a battery before its completely drained—before the system demands a full reset.
Learning to recharge in time isn’t always easy. It helps to recognize and cut off energy thieves—those who take your kindness for granted, never say thank you, never give back, and never truly appreciate.
Learn to be like a wall in a squash court—the harder the ball strikes you, the faster and farther it rebounds.
But build that wall wisely—strong enough to withstand life’s challenges, yet open enough to let in those who lift you up, care for you, smile with you, and support you.
A switch
Sometimes, I wish I were deaf and blind—just smiling, unaffected, and not believing that everything concerns me.
That I had a switch to instantly turn off thoughts, worries, and negativity.
A moving train doesn’t wait for you. If you miss your stop and don’t get off, it just keeps going.
It takes courage to pack your things and leave. Moving often means losing or breaking something, but in the end, they are just things—most can be replaced, and we learn to live without the rest.
A compromise between spontaneity and structured routines. Finding satisfaction in small steps and being proud of moving forward nonetheless.
Practicing breathing when the world starts spinning too fast—when there’s too much on the agenda and too little accomplished.
I often hear that I’m too kind and that I’m raising spoiled children. Well, I’d rather that than raising soldiers. I want my children to grow up with values, to know right from wrong. They should be hardworking, honest, and just. The only way to teach them that is by being a good role model myself. Even if there are shortcuts that no one would notice, I want to win the marathon fairly.
colours
a thousand beautiful colors outside and inside, but sometimes everything just seems grey.
What now?
No one can talk you out of it with all the good advice and ideas.
If you see grey you see grey and only that. Even if you are sure of nothing useful, how about thinking about what makes you happy?
The small good feeling of getting a smile for yourself only at the thought of something. Sometimes you can't hold on to that nice little thought that made you smile.
Was it the thought of what will happen this afternoon, this weekend or next summer?
Was it a thought of a memory of a small random moment that stuck because you can't quite put it into words.
Was it because it is a nice day, someone has thanked you, smiled an honest smile at you or you have achieved something without thinking about it, you are proud of yourself.
It is worth spending some time on what made you happy and makes you happy. On those gray days you may not find a single word you can't even spell happily and don't bother thinking.
But take it easy, start collecting words with every little smile you discover, on a walk outside, cooking, my dog, cuddling, watching the children sleep peacefully, children's drawings, summer flowers, buying something nice, listening to music, drawing, reading a book, dancing.... It quickly becomes such a long list that you have to collect several sheets. Then you have it for the gray days, your own personal color palette
If the mother is happy, the children are also happy.
Single Mom’s Budget
Managing a household as a single mom comes with unique challenges. Not only are you responsible for all the organization and decision-making, but you also rely solely on one income. This means careful planning and saving wherever possible.
There are basic necessities that always need to be covered, such as housing, clothing, and food. In this post, I’ll break down how I manage my food budget while maintaining quality, health, and variety in our meals—without neglecting ease of preparation.
Food Budget and Meal Planning
To manage this effectively, I also consider my kids’ preferences and involve them in the planning process. Here’s how I do it:
1. Weekly Planning:
• Together with my kids, we plan meals for the upcoming week using cards to organize the main dishes. For example, we choose staples like potatoes (in various forms), rice, or pasta, and pair them with fish, meat, vegetables, or salad.
• Once the plan is set, I shop for the main items once a week and make 1–2 smaller trips to restock essentials.
2. Smart Shopping:
• I buy dry and long-lasting food in bulk when it’s on sale.
• I plan dinners for five days and use leftovers creatively for the remaining two days.
3. Creative Leftovers:
• Some favorite leftover meals include fried pasta with garlic and oil, rice with vegetables and egg, or soups made from whatever is available in the fridge, including breakfast leftovers.
• Any leftover portions are marked and frozen, which often provides enough meals for the weeks when I’m alone without the kids. During these weeks, I rarely need to visit the grocery store at all.
