Single mothers combat stress by engaging with children, new study finds

Creating a family unit

While a single-parent home can be unconventional, mothers such as Phelps work hard to maintain a strong sense of unity.

"We'll do typical family activities, just the two of us," Phelps said. They get their family portrait taken once a year and have family prayer together each night.

Robert tries to create a sense of community and a sense of family that goes beyond the two of them. She schedules play dates with other single mothers and their children, and they spend time with other adults she and her daughter have a positive relationship with.

"There's almost this extended sense of community and family that comes out of this," Robert said, "because we don't have that at home."

"No matter how much I may miss parts of who I used to be," Robert wrote on her blog, "the little girl who calls me Mommy fills an amazing spot in my heart that no one else can ever replace."