In 2018, the most recent data that was available showed that 15 million children in the United States lived with only their mothers. It shouldn’t be surprising that more and more single mothers have joined forces in recent years. There is even a website where they can look for someone they can talk to about the hard things they are going through with money and parenting. But not everyone uses the internet. In fact, an old friend can often become a new business partner. Two young women from New Zealand tell their stories, which proves this.
Lauren Robinson and Samantha Best
In 2018, Samantha and Lauren became friends after they met on Instagram and began talking to each other. But the girls had no idea that after three years together, their relationship would change into something completely different.
Samantha with her son, Kaelin
Samantha broke up with her partner, with whom she had lived in New Plymouth, New Zealand, for five years, and raised their son, Kaelin, in April 2021. Best decided to move to Auckland so she could look for work there. She had just become a single parent and was taking care of a young child.
Samantha, on the other hand, knew that it would be hard to get used to life in the new city.
It was hard for me and Kaelin to live on our own and live comfortably. Auckland is very expensive, and I was quite lonely and scared,
she recalls.
Lauren and her daughter, Haidyn
At that point, Samantha sent a message to her close friend Lauren Robinson, who was also raising her young daughter Haidyn by herself. Lauren told Samantha that they should move in together so that they could save money on food and rent and live as a family. This would give them more time to spend together.
Best agreed right away, and she hasn’t had the slightest doubt about her decision since then:
It’s so much easier living with Lauren. We’ve been able to split our finances and we are able to help each other with childcare if one of us is busy the other can pick them both up from school, or if either of us needs to go out the other can watch the two children.
The women take turns taking care of the house, and they even opened a joint bank account to make it easier to pay for things like groceries and rent. And it goes without saying that they help each other take care of their children.
Samantha, who is 24 years old, and Lauren, who is 26 years old, have learned from their own lives that it is easier to raise kids in the same house, especially if the adults have similar ideas about how to raise kids. Lauren says that there are times when her daughter won’t listen to her and is disobedient, but Samantha is able to talk to her and get her to change her behavior.
Their kids quickly became friends, even though they sometimes fight as real brothers and sisters do.
Since Samantha and Lauren have been living together, their relationship has turned into one of unwavering loyalty, and the three of them have become a de facto family.
I don’t have a boyfriend, I have Lauren. Supports me through every crazy life decision. Makes me feel so incredibly loved and wanted. Treats my son like her own,
Samantha shared this on her TikTok.
But the single mothers know that if one of them finds a long-term partner, the other will leave the house and move to a different part of the neighborhood.
What do you think about the idea of moving into your friend’s house so that you and your friend can raise your kids together?
