Although I feel very much a part of the Jewish community, there is still a stigma attached to being a single/divorced parent. There is no single population here, so everything is geared toward traditional families. What gets me most of all are the father/child projects and events.

I have less of a problem with family events because we are a family - than I do with couple-oriented events because I’m not a couple.

That’s a post of a different color!

I’m Jewish - my X was not (he converted… but in name only) and am raising the kids Jewish as we agreed. I’m lucky - I’ve found a supportive community. The synogogue is, adnittedly, a bit too “old school” and religious for me, but when my kids were at pre-school there & my Ex left, and would not pay for their pre-school education - they cut me a huge break. Plus each summer they would let me send my kids to their summer camp for free.

Then, this year for Hebrew School they’re giving me lots of financial assistance as well as assisting with membership. And are working with me when I tell them that my X is refusing to transport the kids to Hebrew School when they are with him…

So I kind of feel warm and fuzzy about them. BUT - I’ve never been to a service there, I go to a synogogue in NYC which is much more lefty/egalitarian/musical or out to the one where I grew up - with my parents.

I’d love to have all of the above in one package… but it’s very difficult. Also, I’m lucky that I”m the Jewish one in the pair - if not that synogogue would NOT have been as nice to me. I know they told one mother to have her son circumsized because the “teachers would not feel comfortable” if he was not. She took him right out. I also know another family, father Jewish, mother Chinese -t hey have their son in Chinese classes Saturdays & want him to learn about his Jewish heritage (culture? religion?) on Sundays. The school would not take him. He’s “not Jewish.” The father made some sort of statement to the Rabbi there like… I don’t think Hitler would have made the distinction. And he’s right.

And that stuff makes my blood boil.

I have two boys. One 23 and one 12. 23 lives on his own in Los Angeles and was raised with very conservative judeo-Christian ethics. 12 started out that way, and then the divorce caused the great chasm - in the family, in my life, in my thinking… I became much more liberal - because I realized that no amount of religion changes human nature. Nor does it make your children behave, if they choose not to! ha ha!

I have to say that sadly, I believe as long as there are human beings, people (your daughter, my sons, people of color, people of certain religious affiliations… you name it) will suffer. THAT I do believe. Though we seem to make great strides in our enlightenment (through practices like yoga, or the ideas behind “The Secret” - the law of attraction, or - heck - even buddhism - whatever, we are still humans and frail, and we falter.

It’s my kids who thrive despite life’s obstacles or other people’s actions. It’s their joy, tenacity, love of … whatever… that amazes and thrills me, and proves that they will be okay in this big beautiful world!

I grew up Catholic, but struggled with the concepts. Finding my way back to God was difficult; it took me two years to find a church where I felt welcomed and not shunned.

This church is open and supportive and honestly feels like home. I’m not sure if I’m presbyterian, if I even believe in segments of faith anymore, but I believe in goodness and kindness and I’ve found it there.

When my daughter was born almost 4 yrs ago, I was on a quest to get reconnected with my faith. Raised Catholic, I shunned organized religion for years. I explored returning to Catholism but it didn’t ring true for me. Then I found a evangelical presbyterian church that I really enjoy. They have a great children’s program, the music is contemporary and upbeat, and the pastor is low key, down to earth and can deliver a message that I can take home and apply to my life. But honestly, I still find it a struggle to “fit in” as a single parent. As a church family, there’s not a lot of outreach. Everything is couple oriented/family oriented. I would love to have the same single moms connection that Rachel and her girlfriends have. It’s harder to get connected than I thought would!

I was raised in the Catholic church, but as soon as my parents said I could make my own decision about whether to attend, I stopped. I just had so many issues with the beliefs. Fortunately I found an ethical humanist society in my suburb that is non-denominational and open to people of all races and religions. Although I don’t consider myself an atheist and in fact I am quite spiritual, I don’t feel as pressured as I did in church. They have a wonderful Sunday School that my daughter attends, and the underlying principle is how to be an ethical, moral person and how to treat people. I love that and my daughter seems to be getting a lot out of it. I do attend church a few times a year and I want my daughter to learn about the different religions, but for now, the Society is a wonderful fit for us. And they have been very accepting and accommodating to my single status!