Washington DC, July 23
Actress Tia Mowry, who shares kids Cree, 14, and Cairo, 7, with ex-husband Cory Hardrict, responded to the backlash she's received for referring to herself as a "single mom," according to E! News.
She and her ex-husband, Cory Hardict, finalised their divorce in 2023. They continue to co-parent their two kids, 14-year-old Cree and 7-year-old Cairo. The Seventeen Again star reacted to the backlash she's received for calling herself a "single mom."
"Family can look different than what we imagined and still be full of love, stability, and joy," Tia wrote in her Instagram post. "This is my truth, and I want to share it. Being a 'single mom' doesn't always mean a mom doing it all alone without the father present in their kids' lives at all. I recognise that archetype is extremely difficult, and I truly empathise."
However, the 47-year-old wanted to shed focus on the "overlooked" aspect of her life that she is still getting used to. After all, she and the Brotherly Love actor were married for 14 years before announcing their separation in 2022, according to E! News.
The 47-year-old wanted to shine a light on the "overlooked" part of her life that she's still growing accustomed to. After all, she and Cory Hardict were married for 14 years before she announced their split in 2022.
"For me, in my household, I am SINGLE," she continued. "I don't have a partner, so I'm holding it down for everyone at home. I'm the only parent present day-to-day. I remember those first nights after my world shifted."
In fact, Tia noted that she "felt guilt" and "shame" about how the divorce would affect Cree and Cairo. But despite her conflicting emotions, she knew that she and Cory would always prioritise their feelings, according to E! News.
"It's not even about being a 'single mom.' It's about recognising we need to normalise different family dynamics," the actor explained. "Just because parents aren't together doesn't mean the family is 'broken.' It just looks different. Parents have to set aside their emotions and feelings for each other. They have to be there for their kids. No matter what."
Tia's post comes seven months after she detailed the highs and lows of co-parenting her two kids during the holidays.
"I'll admit, as a single mom, I sometimes feel the weight because our family doesn't look like others," she wrote on Instagram in December alongside a sweet photo of her and her little ones posed near their Christmas tree. "But you know what? That's okay. Different doesn't mean less than. The most important thing is keeping the traditions alive for my children--because no matter how it looks, we are still family," according to E! News.
— ANI
Reader Comments
This is such a first world problem. In India, we have actual single mothers struggling to make ends meet without any support. Celebrities should be more careful with their words.
Her message about different family structures is so important! In our society, divorced women are often looked down upon. We need more voices normalizing that love makes a family, not just traditional structures â¤ï¸
I appreciate her honesty but wish she wouldn't call herself single mom when the father is actively involved. My sister is a REAL single mom in Mumbai - no child support, no co-parenting. There's a big difference.
Whether she's technically single or not, parenting alone most days is challenging enough. Instead of policing her words, we should support all mothers doing their best in difficult circumstances. More power to her! ✊
Interesting debate. In India, joint families often help single parents. Maybe the West needs to learn from our family values while we learn to be more accepting of different family structures from them.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.