The Friend Who Taught Her She Could Make It as a Single Mom

Each installment of “The Friendship Files” features a conversation between The Atlantic’s Julie Beck and two or more friends, exploring the history and significance of their relationship.

This week she talks with two women who forged a friendship in crisis. When Sarah’s husband left her for another woman—while she was pregnant—she turned to her colleague Theresa, who was raising a daughter alone. They became so close that when Theresa chose to have a second child, Sarah was there for the birth. They discuss the joy in single parenthood and how they’ve helped each other achieve the lives they truly want.

The Friends:

Sarah Dimmick, 40, an English-language-learning teacher who lives in Fairbanks, Alaska
Theresa Vick, 50, an English-language-learning teacher who lives in Fairbanks, Alaska

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Julie Beck: Tell me how you met and became friends.

Sarah Dimmick: I taught English at the same school where Theresa taught English-language learners. She was doing instructional coaching for me. That’s the first memory I have of you, Theresa.

[Read: What teacher friends talk about when students aren’t listening]

My first dramatic memory of you is: We were talking about procreation for some reason and I was like, “I’m thinking