Four single mothers from the United States buy a house and decide to raise their children together.
Two friends and mothers from the United States used to joke about creating a community for moms, and now that dream has come true. She knows her story.
Holly Harper and Herrin Hopper are two friends and mothers of family of USA They used to joke about creating a community for moms and letting their husbands visit them periodically. Still, when they both got divorced due to the randomness of life, they decided to carry out their idea, and now they are the protagonists of a history which has become one of the most shared on social networks.
In addition to the logistics of being a single mother and the costs of living in the Vermont area, in Washington DC, the COVID-19 pandemic was the catalyst that led these two women to dare to live together. “Holly and I said, ‘Why don’t we do it? And for the weekend, we found this house’”, recalls Hopper in an interview for the program today.
So these two single moms found two other women in a similar situation to theirs, and they all moved into a four-plex house, where they shared the ups and downs of life while raising their children together. While it’s not a community as they envisioned, and it’s not traditional extended family life, these brave heads of families say it’s something very special.
“Burn the rule book of life and look at it differently”
“There is almost a spiritual safety net here every day. I could be my worst self, I could be my best self, and they see me for who I am, and that’s okay ,” Hopper said. Herrin Harper, for his part, said that he always felt that he had to follow the traditional rules of life. The opportunity to move in with her friend came at a time when she had just gotten divorced, turned 40, and the death of her father.
Feeling that her life had been destroyed to its foundations, Holly Harper recalled reaching out to Hopper to tell him that she literally had nothing left and that they needed to make their initiative a reality. Since she moved in with her friend, she said that she realized she could do whatever she wanted. “Burn the rule book of life and look at it differently ,” she added, clarifying that things sometimes get complicated.
Stockings everywhere, iPads, plates, and cups, among other items, are among the constants these mothers must deal with to lead an orderly life in their crowded homes. Their children, ages 9 to 14, have become friends and have relationships like cousins. “They always have someone to play with. It’s all mostly fun ,” Harper added.
“We are building a community”
As single mothers, their cohabitation arrangement gives them some freedom because if they want to do something independently, like run, they know other adults are at home to care for their children. On a more practical level, they have regular “homeowners meetings” where they discuss home repairs or gardening expenses in a camaraderie atmosphere.
Thus, these empowered women called their home the “Siren House” , a name inspired by mythical marine creatures. Currently, they answer questions and inquiries from other single mothers who want to have a similar cohabitation arrangement and hope to expand their concept elsewhere. “We are building a community, singing a siren song to bring everyone together ,” Hopper said.