Trending badgeTrendingPosted 1 hour agoSubscribe to BuzzFeed Daily NewsletterCaret DownPeople Are Not Impressed With Tia Mowry Calling Herself A "Single Mom," Despite Getting Physical And Financial Help From Her Ex"We are family, regardless."by Morgan MurrellBuzzFeed StaffFacebookPinterestLink Tia Mowry has been at the center of backlash for the terminology she chooses to use to describe her current family dynamic. Gilbert Flores / Getty Images On Tuesday, Tia opened up on Instagram about receiving negative comments for referring to herself as a single mom. She explained her reasoning for putting herself in that category, but not everyone agreed. Tia Mowry / instagram.com For those who don't know, in October 2022, Tia and Cory Hardrict announced they were separating after 14 years of marriage. Their divorce was finalized in April 2023. The two initially met back in 1999 and eventually tied the knot in 2008. Aaron J. Thornton / Getty Images They agreed on joint legal and physical custody of their two children - 14-year-old Cree and 7-year-old Cairo. Despite their split, Tia and Cory have appeared to find a great balance and coparenting rhythm. They've also agreed to never introduce their minor children to a new romantic partner unless they've been exclusively dating them for a minimum of six months. View this photo on Instagram Tia Mowry / Instagram: @tiamowry But because the Sister, Sister star has been open about sharing responsibilities with her ex-husband, and applauding him for being a present father, many of her fans didn't understand how or why she'd consider herself a "single mom." Tia Mowry / instagram.com "Being a 'single mom' doesn't always mean a mom doing it all alone without the father present in their kids' lives at all," Tia wrote. "I recognize that archetype is extremely difficult, and I truly empathize. But what often gets overlooked is the nuance of what being a single mom can actually mean." Kevin Winter / Getty Images "For me, in my household, I am SINGLE. I don't have a partner, so I'm holding it down for everyone at home. I'm the only parent present day to day." Tia Mowry / instagram.com Tia recalled feeling guilty during the first nights after her divorce. She admitted to crying and feeling shame, because she wasn't even sure if she could still use the word "family" to describe them. View this photo on Instagram Tia Mowry / Instagram: @tiamowry "It's not even about being a 'single mom.' It's about recognizing we need to normalize different family dynamics. Just because parents aren't together doesn't mean the family is 'broken.' It just looks differently." Leon Bennett / Getty Images "The kids are the priority. Parents have to set aside their emotions and feelings for each other. They have to be there for their kids. No matter what." Matt Winkelmeyer / Getty Images Tia, who recently celebrated her 47th birthday with her twin sister Tamera, added that she never wants her kids to feel like they have to choose between their parents. The last thing she wants is to create a "toxic" or "broken" environment for them. Andrew Toth / Getty Images As a way to continue to provide Cree and Cairo with a sense of family, Tia and Cory have ensured that they'll always be together when celebrating big moments like birthdays, holidays, graduations, and more. "Kids should see their parents in the same room, united." John Wolfsohn / Getty Images "No matter if you separate or divorce, the commitment to your kids is forever. When you have kids, you'll always be FAMILY, no matter the changes. I'm not saying divorce or separation is always the answer. But even if parents live together, it doesn't guarantee a happy home. Kids want their parents to be happy, no matter the situation." Kayla Oaddams / Getty Images "Being a single mom isn't one way or one story," Tia added. "There are so many nuances. Happy healthy families come in many forms. Different doesn't mean broken. We are family, regardless." Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images Tia also emphasized that this doesn't just go for moms. She stated that no one should dictate what family looks like for you - whether you're a single dad, LGBTQ+ parents, or any other family that aren't a part of societal norms. Steve Granitz / Getty Images Even with her transparency, some still didn't agree with her definition of a "single mom": Tia Mowry / instagram.com Tia Mowry / instagram.com Tia Mowry / instagram.com Tia Mowry / instagram.com Tia Mowry / instagram.com Tia Mowry / instagram.com While others appreciated her view: Tia Mowry / instagram.com Tia Mowry / instagram.com Tia Mowry / instagram.com Tia Mowry / instagram.com Tia Mowry / instagram.com Tia Mowry / instagram.com Tia Mowry / instagram.com Tia Mowry / instagram.com Tia Mowry / instagram.com You can read Tia's full post below: View this photo on Instagram Tia Mowry / Instagram: @tiamowry I always love how transparent Tia gets with her fans. It's okay if a word has different connotations for you versus someone