Four single mothers 'burn the rulebook of life' — and bought a house to raise their kids together

Four women in Washington, D.C., have radically redefined their ideas about family, friendship, and raising children. They have built an urban commune where they are free to pursue pleasure in ways that most people would never contemplate. Herrin Hopper and Holly Harper used to joke that they'd one day live in a commune in Vermont. However, they seriously began to consider the idea after their divorces. In an interview with Today, Harper said, "Holly and I said, 'Why not do this?' Within a weekend we found this house."

Jen and Leandra, two more single women, joined them and a four-unit home was acquired by the two friends. The agreement not only helps the four women to save money, but it also benefits all four families in raising their children together. Harper wrote on Insider, "We've unlocked the power of sharing, and our baseline expenses decreased, allowing us to experience abundance." She said in the interview, "This living arrangement is a kid's paradise, complete with a giant trampoline, a parkour line, a garden, a gym, a big-screen TV, and a craft studio. Our kids—who can use the buddy system for a walk to get gelato, and who have playmates during the quarantine and homeschool months—are thriving.”

The kids, who vary in age from 9 to 14, are like cousins to one another, and their new living situation gives them fresh insights into life that they wouldn't have had otherwise. It allows them to learn more about dating, bullying, divorce, family, sexual orientation, creativity, death, and finding joy. They also have plenty of playmates and activities to keep them occupied. In the summer, the house has a 15-foot trampoline, a parkour slackline, hammocks, sleds, and an inflatable pool. Living in "The Siren House," as it's been called, is akin to being at a year-round summer camp.

It's also taught the four mothers how to share with one another. The ladies share finances, automobiles, meals, childcare responsibilities, dog walking, and embraces. Harper claims that living with them saves her $30,000 each year. She said, "We don’t know whose socks are whose ... socks everywhere. iPads, dishes, cups. There’s a lot of exchanging that occurs. Usually not planned.” 

They hold regular "homeowners meetings" to keep things in order when they discuss repairs and yard chores. Meetings are frequently held over a bottle of Champagne. They get a lot of queries from single parents who wish to live in a similar co-housing setup. They want to spread the word to other moms. The "Siren House" is named after the mythological creatures that used sweet melodies to entice seafarers to their doom, excluding the doom. Hopper said, "Siren is a form of sort of feminist power, right? We’re building a community, we sort of have the siren song so we bring people together." 

Hopper said that moving in with her friend has allowed her to live on her own terms, "You can do whatever you want. Burn the rulebook of life and just look at it differently."