Look for A Chair For My Mother, by Vera B. Williams. It’s not specifically about a single mother but the main characters are a girl and her mother and grandmother. Their apartment burns and they find a new place and start saving coins to buy a fluffy, comfortable chair. The illustrations are lovely and the story is sweet, about working patiently and as part of a team to earn what you want. This is the kind of book I’d read to my kids and interject my own observations about what a loving family they seem to be. There’s no mention of who the father is or where he might be — it’s just three women working and living together.

So I’m not the only one feeling a liar, reading story-books to Little A, filled with with Mommy’s and Daddy’s and happy homes?

Wish I could offer a suggestion, but I have none. I do love Jamie Lee Curtis’s books, though; they offer self-esteem boosters and acceptance of self….which is as good as it’s going to get around here in the castle, I think.

Try “Mama, I’ll Give You the World” by Susan Saelig Gallagher. It and the Downy were the only titles that seemed age appropriate when I searched my library’s catalog using the subject heading “Single-parent families — Juvenile fiction”.

Just thinking about this the other day - not books - but the best single mom movie. Mine is Chocolat. What a beautiful movie. Of course she gets Johnny Depp in the end - which would make everything easier. : ) I often feel like that character, the single mother, she’s so strong and tries her hardest not to fall in love, but she can’t help her emotions. Thanks for the book tips! Very good to know.

Ooooh, thanks Alaina! I never saw this movie, but recently signed up with Netflix…. and I just ordered it. Can’t wait! Mmmm, I LOVE chocolate.

Regarding Netflix, I have to say that Blockbuster’s program is better to me. I liked the idea of never having to go to the video store, UNTIL I found out that Blockbuster has similarly priced plans, and offer a certain number of free rentals each month, depending on your plan. (You exhange the mailed movie at the store for anything of your choice.) In addition , you receive one free coupon that you can download and use each month. Finally, when you return a movie to the store, it gets checked in right away and your next selection is sent before they phyisically receive it! So overall, it’s a much better value for your money. What I usually do is allow Lexi to pick a movie from the one that’s being exchanged, while I wait for the next one in the mail. (And I blackmail her…if she lets me watch the adult movie in peace, we can exchange it for a kid movie!)

Now, regarding books, there’s a cute little one called, “My Mom is the Best Mom” in which children of different ages simply tell what they like best about their moms. Lexi and I read a few at a time and then talk about them. Her thoughts and impressions are quite interesting.

Good Dog, Carl. The mom (she could be single) leaves her baby in the care of the family dog, Carl. Maybe it’s an analogy - that having a dog is sometimes much better than having a man. It’s a fantastic book - just read it to Benjamin and he loved it. All about you creating the story to the pictures. Check it out!

My children and I love “Horton Hatches the Egg” by Dr. Seuss. It’s about abandonment, perseverance, overcoming real obstacles, loyalty, and ultimately about joy—in a picture book appropriate for preschool children and older. Did I read the book often to my children? Well, let me put it this way. I can still recite the entire book by memory. Enjoy!

I bought “Do I have a Daddy” too. I bought it when Eric was 3, shortly after his dad was arrested. I found it interesting too that the boys name in the book was Erik and he to was biracial.