Christina Aguilera grew a "thicker skin" after going through a "hard year".

The American singer hasn't had things easy lately. She filed for divorce from Jordan Bratman towards the end of 2010, while her movie Burlesque and album Bionic both won lacklustre reviews.

Christina isn't wallowing though, rather she's realised fame can be fickle.

"It's hard for anyone to go through that in public," she told Marie Claire of her marriage breakdown.

"But when you're a celebrity and under a microscope, it's 58 million times harder.

"I grew an even thicker skin after that hard year."

Since splitting from Jordan, Christina has been focusing on her son Max. He's made her reassess her life and realise what is important.

"I love the theatrics, and entertaining is what I was put on this earth to do, but there's a superficiality to it," she said. "Becoming a mother has helped me to realise who I am aside from my career.

"The decisions I've made thus far have been made for Max's benefit. It comes from a place of wanting peace, not chaos.

"I was raised in a very chaotic home, and that's one thing I have no patience for. I have to surround my son with positive, strong relationships so that he feels he has a cohesive family."

However, life as a single mother can be hard. Christina and Jordan are on good terms and he is heavily involved with Max's life, but it's still difficult for the 31-year-old singer.

"It's hard not having the consistency of a partnership on a daily basis," she explained. "It's a struggle. But I can't single out my ex-husband [as the problem] because he's a devoted father and great with my son."