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\"We talked about it, and he said, 'I'm in Ireland, and I don't want to pop in and out every year, so I think it's best that I'm not involved,'\" Alderman said.

In her piece, Alderman said that because her child's father chose not to be involved, he earned the title of \"coward.\" Alderman said she heard from some readers who didn't feel it was fair that she used the term \"coward.\"

\"PHOTO:
Melody Alderman
PHOTO: Melody Alderman, a mom of one from Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, wrote a piece for the popular website Scary Mommy titled, "I Never Expected To Be A Single Mom, Let Alone A Solo Mom." Alderman is seen in this photo dated 2007 with her son, Ayden, now 14.
>

\"It's accurate, based on other things I've seen,\" Alderman said. \"I always speak positively about him. I tell [my son] his dad was funny and smart. That's still his dad ...he's part of my child. He helped me have my favorite person. There's no ill will.\"

Alderman said she considers herself a solo parent since she doesn't have physical, emotional or financial support from a partner. There are single parents who do have that support, she explained.

\"When I'm listing myself in a different category, I don't want single moms to think that I feel [being a solo mom] is harder. It's just different,\" Alderman said. \"I see single moms as my soul sisters.\"

\"PHOTO:
Melody Alderman
PHOTO: Melody Alderman, a mom of one from Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, wrote a piece for the popular website Scary Mommy titled, "I Never Expected To Be A Single Mom, Let Alone A Solo Mom."
>

Alderman said she hadn't seen many resources for solo moms so she created a Facebook group she named, \"Moms Solo\"--a place where parents like her can share and bond.

Since Scary Mommy published her op-ed, Alderman has received positive messages from women saying her words resonated, she said.

\"PHOTO:
Melody Alderman
PHOTO: Melody Alderman, a mom of one from Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, wrote a piece for the popular website Scary Mommy titled, "I Never Expected To Be A Single Mom, Let Alone A Solo Mom." Alderman is seen in this undated photo with her son, Ayden, 14.
>

Alderman's advice for parents doing it alone is to find peace within your family unit.

\"It's a beautiful thing for a child to have a mom who loves and supports them,\" she said. \"Our family isn't less than anyone else's just because it's the two of us. We're just as strong. There's nothing to feel sorry about.\"

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