School Lunches
For school, I ensure that my kids always have balanced and healthy lunchboxes, including:
• Fruit
• Bread
• Snacks (crackers, nuts, or cheese)
• Vegetables
• Yogurt (I use reusable containers filled from large packages to save money).
Daily Meals
• Breakfast
We typically eat cereal, homemade recipes, toast, or fruit.
• Evening Snacks
Before bed, we often eat leftovers, bread, salad, or fruit/vegetable plates.
• Weekend Treats
On weekends, we bake cakes or enjoy desserts together. Special breakfasts include omelets, pancakes, and cocoa.
When we’ve stayed within our budget or spent less than planned, we occasionally treat ourselves to a pizza or dinner out. However, this is saved for special occasions.
Budget-Friendly Habits
• Shop Smart
I always look for discounts, compare prices, and take advantage of loyalty programs or percentage savings that stores offer.
• Avoid Waste
I never buy plastic bags and always return deposits
We aim to reduce food waste. If we have to throw food away, we put coins in a jar and donate the money to a cause like charity organisations fighting against hunger in the world
• Beverages:
We drink tea for its variety and affordability. When we buy juice, I ensure it’s of good quality and dilute it with water.
• Snacks
Weekends include limited amounts of sweets, salty snacks, and fizzy drinks.
Involving the Kids
I involve my kids in discussions about our food budget, helping them understand the value of money and the privilege of having access to clean drinking water and stores filled with food. While there are occasional demands and disagreements, we remind each other of the importance of gratitude and mindfulness.
Local and Seasonal Eating
We also explore local markets for fresh fish, meat, and produce, which are often cheaper and higher quality. In nature, we pick berries, mushrooms, and herbs to dry, freeze, or cook for preservation.
Our long-term dream is to grow more food ourselves and even start beekeeping to produce our own honey and candles or with a small chickenfarm.
Looking for Inspiration
I hope this offers some inspiration! I’d love to hear feedback and your own ideas for budget-friendly recipes. For us, it’s important to stay curious and explore all possibilities for combining affordability, quality, and variety in our meals.
New Life
I wish you not only a happy new year but also a happy new day, every single day.
A new year isn’t the only time to feel excited about new plans and resolutions; we have the chance to start over every single day.
Becoming a single mom, however it happened—even if it was your choice—means you’ve undoubtedly faced tough times.
It takes all of your strength to start over when nothing turned out the way you once hoped it would on your wedding day.
When did it go wrong? Why did this happen? We weren’t unrealistic dreamers when all we wanted was a happy, supportive family.
When those dreams end, it can feel like life ends with them.
But every ending makes room for something new.
You have a new life now, and you can shape it into whatever you want it to be.
Dream big! Dream about carving out time for self-care. Put away your mobile phone, bring out the board games, turn off the TV, and turn up the music.
Have housecleaning parties with your kids and raise your glasses with pineapple cocktails.
Celebrate the small victories and make joy a part of your daily life.
Reality might be hard enough, but let your dreams be vibrant and inspiring, because everything starts with a dream.
Have a happy new day—today, tomorrow, and every day ahead.
Don’t worry about the days when nothing went right, when it felt like everything was wasted. You don’t need to wait a whole year for new resolutions. Just wait until you wake up.
Christmas traditions
Specially when it comes to christmas time, family traditions was what we was looking forward to.
Traditions might have changed, since you become a single mom.
Even you now are forced to change traditions, try to be open minded , welcome changes and feel free to establish new traditions.
Life is like a christmas calendar, behind every door is something surprising waiting, but you will never know , if you do not open doors and like everything in life it costs a little effort.
You need to get a calender.
Even if you cant effort expensive gifts, dont worry, all they need is your time and love.
Wish all single moms a happy christmas time.
When telling your kids wonderful, magical storys, do believe in them yourself. Accidentally they will come true.
the legacy
What do I leave to my children?
Is that what defines our lives, a question to which no one has an answer.
