Lone motherhood leads to multiple forms of vulnerability. The raising rates of (re)partnering among lone mothers have substantially shortened lone motherhood spells in recent years. While demographers’ interest in (re)partnering has focused on the characteristics of partners once the new union is formed, we lack knowledge about the motivations and expectations of lone mothers regarding (re)partnering. Drawing on two-wave qualitative panel data, this paper explores the meanings of (re)partnering for 38 mothers living alone with their children in Switzerland. Women’s accounts of their lives before and after the transition to lone motherhood touch upon various life domains and include prospects of (re)partnering and motivations for it. Analyses suggest that two main opposite categories of meaning exist and depend on whether (re)partnering is a decision driven by considerations that concern women’s family or just women’s own life. Expectations about the partner’s interaction with children are crucial in distinguishing between different meanings.