"such a beautiful family"

[Anonymous]

I was out for dinner with my parents and yesterday, along with my 3 and 5 year old. An elderly man passed by and said "congratulations, you have such a beautiful family"

I've been a single (co-parenting) mother the past few years, and it was nice to hear even though there was no apparent husband. When my ex and I were out and about, we would hear it constantly (maybe because we were an interracial couple so our kids curly hair etc stood out a bit). It was nice to hear the term "family" when referring to a single parent.

[Anonymous]

Aw, OP, of course. And from a man, too. I hear this most often from women.

[Anonymous]

Awww, what nice moment. Thanks for sharing.

[Anonymous]

That’s very nice!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was out for dinner with my parents and yesterday, along with my 3 and 5 year old. An elderly man passed by and said "congratulations, you have such a beautiful family"

I've been a single (co-parenting) mother the past few years, and it was nice to hear even though there was no apparent husband. When my ex and I were out and about, we would hear it constantly (maybe because we were an interracial couple so our kids curly hair etc stood out a bit). It was nice to hear the term "family" when referring to a single parent.

Co-parenting is not single parenting.

[Anonymous]

That is nice! And probably meant your kids were behaving well. I bet you were a beautiful family!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was out for dinner with my parents and yesterday, along with my 3 and 5 year old. An elderly man passed by and said "congratulations, you have such a beautiful family"

I've been a single (co-parenting) mother the past few years, and it was nice to hear even though there was no apparent husband. When my ex and I were out and about, we would hear it constantly (maybe because we were an interracial couple so our kids curly hair etc stood out a bit). It was nice to hear the term "family" when referring to a single parent.

Co-parenting is not single parenting.

Please shut up. - single parent who is not coparenting

OP, that’s lovely. I’m sure your family is beautiful!

[Anonymous]

We joke that “such a beautiful family“ is old-white-person speak for interracial. My spouse is dark-skinned and I am white, and without fail, old white people say the same line when they see our biracial kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We joke that “such a beautiful family“ is old-white-person speak for interracial. My spouse is dark-skinned and I am white, and without fail, old white people say the same line when they see our biracial kids.

I just bet your kids are super good looking!

That is so sweet OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was out for dinner with my parents and yesterday, along with my 3 and 5 year old. An elderly man passed by and said "congratulations, you have such a beautiful family"

I've been a single (co-parenting) mother the past few years, and it was nice to hear even though there was no apparent husband. When my ex and I were out and about, we would hear it constantly (maybe because we were an interracial couple so our kids curly hair etc stood out a bit). It was nice to hear the term "family" when referring to a single parent.

Co-parenting is not single parenting.

Why does this trigger y’all so badly? There is a spectrum of single parenting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was out for dinner with my parents and yesterday, along with my 3 and 5 year old. An elderly man passed by and said "congratulations, you have such a beautiful family"

I've been a single (co-parenting) mother the past few years, and it was nice to hear even though there was no apparent husband. When my ex and I were out and about, we would hear it constantly (maybe because we were an interracial couple so our kids curly hair etc stood out a bit). It was nice to hear the term "family" when referring to a single parent.

Co-parenting is not single parenting.

Why does this trigger y’all so badly? There is a spectrum of single parenting.

Seriously, OP was making the point that she appreciated being referred to as a beautiful family despite the absence of a partner, and you need to parse semantics?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was out for dinner with my parents and yesterday, along with my 3 and 5 year old. An elderly man passed by and said "congratulations, you have such a beautiful family"

I've been a single (co-parenting) mother the past few years, and it was nice to hear even though there was no apparent husband. When my ex and I were out and about, we would hear it constantly (maybe because we were an interracial couple so our kids curly hair etc stood out a bit). It was nice to hear the term "family" when referring to a single parent.

Co-parenting is not single parenting.

I have always wondered why divorced parents were called single parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was out for dinner with my parents and yesterday, along with my 3 and 5 year old. An elderly man passed by and said "congratulations, you have such a beautiful family"

I've been a single (co-parenting) mother the past few years, and it was nice to hear even though there was no apparent husband. When my ex and I were out and about, we would hear it constantly (maybe because we were an interracial couple so our kids curly hair etc stood out a bit). It was nice to hear the term "family" when referring to a single parent.

Co-parenting is not single parenting.

I have always wondered why divorced parents were called single parents.

Not the point of this thread but… I think historically, the mothers got the majority of custody time?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was out for dinner with my parents and yesterday, along with my 3 and 5 year old. An elderly man passed by and said "congratulations, you have such a beautiful family"

I've been a single (co-parenting) mother the past few years, and it was nice to hear even though there was no apparent husband. When my ex and I were out and about, we would hear it constantly (maybe because we were an interracial couple so our kids curly hair etc stood out a bit). It was nice to hear the term "family" when referring to a single parent.

Co-parenting is not single parenting.

I have always wondered why divorced parents were called single parents.

Because they’re parents who are single. Their children’s other parent is no longer their partner. “Single parent” used to mean that someone is not married, but is a parent. I don’t know when people started trying to define single parent as narrowly as “one who is raising children without any contribution whatsoever from a co-parent.” It’s a weird flex when people try to police who can call themselves a single parent.