Even if only very few people manage to not be forgotten in the third generation. The values that we pass on to our children are far more important than the material ones.
We shouldn't put the change in this world on their shoulders, but they should know that it's smart and courageous to ask stupid questions.
Not accepting everything that bothers or surprises us without being afraid that they will become complaining, irritating people. You can also complain with positive curiosity.
We can free ourselves from the stress on our shoulders of having to leave something for our children to do well.
If they have learned to stand on theyr own two feet, we don't need to worry and if we leave them a legacy of good values, they will have an optimal foundation.
2 homes
Different countrys handle childrens home after divorce different. I m living in Norway there it is common to « share» your children 50/50
It is so common that the conversation of 4 year olds around the playtable in kindergarden is about the question « are you with you mom or dad this week» «mom» «mom» « dad»
only one of the kids says « with mom and dad» « what?» 10 kids are wondering about this very strange possibilty.
They are often very little when the starting to be shared.
The kids move between father and mother week after week.
The parents sharing the half of the missing time of theyrs childrens grow up.
The children have 2 adresses, 2 birthdaypartys, 2 christmastrees.
They have to leave theyr home for theyr second home, pack theyr bags and favourite toys every sundays.
In other countrys the mothers still have more rights to decide how much time theyr kids can spend with theyr dads, specially when they ve not been married.
Anyway if you love your child you accept that they spend time with the other parent, you try everything to prepare for the new situation.
Here in Norway its the normal sharing 50/50. One parent is not allowed to move without the acception of the other. Its ok.
The family department tells you its for the best than we believe it is.
You need to trust that the other is like grown up and dont tell bad things in theyr week, no matter what.
You might need to start every monday again with showing you unconditional love, your rules, your values you try to teach.
You might have not the same conditions but the kids will adapt.
All they need is that you are happy no matter where they are , they can tell you everything on theyr minds and hearts and they are not responsible for the change the family has gone through.
The hardest day are the mondays in the empty house, toys laying around unused. Mom have time to put the feeds up in evenings before she goes to sleep all alone.
This week is hard for moms and keep all the strenght to keep the head up high.
Carry your package ( with your head up high)
Everyone has to carry their own package, for some it is a letter, for others it is a heavy rock. One should never compare or wish to switch one's problems with another. Maybe the rock is just a dummy made of cardboard and no one knows how heavy the content of the letter is.
No matter how difficult some days feel, never let anyone tell you that you are not good enough.
Someone who wants to tell you that you are not good enough , is not seeing the whole picture of you and you have no need for such a person in your life.
Remember, take care of you, you need all your strength for caring for your kids.
And remember, keep your head up
parenting is not for perfectionists
don't be so hard on yourself. Despite there being an enormous amount of research and recommendations, there is no conclusion, other than that you are doing well enough if you are just a mum with all your heart. This very special love that begins with the first little tickle you feel of life in your belly and only grows with every little kick you get from your child growing inside you and never ends.
As long as you show this love and give your children the security that it will always be there no matter what.
They know and see through you in all your facets, when you get sad, disappointed, frustrated, angry, if you are honest with yourself in all of them, they know , that it is not them, but the situation that you are reacting to.
You want to raise your kids as nice people, who find friends easily, have good values, stand up for others.
I believe that the more honest feelings they get to experience, the better they will be prepared for the life they will go out to one day and shall succeed on their own. The sun doesn't shine out there all the time. They should not be alarmed and surprised by storms because they are only familiar with blue skies.
They should not grow up in a sterile room and become seriously ill at the first contact they have with the outside world , because their immune system has never been taught to fight bacteria or viruses.
Everything in moderation, of course, it's okay to cheat a little to protect your children, it's okay with a little white lie sometimes, to not burden them with all the world's sorrows and crises.
What I will say is only that I think your love let you do the greater part right. Don't be too hard on yourself.
How i ended up here
My name is Michaela.
