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Member Stories

What Unemployment Looks Like for Singles

Christina is a 56-year-old single woman who lives in Bellevue, Washington. She has had a long and successful property management career, but was laid off in late 2008 when her company cut back on expenses. (She was replaced by a 29-year-old employee.) For the first few months of unemployment, Christina relaxed and took some time to think about what she wanted to do next. Unemployment checks were just barely enough to cover her monthly living expenses, but she wasn't too concerned.

Meet Our Chosen Family. M, 63, and K, 64, have a long history together that has resulted in a wonderful Family of Choice that intends to be together until death does them part.

My Best Friend Is My Significant Person. Beatrice, an AtMP member from Washington, DC, wrote to tell us her story. Beatrice is a young 68 year old single woman. She does not have a life partner, and her significant other is not a romantic partner.

Read more Member Stories

Children's books

This list was created by the Family Equality Council and is reprinted with their permission. To see their entire list of children's books featuring diverse family forms, click here.

Children's Books featuring Single Fathers

Bang, Molly. Ten, Nine, Eight, 1983

The Paper Crane, 1985

Baum, Louis. I Want to See the Moon, 1989;

One More Time, 1986

Eichler, Margrit. Martin's Father, 1971

Jam, Teddy. Night Cars, 1989

Ormerod, Jan. Dad's Back;

Messy Baby;

Reading;

Sleeping, 1985

Browne, Anthony. Gorilla, 1985

Say, Allen. The Lost Lake, 1989

Steptoe, John. Daddy is a Monster... Sometimes, 1980

Fassler, David; McQueen, Kelly. What's a Virus Anyway?: The Kid Book about AIDS, 1987

Hausherr. Rosemarie. Children and the AIDS Virus: A Book for Children, Parents, and Teachers, 1989 Merrifield, Margaret. Come Sit By Me, 1990;

Come Sit By Me Poster, 1993;

Children's Books featuring Single Mothers

Galloway, Priscilla. Good Times, Bad Times- Mummy and Me, 1980

Griffith, Helen V. Grandaddy's Place, 1987

Hughes, Shirly. Alfie Gets in First, 1981;

Alfie Gives a Hand, 1983

Jonas, Ann. The Trek, 1985

Loewen, Iris. My Mom is so Unusual, 1986

O'Donnell, Elizabeth Lee. Maggie Doesn't Want to Move, 1987

Rossner, Ruth. Arraba Gah Zee, Marissa and Me, 1987

Schwartz, Amy. Oma and Bobo, 1987

Williams, Vera B. A Chair for My Mother, 1982;

Something Special for Me, 1983;

Music, Music for Everyone, 1984

Interiview with children's book writer Todd Parr

Missing some of the rituals and books from her conservative upbringing, former AtMP board member Karen Sosnoski was happy to have found the alternative-family friendly ritual of sharing Todd Parr's progressive children's books with her daughter and partner.

AtMP in the media

AtMP speaks out in a New York Times opinion piece by Cindy, "Unmarried and Ignored by the GOP." You can read it here: http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2012/04/24/are-family-values-outdated/unmarried-and-ignored-by-the-gop

Cindy Butler talks about the implications of the rising rate of singlehood and the declining rate of marriage on "Single- the New Married" on Relationships360 BlogTalkRadio on March 15, 2012.

"More couples stay happily unmarried" Atlanta Journal-Constitution, March 11, 2012. AtMP Executive Director Cindy Butler addresses the unfair difficulties cohabiting partners face in an effort to care for one another.