Tia Mowry isn’t backing down from describing herself as a single mother, despite facing online criticism for using the term while successfully co-parenting with her ex-husband. The actress, who starred in Hallmark’s “A Gingerbread Christmas” in 2018, took to Instagram to clarify her perspective and defend her right to define her own family experience.
The 47-year-old star posted a detailed explanation on July 22, addressing the backlash she’s received for calling herself a single mom while maintaining a positive co-parenting relationship with Cory Hardrict. Their divorce was finalized in April 2023 after 14 years of marriage, and they share joint custody of their children, 14-year-old Cree and 7-year-old Cairo.
“Family can look different than what we imagined and still be full of love, stability, and joy,” Mowry wrote in her Instagram post. “This is my truth, and I want to share it. Being a ‘single mom’ doesn’t always mean a mom doing it all alone without the father present in their kids’ lives at all. I recognize that archetype is extremely difficult, and I truly empathize.”
The former “Sister, Sister” star, who starred on the 90s sitcom with her real-life sister, Hallmark star Tamera Mowry-Housley, emphasized that her use of the term reflects her daily reality as the primary caretaker in her household. She wanted to shed light on what she considers an “overlooked” aspect of modern parenting arrangements.
“For me, in my household, I am SINGLE,” Mowry continued. “I don’t have a partner, so I’m holding it down for everyone at home. I’m the only parent present day to day.”
Her Divorce Journey
Mowry’s candid explanation comes as she continues navigating life after her split from Hardrict, whom she met in 1999 while working on the movie “Hollywood Horror” with her sister and fellow Hallmark star, Tamera Mowry-Housley. Their relationship evolved from friendship to romance, with Mowry revealing on her reality series “Tia Mowry: My Next Act” that “Cory was my first everything.”
The actress has been open about the emotional challenges she faced during the early stages of their separation. She admitted to feeling “guilt and shame” about how the divorce would affect her children, particularly during those initial nights when their family structure changed.
“I remember those first nights after my world shifted,” Mowry reflected in her Instagram post, describing the uncertainty she felt about whether they could still consider themselves a family unit.
Her decision to pursue divorce came after a period of self-reflection focused on personal happiness and authenticity. “I knew when I really started to focus on my happiness,” she explained in a November 2022 Today interview. “I feel like women, we tend to focus on everybody else’s happiness, making sure that everybody else is OK—meaning our children, our friends, our family. But at the end of the day, it’s about self-love.”
The actress also considered how her decision would impact Cree and Cairo, viewing it as a teaching moment about living authentically. “A part of my decision was also for them,” she told HelloBeautiful in June 2023. “For them seeing their mother walk in truth.”
Modern Family Structures
Mowry’s Instagram post addressed broader societal expectations about family structures and parenting terminology, stressing the importance of normalizing different family arrangements while maintaining a focus on children’s well-being.
“It’s not even about being a ‘single mom.’ It’s about recognizing we need to normalize different family dynamics,” she explained. “Just because parents aren’t together doesn’t mean the family is ‘broken.’ It just looks differently. Parents have to set aside their emotions and feelings for each other. They have to be there for their kids. No matter what.”
Mowry and Hardrict have established guidelines for their co-parenting arrangement, including agreements about introducing new romantic partners to their children. They’ve committed to celebrating major milestones together, ensuring their children see their parents united during important moments.
The actress emphasized that successful co-parenting requires parents to prioritize their children’s needs above personal conflicts. “The kids are the priority,” she stated.
Mowry also addressed concerns about children feeling divided between parents, noting that toxic situations arise “when kids feel the divide. When they feel like they have to choose between parents.” Her approach focuses on maintaining family unity despite the changed living arrangements.
The actress concluded her post by encouraging others facing similar situations to reject societal pressure about what families should look like. “Don’t feel guilty or pressured by what society says a family should be,” she wrote. “Happy, healthy families come in many forms. Different doesn’t mean broken. We are family, regardless.”
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Tia Mowry Defends Why She Calls Herself a ‘Single Mom’