Solo.

I remember reading a blog post written by a single mother who got annoyed when people said, "I'm a single mom for a week" when their husbands were out of town. She said she was frustrated because, no, they were not single moms. They were still financially stable. They saw an end in sight. No matter how far away they were, they still had their husbands' support. I thought it was a silly distinction, but I do empathize with her feelings of aloneness.

I have no idea what it's like to be a single mom (yet), but as I start to make decisions regarding my child's future, I'm more than a little scared to make them alone. The support of my friends and family is great, but it's not the same as the support of a partner. If I screw this kid up, I did it all by myself. I don't even have someone to share the blame.

Yes, I realize that, in some ways, I chose this--this thing called single parenting. It doesn't make it any less terrifying.