Jennifer Lopez says it's 'not easy' being a single parent

Jennifer Lopez has opened up about what it’s like to raise her children as a single parent.

The sultry singer, who has six-year-old twins Emme and Max with ex-husband Marc Anthony, spoke about her family life to ELLE magazine.

As well as being the issue’s cover star, JLo spoke about life as a single parent: “It’s not easy. I’m from a traditional background. It takes two people to make a kid for a reason. It’s tough because I know they feel the void of that male presence.”

She added: “When Marc and I first broke up, I did think: ‘I wish I could have held this together.’ But when you realise it’s not the right thing for anybody, you think: ‘OK, well how do we make this work, how do we make this better, how do we make this great for the children anyway?’”

The 45-year-old also opened up about family life, and moving out of the Bronx: “My kids go and stay in a one-bedroom apartment in the Bronx all the time, or a studio with their aunts, uncles and cousins and their grandmother. They get it. The great thing about actually becoming successful is that my family – who grew up sharing beds – come and stay, and everyone has their own room and their own shower. My aunts walk around saying: ‘Jennifer, you have so many towels.’ Everybody in my family always talks about how many towels I have.”

Jennifer, who has found fame as a singer, actress and businesswoman revealed her future plans: “I like to tick a lot of boxes. I have a five-year plan. I always have a five and a 10-year plan. If this business is about anything, it’s about reinventing yourself. You have to keep moving, taking risks.”

You can see Jennifer Lopez’s full photo shoot and interview in the October issue of ELLE which goes on sale 4th September 2014.