Choosing Single Motherhood: The Thinking Woman's Guide

by Mikki Morrissette

Book Overview

The comprehensive guide for single women interested in proactively becoming a mother--includes the essential tools needed to decide whether to take this step, information on how best to follow through, and insight about answering the child's questions and needs over time.

Choosing Single Motherhood, written by a longtime journalist and Choice Mother (a woman who chooses to conceive or adopt without a life partner), will become...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0618833323
• ISBN13: 9780618833320
• Release Date: May 2008
• Publisher: Harper Paperbacks
• Length: 448 Pages
• Weight: 0.94 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 5.6" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

I couldn't put the book down!

I received this book on Friday and was done reading it by the following Monday. It was well written and ridiculously helpful. I have chosen to take the route of being a single mother, and this is the first book I've read that looks at all aspects (including being a single lesbian mother) as well as providing suggestions of other books to read (which I have ordered recently as well.) I highly recommend this book for any womyn that is debating the question of Single Motherhood. The book is full of insightful questions that really made me stop and think about whether I was truly ready for this next step. It is a must read!

Finally...Expert Advice on the Tough Realities of Choice Motherhood

Speaking as someone who has already accomplished choice motherhood, the best part of this book is the expert advice addressing what the tough issues are and ways to solve them. Raising a boy as a single mother isn't easy. There are obvious and (as I learned from the book) not so obvious reasons why children need both same- and opposite-sex role models. I really had never considered that rough-housing could be a teaching mechanism rather than just a testosterone-laden way of bonding! Mikki has included research from many different child experts and provides a concise synopsis of ways to lessen the effects of the tough realities that we can't avoid. This book is a must-read and has a place of honor on my reference shelf.

A review from Australia, February 2006

A fantastic read for anyone who is considering choice motherhood or has chosen choice motherhood and is interested in hearing about others experience. As someone who has already chosen the Single Motherhood route using DI I have found this a great resource. The experience of mothers and children was of most interest to me and I think the book has been the best on the subject that I have read over the last five years. It includes information on mourning the dream, deciding to make the choice, conception choices (open identity, anonymous, known donor, adoption etc), budgetting, support systems, community reaction to name a few. The research for the book has been extensive and includes interviews with women who made this choice many years ago and now have teenage or young adult childen, along with interviews with the children brought up by Choice Mothers. In short a very valuable book whether you are yet to make the choice or if you are already down the track and looking for a resource to add to your knowledge.

A view from the UK

The author of this extensively researched book is the mother of two children conceived by known donor insemination. The first part of the book explores issues relevant to women who are making the decision about whether to pursue single motherhood. This includes assessing motivation, financial implications, grieving the childhood dream of raising children within a loving realtionship, community reactions and the impact on a child of growing up without a father. The next section covers chssoing the method, including adoption and donor insemination. The section entitled day to day parenting includes coping with stress, the importance of a support system, a discussion on talking with children and others about their conception, and confronting identity issues. It is helpful that some accounts of difficult experiences are included, including a moving account from a mother of two children with special needs. There is information about policies around the world, including the removal of donor anonymity in the UK. Of great interest to me (as the mother of a seven year old), was the chapter which includes interviews with young adults and teenagers raised by Choice Moms, as the author refers to them. This was a small sample consisting only of those who were willing to share their thoughts, but most of them were well adjusted and reported healthy and nurturing relationships with their mothers. There is an extensive list of website addresses and other resources. This book is a useful addition to the literature available for single women considering parenthood, as well as those who already have children.

A much needed book

This book is a MUST for any woman considering single motherhood by choice. In today's world, many women are choosing to have a child without having a life partner. There are many issues to consider and the author covers them all. The book discusses the logistical aspects which include making the choice, legal issues, and choosing the method to become pregnant or adopt. The book also covers the emotional and delicate issues: Can I handle being a single mother? How will my family and friends react? How will I tell my child about their conception? Will my child be accepted? The book is informative, funny, honest and well-researched. It's a book to read and to keep as a reference for any woman choosing to be a "choice mom."