At a Glance
- Two single mothers moved in together after their respective 2023 divorces
- Jenna Wilson and Priscilla Jones now raise their young children as one household
- The women call their bond a mix of best friend and sister
- Why it matters: Their co-living model offers a new path for single parents seeking community and support
Two single mothers who divorced within months of each other have transformed their lives by moving in together and raising their children as one family unit. Jenna Wilson and Priscilla Jones found each other through a Facebook group for single mothers seeking shared housing arrangements.
From Strangers to ‘Life Wife’
Jenna Wilson split from her ex-husband in August 2023. The 39-year-old mother faced the challenge of maintaining stable housing for herself and her young daughter Maia. Drawing from her professional experience as a coordinator for a home-sharing company, Wilson decided to explore co-living arrangements for her own situation.
“I’m very passionate about co-living arrangements and how strangers are really just friends you haven’t met yet,” Wilson tells News Of Los Angeles. She posted photos of her home in a Facebook group for single mothers seeking shared living situations.
Priscilla Jones, who left her husband in July 2023, responded to the listing. The 36-year-old mother had been searching for alternatives after her divorce, particularly drawn to the idea of living with another single mother.
“We arranged to meet, and it was like meeting an instant best friend,” Wilson recalls. Jones agrees they “hit it off straight away.”
Building a Blended Family
The women brought their children to their first meeting – Maia, then an infant, and Leo, age 4. Despite an awkward first encounter where “Leo did whack baby Maia in the face,” as Jones jokes, they moved forward with their plan.
Now the four live together as a family unit. The children have developed a sibling-like relationship, playing together for hours. They share bath and bedtime routines, creating a structured environment for both kids.
Both mothers maintain positive relationships with their ex-husbands, who support their living arrangement. “Both men are welcome in the home whenever,” Wilson notes, though she told Mamamia, “I’ll never live with a man again.”
A Unique Partnership
Wilson works as Growth & Partnerships Manager for Bridge It, a youth homelessness charity she co-founded. Jones works as a relationships counselor. Their professional backgrounds complement their personal partnership.
“I call Priscilla my ‘Life Wife.’ It’s like she’s a mix of a best friend and sister,” Wilson explains. “It’s just a beautiful and unique bond. It’s like I’ve known Priscilla forever.”
The women demonstrate physical and emotional support daily. “We are always hugging, telling each other we love each other, and that we are proud of each other,” Wilson continues. “Priscilla is a huge supporter of me, and makes me feel like I can achieve anything.”
Their partnership extends beyond emotional support to practical daily living. They share similar interests, diets, and lifestyles. “We’ve supported each other through our separations and helped each other get back out there in the dating world,” Jones says.
Shared Responsibilities, Shared Joy
The arrangement divides household and parenting responsibilities equally. Both women handle cooking, cleaning, grocery shopping, and childcare duties together. They coordinate the children’s routines while also making time for child-free activities.
“Sharing life with someone, sharing the solo parent journey – cooking and cleaning for each other, sharing food, grocery shopping, kids’ routines,” Jones identifies as key benefits. The arrangement provides both physical assistance and emotional support through daily debriefings and conversations about everything happening in their lives.
Creating Community
The experience has inspired Wilson to help other single mothers find similar arrangements. She founded The Lioness Den, a community for single mothers seeking shared living situations.
“The health and wellbeing of all people is a passion for me, but in particular, supporting the lives of women and children, creating homes and communities, feels like my life’s purpose,” Wilson explains.
Jones emphasizes the importance of empowerment over mere assistance. “We absolutely believe that women can share life together, help each other work, and raise children in a way that is still supportive to the natural feminine creative flow.”
Advice for Others
Wilson strongly recommends their co-living model to other single mothers, calling it “one of the best decisions I have ever made.” However, she acknowledges the arrangement requires careful consideration and extensive communication.
“I hope to create a model that I feel will go international, where single moms can live together with shared spaces, but also self-contained properties,” Wilson shares. Her vision includes both communal living areas and private spaces for each family unit.
The women demonstrate that unconventional family structures can provide stability, support, and joy for both parents and children navigating life after divorce.
Key Takeaways:
- Two divorced mothers created a successful co-parenting household through a Facebook connection
- Their children have developed sibling-like relationships while maintaining relationships with both biological parents
- The arrangement provides both practical support and emotional partnership for single mothers
- Wilson’s experience led to creating The Lioness Den community for similar families
- The model offers an alternative to traditional single-parent households while maintaining family stability
