You can make sure your kids make their beds and hang up their

The words of Jane Kaczmarek ring with the clarity of lived experience: “You can make sure your kids make their beds and hang up their clothes and put their dishes in the dishwasher when you're the one calling the shots. So, parenting alone, for me anyway, I think is almost easier, being single.” In these words, she reveals a paradox. Though parenting alone is often seen as heavier and lonelier, there is a strength, a simplicity, and even a freedom in carrying the mantle of decision without discord. For when the parent stands alone, there is no division of command, no clash of voices; the household flows according to one steady rhythm.

The ancients knew well the power of unity in leadership. A ship with two captains often veers off course, but a ship with one steady hand upon the rudder sails directly, even through storm. In the same way, Kaczmarek speaks of single parenting as a path of singular clarity. The children know whose word is law; the household knows who sets the tone. Though the burden is great, there is also peace in this singularity of authority.

History offers us examples of this hidden strength. Consider Queen Margaret of Anjou, who, when her husband King Henry VI fell into madness, ruled England as both sovereign and guardian of her son. Though opposed and scorned, she kept her household and her realm together with fierce authority. She could not depend on her partner’s strength, and so she bore the weight herself. Like Kaczmarek, she might have said: the path was hard, but it was hers to walk alone, without debate or divided command. In her hands, leadership became both a burden and a kind of liberation.

Yet we must not misunderstand Kaczmarek’s wisdom. She does not claim that single parenting is without pain or sacrifice. To raise children without a partner’s aid can be lonely, exhausting, even overwhelming. But she points out that in the absence of conflict between adults, there is clarity. Children thrive on consistent boundaries, on knowing where the lines are drawn. A single parent, though weary, may offer this consistency more easily than two parents locked in disagreement. Thus, simplicity can sometimes outweigh strength in numbers.

There is also a lesson here about the nature of authority and love. True parenting is not only about commanding chores—making beds, hanging clothes, washing dishes. These small acts are symbols of order, of responsibility, of respect for the household. When a parent enforces these consistently, they are not merely raising children who obey rules; they are shaping souls who understand discipline and harmony. Kaczmarek’s words remind us that the path to such teaching may be less tangled when walked alone.

The wisdom here is both sobering and inspiring: sometimes what the world calls weakness—raising children without a partner—can hold hidden strengths. The single parent, though carrying all responsibility, may also embody clarity, steadiness, and authority that nurtures children in unique ways. And children, in turn, may grow stronger, more disciplined, and more compassionate, having watched their parent carry the load with grace.

The lesson for us is this: do not judge single parents as lacking. Rather, honor their resilience, for they carry both roles in one. If you are such a parent, know that while your path is heavy, it is also filled with power—you can set the rhythm of your home, model consistency, and give your children stability that will shape them for life. If you are not, then offer support, not pity, and recognize the hidden wisdom in those who walk this road.

Thus, Jane Kaczmarek’s words must be remembered: “Parenting alone…is almost easier.” In them is not denial of hardship, but the revelation of a paradox—that solitude in leadership can sometimes bring order where partnership brings strife. It is a lesson of strength, resilience, and clarity, worthy to be passed down like an ancient proverb to those who shoulder the noble and sacred duty of raising children.