October 11th 2023.
Ife Akintoye, a 36-year-old single mother from London, has a special bond with her daughter Reya that she wouldn't trade for anything in the world.
When she became pregnant in 2008, Ife was a university student, and her then-partner left shortly after Reya's birth. At the time, Ife was scared of being judged, but as she grew older, she became passionate about showing the positive side of single parenthood, which she says does not mean being any less of a family.
Kim Kardashian recently opened up about her struggles as a single mother of four children, after divorcing her ex-husband Kanye West. Surprisingly, it was her sister's ex-partner Tristan Thompson who provided support. Kim said that when he saw her struggling, he stepped in and started picking up her kids and taking them to dinner, and always coming to her defense.
Kim isn't the only one who has shared her views on single parenting. Appearing on the On Purpose with Jay Shetty podcast in May, Kim said it was the most challenging thing she had ever done, and that there were nights she would cry herself to sleep. She also said that it was up to her to be both the 'good police officer and bad cop' to her children.
According to Gingerbread, a charity that supports single parents, there are around 1.8 million single parents in the UK, 90% of which are women. Single parents face many challenges, such as balancing work and caring responsibilities and financial security, all the while fighting against outdated stereotypes.
Ife says that when she found out she was going to be a single parent, she was 'nerve-wracking'. She held on to her daughter's father for as long as she could, because she was scared of being judged and being seen as a stereotype. However, she eventually realized that her daughter's father 'wasn't the best person for the job', and she now lives in a different country.
The hardest part of being a single parent for Ife was trying to climb the career ladder while also raising her daughter. But despite the challenging moments, she says that the joy and positivity in their relationship outweights it all. She and Reya have yearly traditions like a big Halloween party and an annual 'fancy day' at a posh hotel. And then there are the little moments, like lying in bed on a Saturday morning and having a gossip.
Rachel Brydon, from Cardiff, is another single parent who has found joy in her relationship with her son Freddie. She says that Freddie cracks her up all the time, and that it's worth all the challenges that come with single parenting.
It's inspiring stories like these that show that single parenthood doesn't have to be a negative experience, but instead, can be full of love and joy.
Ife Akintoye, a 36-year-old single mum from London, says she spent too long trying to be what society told her was conventional. After her daughter was born in 2008, Ife's then-partner left shortly afterwards.
"I was scared of being judged," she said. "But I'm passionate about showing the positive side of single parenthood. It doesn't mean you're any less of a family."
Recently, Kim Kardashian spoke out about the struggles of raising her four children alone after divorcing her ex-husband, Kanye West. Even more surprisingly, it was Tristan Thompson, her sister's ex-partner, who provided support.
"When he saw me struggling with my kids, he stepped up," Kim said. "He picked Saint up, takes them to dinner, and will always come to my defense." Kim has also spoken about her experience on the On Purpose with Jay Shetty podcast, saying, "It has been the most challenging thing. There are nights I cry myself to sleep."
According to Gingerbread, a charity which supports single parents, there are around 1.8 million single parents in the UK. Of these, 90% are women who face a range of challenges, from balancing work and caring responsibilities to financial security.
Ife says that becoming a single parent was nerve-wracking. "At the time, the rhetoric was that kids grow up happier in two-parent households," she said. "I felt like I'd be judged and people wouldn't get to know me further, and understand that I've studied and I'm working."
But Ife says her daughter's father wasn't the best person for the job, and now lives in a different country. She says the hardest part was trying to climb the career ladder as a young graduate and be a mum.
"But emotionally, it's even more difficult," she said. "You're the only person making every decision in your child's life - that can be really, really scary."
Despite the challenges, Ife and her daughter Reya have a very special bond. "We have some fun traditions," she said. "I love Halloween so try to do a big party every year, and we both get dressed up. And each September before she goes back to school, we have our annual 'fancy day'. We go and have tea at a posh hotel and wonder around Harrods - even if we don't buy anything, it's fun!"
Rachel Brydon, from Cardiff, is also the sole parent to her son Freddie, eight. She says it's the little things that make being a single parent so special.
"Freddie cracks me up all the time," Rachel said. "It's the little things like lying together in bed on a Saturday morning and having a gossip, because no one else is in the house and we can do that. I think that even if I have more children, the bond would be different to the one that Freddie and I have."
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