They say it takes a village to raise a child, but what if you don’t have a village?
Well, why not create your own?
That’s exactly what four single moms decided to do, turning a long-running joke into a brilliant reality.
Holly, Harper, and Herrin Hopper, two moms who had joked for years about buying a house in Vermont and living there with their kids, found themselves seriously considering the idea after both went through divorces.
With the uncertainty of the pandemic looming, they began to think about living together in a shared space, offering support and company to one another.
“Holly and I thought, ‘Why not just do this?’” Herrin shared in an interview with TODAY.
The idea quickly turned into action, and within a weekend, they found a house in Maryland that would become their shared home.
For Holly, the timing couldn’t have been better.
Life had thrown her a lot of challenges: turning 40, going through a divorce, and dealing with the loss of her father.
“It felt like my life had been completely turned upside down,” Holly explained. “I could turn to Herrin and say, ‘I literally have nothing left. Let’s just go for it.’”
Once the two moms moved into their new home with their children, they decided to open their doors to more.
They rented out the basement to Leandra, another single mom, and soon after, their friend Jen moved in as well.
With four moms and their children all under one roof, their unique community was complete.
Living together as a group has brought a lot of benefits.
“It’s like there’s a spiritual safety net here every day,” Herrin said. “I can be my worst self or my best self, and they see me for who I am, and that’s okay.”
With multiple adults in the house, they never feel alone or overwhelmed.
The moms know that there’s always someone willing to lend an ear or step in to help.
One of the biggest advantages is the freedom it offers.
Since there are always other moms around, they each get the chance to take breaks and step out of the house without worrying about finding childcare.
It’s a huge relief, knowing that someone they trust is always nearby to watch the kids.
The children, too, are thriving in this communal living arrangement.
Holly noted, “There’s always someone to play a game with. It’s just the most fun.”
The kids have become like cousins, growing close and sharing experiences as they live and play together, which has made the home feel even more special.
Of course, living together does require some organization.
The moms regularly sit down to talk through any shared expenses, like roof repairs or yard work, and these meetings often turn into fun get-togethers over a glass of champagne.
The home even has a name: they call it the “Siren House.”
As Herrin explained, the name is rooted in a deeper meaning. “Siren is a form of feminist power,” she said. “We’re building a community, and it’s like we have this siren song that brings people together.”
So, what do you think about this type of living arrangement?
Click on the video below to learn more about how the moms amazingly make it all work!
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