My surname is still one i dont like , but thats an other story. Needs to be changed when its time for it.
I m born and grown up in the earlier country of eastern Germany in a small village by the sea. The wall, which devided Germany and kept us from traveling, fall just in time for me to go out to discover the world. I ended up in the north if Norway already 20 years ago , almost exactly.
It could have ended worst , this is only 2000 km away from home, family and friends.
I have 2 kids and a dog and my own little old house. 2 kids with 2 different fathers. Just this fact may let you wonder, is there something wrong with me, am i uncapable to handle realonships?
No its not , its never only on you, because storys always have different sides, depence who is telling them.
Its not you , when you have been left alone , even not if this recalls. Its just the fact, that you have not been lucky enough yet to find the person, who share the same dreams like you, appreciate you exactly for the person you are.
Forgives you all the little mistakes all of us do all the time. The person, who accept you as you are and that some stupid habbits can not be changed , because than it would'ndt be you any longer.
You are just not yet arrived at your personal destination , there is more you need to learn and find out about life.
Wherever you come from , however you found my side , i m happy you are interested to read it.
You are welcome to share your story with me.
I wish you a nice morning, a nice day or a god night, depending on which timezone you are living.
Remember : keep your head up :)
Mount Everest without applause
To all single mothers:
You are invisible mountain climbers, and your strength and courage is remarkable. Remember that, even if the world sometimes forgets to tell you.
Being a single mother is like climbing Mount Everest - every day.
But where mountain climbers are praised for their courage and feats, as a single mother you often take this daily climbing trip without applause, without cheering crowds, and without any medal at the end of the day.
You keep a house, raise children, and build a life - all on your own. The climb begins at dawn YOU start your day long before most of us have considered waking up.
You get ready for a new day with hectic logistics: breakfast for the children, greasing packed lunches, remembering everything from dental appointments to football training.
For a single mother, there are no other adults to jump in and take over when time is short, and no one to ask when decisions need to be made quickly. You are both the team and the leader - day after day.
Dealing with life's steep uphills alone On Mount Everest, climbers battle cold, lack of oxygen and dangerous slopes.
In the same way, as a single mother you sometimes face everyday struggles that can seem endless: financial worries, social pressure, and the heavy responsibility for the children's future.
Many experience challenges in balancing work and caring for the children, and are at risk of burnout - often without anyone noticing. A quiet strength It's easy to think of strength as something that is shouted out or displayed, but single mothers' strength is of the quiet, unspoken kind.
It shows in your tireless care, your ability to meet the children's needs, no matter what they themselves have to go through. Your perseverance is not dramatic - no documentary has been written about "the lonely everyday life of a single mother" - but it is real.
Your effort is, in many ways, like climbing a mountain wall without even seeing the top, but you still don't stop.
The joy and meaning along the way For you as a single mother, the reward can lie in the small moments created with the children: the laughter at the dinner table, hugs before bedtime, or when the children learn something new and their eyes light up with mastery. These small moments are like intermediate stations on the way up Everest - they give courage to continue. Why we deserve more recognition It is time for society to give single mothers the tribute they deserve.
Coping alone with children is a feat, as much as climbing a mountain.
We must become more visible in society. We deserve consideration, a little cheering or support. Because we climb up day after day, not for the fame, but because we love our children.
Moms life is a marathon
They say, “Challenges make you strong.” But I never set out to become a superwoman. I would have been perfectly content with a quiet, simple life, growing old without much need for strength. Life, however, had other plans. Life is a personal trainer doesn’t let you sit still, and as a single mom, a gym membership feels redundant—everyday life is already a marathon.
But we don’t run this race alone. All over the world, single mothers are running beside us, tackling life’s hurdles as a team. Let’s cross that finish line together, sharing our strength, lifting each other up, and cheering each other on.
Wishing you a wonderful morning, a peaceful evening, or a cozy night whatever timezone you live , with a song that can bring you a little comfort.
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