Single Parenting in a Small Town: Why I Started Not Quite Grown Life
An introduction to Not Quite Grown Life. Why it began, what single parenting in a small town really looks like, and where this journey is heading.
There’s something about single parenting in a small town that feels both isolating and overwhelming. Everyone seems to know your business, but at the same time it can feel like nobody really understands what you are carrying. Parenting does not come with a manual, and most of the time we are figuring it out while still growing ourselves. Raising kids while managing the constant stress of daily life pushed me to find an outlet. I needed a space to take what was swirling in my head and put it into words.
That is where this blog began, a way to release some of the weight, turn the chaos into something honest, and maybe connect with others who feel the same.
Why I Started Not Quite Grown Life
Not Quite Grown Life began as a thought I kept circling around. It started when I started writing freelance for small business websites back in 2010, (I think). After diving into the new world I knew nothing about until a good friend shared her experiences so graciously with me, I thought, there’s so much possibility out here.
I’d always thought about being a writer someday, not that I considered myself one, but it was something that crept into my thoughts from the time I took English classes in high school. I never thought of myself as an Ernest Hemmingway or Edgar Allen Poe, so I never took the thoughts too seriously. I am definitely not one of “those” kind of writers.
Then, the introduction of social media, podcasts, audible books, and an influx of memoirs, self-help, raw, real live stories that flooded the space. I read or heard things by people like Tiffany Jenkins, Meredith Masony, David Goggins, Matthew McConaughey, Rachel Hollis, Brené Brown, Mel Robins, Cupcake Brown, and so many others. My idea of writing was then back in the forefront. Now, that’s the kind of writing and expression I can get on board with! I don’t know if my stories are as interesting as theirs, and I certainly don’t think I’m anywhere near as good a story-teller, but I think they’re relatable, and sometimes it’s nice knowing that you’re not alone in the wild west of experiences you’ve had, suffered through, enjoyed, or whatever feeling it gave you, no matter how big or small.
The Beginning is Somewhere in There
I’d considered starting a blog before, even bought domains that never made it past the empty homepage. At first, the idea was to write about how it seems to take kids so much longer to grow up these days Not that I want my kids to grow up too fast, but I’ve seen how they get lost and overwhelmed with becoming a grown up. Who wants to do that? As one, kinda, after having my first baby at 21, I know it’s not for the faint of heart. But somewhere in the middle of those thoughts, reality hit me. I’m not grown either. Now, At 41, single, still learning and stumbling, I realized the name practically chose itself.
The spark was lit in those small-town moments of single parenting, watching kids try to carve out a path while I was still carving out my own. And layered in the background were major public events that made everything feel heavier, reminding me that speaking freely, humor, honesty, and connection aren’t just comforts. Instead, they’re what carry us through.
This space is for sharing stories: the funny, the messy, the tired, the hopeful. Because telling the truth about single parenting in a small town can make someone else feel a little less alone. And maybe, just maybe, remind us all that being “not quite grown” is part of the beauty of life.
The Reality of Single Parenting in a Small Town
The spark for Not Quite Grown Life came from looking at how long it seems to take kids to grow up these days, only to realize I am still learning and growing myself, raising kids while trying to find my own way, the name felt like the only one that made sense.
Single parenting in a small town carries its own weight. Privacy is almost impossible. Trips to the store mean running into people who know exactly what is in your cart, and what was in your cart the last time they saw you. Mistakes your kids make become public knowledge before you have even had the chance to talk with them about it. You’re constantly struggling between wondering and worrying what other people are thinking of you and your little family, and convincing yourself that you really don’t care. Running into exes, or the people tied to them, is part of daily life, while others disappear completely without explanation. It can leave you feeling like every choice is under a microscope and every step is being judged.
Still, there is another side. Small towns have a rhythm and a closeness that bigger places often miss. Neighbors wave when you pass by, Friday night games feel like a community gathering, there are actual community gatherings just about every week, even if it’s just a Bingo and the local youth center. Even more so, the simplest conversations can turn into the stories you carry with you.
This space is about those stories. The honest ones, the funny ones, the ones that make you feel seen. Sharing the real side of single parenting in a small town is my way of connecting, and hopefully it reminds someone else they are not facing it all on their own.
What I Expect from This Single Parenting in a Small Town Blog
Not Quite Grown Life is not about expert advice or polished solutions. It is about real experiences, the messy kind of parenting tips that come from trial, error, and sometimes just surviving the day. The goal is honesty over perfection, laughter over pressure, and connection over comparison. And it’s not all about parenting. Adulthood is tough, and it’s important to remember that you’re more than just a parent.
This is not a one way street either. I want it to be a space where stories can be shared both ways. Parenting, small town living, growing older but still feeling not quite grown does not have to be faced alone. Community matters, and sometimes the simple act of saying “same here” makes the load lighter.
The truth is I do not know exactly what this will become. Like parenting, like life, I am figuring it out as I go. I am learning, I am growing, and I do not have a clue where it is all headed. What I do know is that it is real, it is honest, and it is worth sharing, at least to me.
Where We Go from Here
The stories here will cover the real mix of life. Parenting teens into young adults with all the ups and downs that come with that stage. Single parenting and what it means to carry the load while still trying to keep your own footing. Small town life with its closeness and its challenges. And the bigger picture of still growing right alongside the kids we are raising.
I will also share stories from years past, even going back to my own childhood. There are chapters about raising a son to be a man, without a (real) man around. I’ve been told “you’re an excellent mother, but you suck as dad.” Accurate. Starting the baby stage over with a daughter when he was ten years old, (mostly) independent, and the ways that age gap shaped my life and our family. You will probably hear about how our house turned into a small animal farm, the trials and tribulations of owning an old but affordable home, and the never ending adventure of navigating property and auto repairs as a woman.
Future posts may dive into what it feels like to watch your child graduate and wonder what comes next, or how to manage the quiet moments when the house suddenly feels different. There will be lighter pieces too, the funny stories that make it all bearable, and the small wins that remind us this work matters.
At the heart of it, this space is about connection. None of us have it all figured out, and that is okay. We are still learning, still growing, and still finding our way. I cannot say for sure where this will go, but this is the start.
Wrap It Up
Single parenting in a small town is messy and it is hard, but it is also full of love. The truth is there will be no guarantees about how often I post here. Life as a single parent rarely runs on a steady schedule. This blog alone has taken nearly a week to complete. With kids, work, pets, and life, that is just how it goes sometimes.
What I can promise is that when I do share, it will be honest, imperfect, and from the heart. If you see yourself in these stories, or if you have one of your own to tell, I hope you stick around. Subscribe, share, or drop a note of your own. This space is meant to be a conversation, not a monologue.
We may not have it figured out, but we do not have to go through it alone. Welcome to the Not Quite Grown Life family.