I am a single mom, but even though I love my DD13 with all my heart, being a mom isn't my only goal in life. I look at it like your life has chapters in it, even though DD is a huge chapter, she isn't the whole book. I felt the same way when I was married to her dad. I know people who wrap their lives around their kids and have no outside life, when the kid goes off to college or whatever, the parent is besides themselves on what to do now that their kid is gone or try to cling on to their kid, that isn't for me.
I would agree and I also think it is no limited to single parents either. I have two friends that are SAHM and they have no life other than their children. They don't do anything without their children. BTW, before I get flamed this is no disprespect toward SAHM. I know MANY amazing SAHM, these two are almost like conjoined twins with their children. They are still walking them in to school in third grade.

Oh the horror! Seriously that is your example of them having no life other than their kids? They walk their 8-9 year old to school..that is hardly an example of having no life other than their kids.
- and no, it didn't teach me it's okay to beat a child, or anyone).