”Traded a husband for a bestie.” Why these mums moved in together

Have you ever fantasised about raising kids with your bestie? Well, some women are doing it for real. And these mum communes or ‘mummunes’ don’t look like your average share house.  

These women are sharing a roof, chores, bills and the mental load of raising their kids. For some, it’s the antidote to a nuclear family structure that left them drained and resentful. For others, it’s a handy, albeit overcrowded solution to the struggles of single motherhood. 

Yumi Stynes speaks to women who are rewriting the rules of motherhood and finds out what there is to gain when you challenge the status quo.  

This episode will answer questions like: 

• Can you raise children with your best friend?
• Should you raise children with a romantic partner?
• Why do women feel burnt out as wives and mothers?
• Has the nuclear family become outdated for women?
• Do you need men to raise kids?
• What are the challenges of raising kids with your best friend?
• How do communal living arrangements deal with money?
• How does dating work in a mummune?
• Why do women initiate household and child care more than men? 

What to listen to next:

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What to read next:

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This episode contains references to child care, parenting, mothering, single mum, alternative family structures, romantic partner, heterosexuality, patriarchy, mommune, mummune, commune, shared living, alternative living, community, individualism, village.