Whose last name do your kids have?
by Rachel Sarah
Filed under Kids, Single Moms
When Rachel at Single Mom Seeking gave birth, she did the traditional thing and gave her baby Dad’s last name. But after he and Rachel split up — and he went abroad — the fact that she and her child had different last names… didn’t feel right.
Dr. Leah kept her married name even after her kids’ father split for good. She wanted to change her own name back to her birth name but, ultimately, decided against it.
The same last name as her kids meant much less explaining, especially at school. She thought also about changing her kids’ names to her birth name. However, her son, Andy, had already mastered spelling and printing “Klungness” (no small task in kindergarten), so changing his last name would have been a “big deal” for him.
Sometimes small things like that sort of make the choice for you, don’t you think?
Whose last name do your kid’s have? Yours? His? Or, did you hyphenate?
We’ve heard many strong opinions on this one. For single moms by choice, we imagine that this decision is a no-brainer.
Many single mom celebrities have set a precedent by giving their babies their own last name on the birth certificate — such as actress Bridget Moynahan (below) mom to John Edward Thomas Moynahan. (The father is NFL star Tom Brady.)
Some parents, however, say that if their child is a boy, he should have his father’s name — but a girl should have her mother’s. Moreover, changing your child’s last name post-divorce must be a weighted decision.
Do your children have your last name? Why? Why not?
Photo: PRPhotos
|
Ultimate go-to guide for single mothers. The Complete Single Mother is the only comprehensive and best selling self help book ever written for single parents. It’s packed with savvy advice, sisterly comfort, as well as reassuring answers to all your single mom challenges. |
|
Read the book! Single Mom Seeking is a tell-all about how to date and remain a dedicated and involved parent. It’s a spunky, sexy, and moving chronicle of the humor, pitfalls, and rewards of balancing it all — single-mom style. |
No related posts.
My kids have both of our last names. I wasn’t married when I had my first child so I made it a rule. NO RING NO ONE LAST NAME (Smartest decision I made). I’m now a single mom of 2 and they go by my last name except at the doctors. I also decided that when they grow-up it’s their decision if they want to go by his or my last name. Maybe even both, but they will always legally have both of ours. Their father and I feel comfortable and satisfied that we don’t feel left out. I’m even thinking of doing the same thing if I ever get married and have a child with my husband to legally have both our last names and just go by my husbands.
I am a single mom wth 2 kids from the same man. We are not together and I have thought of hyphenating MY name, not changing theirs, so that my last name files with theirs on all documents and in school. I would put their last name, hyphen my last name. I’m adopted, so my last name is not an option for them as I want their family line continued. My only concern is confusing all of my records as my first and primary last name would be different-hyphenated with my current last name. By reversing this, I wouldnt file with my kids, and it would look like I married their dad.
I’d love any feedback.