On most days raising my babies feels completely ludicrous. Like I’ve been transported to another dimension and suddenly I need to be serious, firm and know things. While I’m a good mom, I don’t feel like a ‘natural’—I’d never changed a diaper in my life until my babies were born. I never really even liked kids.

So when Suri (my first) came screaming into this world, and my husband looked over at me, stared lovingly into my eyes and said, “I feel as if I now understand my purpose in life, my reason for being here,” my response was, “Thank f*&% one of us feels that way!”

Luckily, my other half IS a natural, and I couldn’t imagine raising the kids without him. But this is International Women’s Day after all so screw him and let’s get down to why women really are amazing creatures. Two words: single mom. Do you know one? Have you met one?

The single mom in my opinion is a rare creature. The most amazing of women who deserves a trophy every.single.day. She’s a secret agent, multi-tasker, ninja cooker, fast on her feet, Jill-of-all-trades. Put simply: single moms rock.

I’d like to take a moment to honour all the single mothers out there by interviewing one who oozes confidence and cool. If you think they wear track pants, watch Oprah, and eat bonbons all day, it’s my pleasure to introduce Misty Fox. Yes, that’s her real name, and she’s got a sister named Dusty and a dad named Mr. Fox to prove it.

Misty was scouted at 18 to model, at 20 years old she was modeling in London, UK for the likes of Terry Richardson and Toni and Guy. At 22 she was modeling in Australia as a suitcase girl on Deal or No Deal. She met and fell in love with a Canadian musician and found herself transplanted to Toronto.

The marriage didn’t work out, but she studied and found a new love; make-up and of course her daughter Violet (now 3 years old). Misty is all sass and class. She makes juggling full workweeks and raising a baby look like smooth sailing.

Although Fashion Television recently chatted with her about all things make-up, she’s a parenting expert in my eyes.

Today, I have the honour of chatting with her about getting knocked up, motherhood and raising a daughter on her own:

What do you hate about being a single mom?
I can’t say I ‘hate’ anything about it, there are a number of frustrations that come from never having time to myself, but I look at my daughter and think, what the hell was I even doing before you anyway? She makes everything worth it.

What do you love about being a single mom?
I really like being able to parent my way and fall asleep cuddling my daughter; I like how she shapes my life to be the best and healthiest that I can be. Also our apartment is very girly and fun.

What’s a typical day like for Misty?
Coffee, daycare run, work, coffee, daycare pick-up, dinner, bath, books and bed.

If your daughter had to grow up to be like any one person who would it be?
My dad, because he is so kind and nothing in this world can keep him from appreciating all the beauty life has to offer.

If you could turn back time would you change things?
Oh dear, I try not to think like that. I actually have no regrets, because I am happy at the moment and feel armed with all the experiences I have had so far.

How has having a baby and raising her yourself changed you?
I laugh at ‘mom’ jokes, but I am definitely more serious. I am raising a child alone in another country, I have to be on my game. I am more career driven and I’m more responsible with money. I am woman since having her –all grown up.

Worst parenting moment…
The commute to my daughter’s daycare in the winter is brutal. Ploughing through the snowy streets of Kensington with my stroller to daycare at 8am, so I could go to make-up school. I remember pushing her through the snow, slipping on ice, while snot dripped from my nose, only to hear her complain in the stroller. I looked at her sitting there all warm under a blanket with toast fingers in one hand, chocolate milk in the other and I’d say ‘What are you complaining about? I WISH I was you, Violet!’

Cute parenting moment..
For a while my daughter would confidently ask anyone with a bit of a gut if they ‘had a baby in their belly.’

How do you stay sane?
Sometimes I wonder if I am sane when I am crouched in the Snow White cottage with a tiny teacup pretending to sip imaginary tea and addressing my company as ‘princess.’ Playtime has an entirely new meaning…

Do you have a network? Mummies group? Tribe? Tell me about them….
My main mumma friend is Kumiko, she has a 4 year old and lives in my building. We exchange parenting tips and child care. We spend a lot of time at each other’s places, and our girls get along great. She does my taxes and I do her make-up.

Advice for women doing it on their own?
Accept less sleep and more coffee. Be creative with your time management. Don’t talk yourself out of your dreams, a happy mum is a good mum. Find out all the fun events and resources the city has to offer, like drop in centres and theatre shows. Socialize with other mums and don’t sweat the small stuff. I still have trouble switching off my mind when I need to relax because I have so much on my plate, but when I finally do relax I am reminded of how important it is to steal those little moments to recharge. Have fun with your children, try to see the humour in it, it’s hard but sometimes laughing is what keeps you from crying.

Anything you’d like to add?
Being a single mum has changed the way I dress to some extent. I feel like there is a stigma attached to single mums and people pass judgment. If I am wearing a denim mini skirt (like I used to before becoming a single mum) they are more likely to assume I just got knocked up from sleeping with a guy. So what if that was my story? I’ve met some amazing single mums that probably had a bit too much fun one night and got a baby out of it. Does that make them a less loving parent? If you are a good mum you get my vote, regardless of how you came to be pregnant.

For more info on Misty and her make-up magic check her out here. http://www.photocrew.com/mistyfox

~Daniela Syrovy