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My mum raised 2 kids after separating from my dad when I was 3. My dad was in the picture until I stopped contact around 16 because he really wasn't a good role model and never wanted to take responsibility as a dad (eg. mum let him off easy by letting him pay $50 a month child support for TWO kids and he thought that was too much) My mum and I have a fantastic relationship and I still don't have contact with my dad.

My parents are still married but I wish they'd just get divorced already. They immigrated to this country in their 30s with 2 young kids, so I understand them sticking it out bc they may not have made it separately. But now they're just unhappy.

My parents are still happily married. When my mom was around 50 she got a mustang convertible, and joked that it was either that or divorce my dad--the car was cheaper, lol. That was the only time I've ever heard them talk about that, and it was a joke!

Nope, my parents are still together.

Both parents, entire childhood. My parents split up when I was in college and didn't really notice because I attended an out of state school. My sibling has a dif experience because he is so much younger.

My parents divorced when I was 5. I spent time with both my single father and single mother, but they both remarried quickly. I always considered my stepparents as parents, so I choose other. I don't remember times when it was JUST mom or JUST dad.

DH was somewhat similar, but his dad never remarried and his mom did. He had a wonderful stepfather who even now treats DH like his own, but he cheated on DH's mom so they divorced. A few years later his mom and dad actually realized they still loved each other and remarried (17 years later!!!).
Unfortunately DH's mom died 4 months later from an aneurysm. His dad doesn't want to remarry.

@runsyellowlites: It is very sad.
I feel bad for FIL. It's been 4 years and he still hasn't gotten over it. They found out she was sick and 3 weeks later she passed. It was a shock to everyone.
I never got to meet her. Really sad T will never know his other grandma.

@Danizaur: Wow. Such a sad story. It was nice that his parents reconciled and remarried before she died...I feel so sad for your FIL.

My parents divorced when I was 3. In the beginning my mom had custody but we still saw my father...as we got older, the custody became joint. We went back and forth--every two months and every other weekend we switched. Complete madness if I think about it now. I guess it worked though?

I was in a single parent home (with very little contact from my father) for several years (maybe 4 or 5?) before my mom married my step-dad. He has been my dad for the past 18 or so years. My biological father comes and goes in my life...the most contact I have with him now is through Facebook.

My DH's parents are still together. There was a period where they separated. I think they've been married like 35 years or something like that.

I was raised by a single mother. I know my dad, but we are not close and he was not around when I was growing up. I think that was partially due to the fact that we lived in different countries. At the same time, he is a bit self-centered and not really the best person to be a parent, I think. I think he could have been more involved but he wasn't.

@runsyellowlites: Thanks for asking this. I often feel a little weird on HB as many of the discussion questions presume that we all grew up with two parents. That wasn't the case for me, and many other people I know whether they were raised by a single parent due to divorce, lack of relationship/marriage, one parent died, etc.

DH's parents have been married for over 40 years. I think at times they look down on me because of my dad. They have a lot of respect for my mother though.

I still don't even know how to answer the poll, lol.

My Mom had me at 18, didn't have a relationship with my bio-dad. Married (and then divorced) my first step father when I was 7 (lasted year and a half). Re-married when I was 17 to another step-father, so a pretty solid (and imo very important) amount single parented, and the time with those men it wasn't always a great "parent" situation!

DHs (entire) family is very opposite, they are all very together. I have step-grandparents, a divorced great-grandmother, MIL said to DH that "it's all she knows, so watch out" last Fall. So nice of her.....

My parents have been married for 41 years and both were 100% involved in my (and my brother's) childhood/lives.

I'm really thankful that my parents always modeled a very healthy marriage for us - a totally and completely involved father, healthy/equal division of household labor, respect for your partner at all times (even when you're pissed at them!), etc.

My husband's parents were married until he was in high school, and each remarried within a year of their divorce and have each been married for 25+ years (my MIL is now a widow). They should have separated and divorced before then - there was no drama or abuse, they got married (and pregnant) very young and simply grew apart as they became their own persons. They stayed together to "do the right thing" and consequently modeled a very poor version of marriage for my husband. It was a 100% respectful marriage, but they were not involved in each other's lives, and lived almost separately under the same roof. Having that version of "happy marriage" was something my husband had to really work on himself about, as it isn't a healthy model at all.

My parents divorced when I was a year old. They both remarried quickly so each home had two parents.

single mama. I'm the oldest of 4. I was 9 when my dad finally actually moved out (after not really being around for at least 2 years before that). my youngest brother is 6 years younger than me. my dad didn't want anything I do with us for years afterwards. he paid child support, but we never heard from him or even knew where he was. he decided he didn't want the responsibility of being a father anymore

he is in our lives more now, when I was in high school he turned back up (through phone calls) and wanted to be in our lives again.

he has had girlfriends on and off (ironically enough, some with young kids of their own!!) but my mama has been single ever since. I literally don't know how she did it. she had no degree when they divorced, so while we were all in school she went back to school and got herself a degree and a job. amazing

DH grew up with both parents and they're both still together. he has no close family members who have been through divorce!