Nothing broken about single-parent homes

Dear Annie: I am really tired of all this negative news about “broken” families. I raised my two children, and we were not “broken.” It is time for single parents (mostly mothers) to band together. I could have made three times as much as I did had I taken those jobs that took me away from my children. We just lived on what I made, not on what we wanted.

However, I was home every night; saw that they did their homework and knew how to clean the house and do laundry; took them to Sunday school and church every Sunday; taught them how to be kind, helpful and honest.

When you are a single parent, it is your responsibility to do many of the things that two parents do. Mothers can pool hours with children, swapping time in order to not have to hire babysitters. Just do not give up. It is a 24/7 job, 365 days a year for 20 years. As a parent, you owe it to your children.

Many of the children from two-parent homes never had the sleepovers, pizza parties and ball games that I did. Do not have children if you do not consider that you may become a one-parent family and are not ready to do 250 per cent of what two-parent families can but may not do. My children were NOT from a “broken” home.

— Not From a Broken Home

Dear Not From a Broken Home: You sound like a wonderful mother with the right values. I agree the term “broken home” is not fair. Homes are homes, and so long as there is lots of love, and good values, there is nothing broken about a single mom.

Dear Annie: I am very hurt. I met my husband on a dating site, and we have been married for four years. Recently, I looked at his phone and discovered that he has texted women thousands of times.

The other day, when I saw his text message to another woman, I said that I cannot take it anymore. He said that texting is not cheating. Is that true? I am thinking about filing for divorce.

— Fed up With Texting

Dear Fed Up: You’re right, and he’s wrong. Whether his activities are physical or not, your husband is placing texts to these women above your feelings and cheating on you psychologically. This emotional betrayal has the same flavour as cheating because he is doing something with other women behind your back.

Before you file for divorce, talk to him. Express how much it hurts when you see all these texts with someone else and that you would like to be that close with him.

I would also suggest couples counselling. Best of luck.

Send your questions for Annie Lane to dearannie@ creators.com. To find out more about Annie Lane and read features by other Creators Syndicate columnists and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.