Jewel Opens up About the Joys and Difficulties of Motherhood as a Single Parent

Country music star Jewel has been navigating life as a single mother for about four years now, and she recently opened up to In Touch about the joys and difficulties of motherhood. She shares her six-year-old son Kase with ex-husband Ty Murray, who she was married to for six years before divorcing in 2014.

"As soon as you get a bead on something that works, your child’s needs change, so you have to rework it," Jewel explained to In Touch — in the magazine's new issue, on newsstands now! — of one of the her biggest challenges with co-parenting. "You have to put [your child] first. Sometimes you have to do some deep breathing, some letting go [and think], I'm not going to call any names, I'm just going to be kind…" She continued, "Only kindness matters!"

"I hope my son sees that it's OK to not have all the answers," said the singer and actress. "More than being perfect, our children need to understand the importance of being kind to ourselves, and being a work in progress." Jewel continued to explain to the news source that she is grateful she can take Kase to work with her. "I feel really fortunate that I don't have to leave him at day care. I can bring him with me, and I can teach him as we travel."

And while Jewel says its not up to her if Kase follows in her footsteps as a performer, she insisted "he's certainly capable," adding, "He's very funny, he's charismatic, but I don't know if it’s in his blood," Jewel said. "Your job as a parent is to try to let them experience as many things as they can so they're able to stumble across what they're passionate about."