Rumer Willis is getting real about single parenthood.
“Just had a good cry in the woods. Some days being a single mom is hard,” Willis, 37, wrote via her Instagram Stories on Wednesday, November 19. “[My daughter] is not hard (ever) but some days doing everything alone can be.”
Willis welcomed daughter Louetta in April 2023 with her then-partner, Derek Richard Thomas. They called it quits less than one year later.
“I am single-moming it and coparenting,” Willis captioned an August 2024 social media statement. “I’m so grateful for Lou. She is the best thing in my life. I’m forever grateful I was able to have the time in that relationship for her to come into my life.”
Willis and Thomas, 30, started dating in 2022 and often praised one another via social media.
“My sweet sweet man @derekrichardthomas I didn’t know that love could feel like this. I have never been so happy in my life. You make everything more fun and goofy and joyful,” the former Dancing With the Stars winner wrote via Instagram in February 2023. “You take such good care of my ♥️. Your silliness and laughter is something I am so deeply grateful for and truly what made me fall in love with you.”
She added at the time, “Thank you for being my partner in crime, my confidant, my best friend and always saying yes to adventure and challenging me to be the best version of myself. Thank you for making me a mama, and being my partner in this wild ride into parenthood.”
Following the pair’s breakup, Willis has remained focused on prioritizing Louetta’s well-being.
“Lou is just the most amazing little human. She’s so curious and full of wonder — it’s such a joy to see the world through her eyes,” Willis told London’s Absolutely Mamas magazine in a January interview. “Toddlerhood comes with its own set of challenges, but every moment with her feels like a gift. She’s growing so quickly, and every day feels like a new adventure.”
Willis further revealed that she cherishes “the unconditional love and bond” that she shares with her little girl.
“Watching Lou discover the world, learning to communicate, and seeing her personality blossom is incredibly fulfilling,” she added. “She has taught me so much about patience, presence and the beauty of simple moments.”
Rumer noted that she learned many child-rearing lessons from her parents, Demi Moore and Bruce Willis, who were together from 1987 to 2000.
“My parents taught me the importance of being present and creating a loving, supportive environment,” Rumer told Absolutely Mamas. “That’s something I strive to do for Lou every day. I also value the creativity and freedom my parents encouraged, and I want to nurture that same sense of exploration and individuality in her.”
Bruce, 70, and Moore, 63, often spend time with Louetta, as well.
“I am ‘YaYa,’ and she is the cutest,” Moore gushed on a September 2024 appearance on Today, revealing her grandparent nickname. “Rumer just sent me a photo with spaghetti on her head.”
Bruce, for his part, was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia in 2023 and now lives separately from wife Emma Heming Willis and their two young children.
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