I'm a single mum of 7. AMA!

[WorldCupSadness]

Scared 😅

whats stopping breastfeeding got to do with it, you know you can get pregnant whilst breastfeeding?
presumably if you are on maternity leave your child is less than 8 months old, if you weren’t too old when she was born you probably aren’t now

I’d probably be excellent at budgeting as well if I got £4K a month just handed to be from the government.

This country is a mess.

Probably more if she gets DLA.

OP, I think you sound like a good person who is doing their best. Studying with so many children definitely wouldn't be easy. I have not walk in your shoes or experienced your life so I cannot judge your choices.

out of interest though, how much disposal income do you have?

Yes, I don’t see how it wouldn’t be a worry to you.

My 2 sisters that are NC with our DM, do blame the fact that she had so many DC and the men that came and went in our lives on issues they have in adulthood. I am much more resilient, high achieving and forgiving.

Good luck to you and your DC. It’s not easy!

Final year of “a LLB”. Not “my LLB”.

it’s not yours until you have earned it, which at this stage, you have not.

I meant reading to them individually OP.

@IndigoBluey Don't you think women have a part to play in pushing to close the gender pay gap? By so many women making the choice not to work it is simply further widening it. We need to stop relying on men and accepting their "financial hierarchy".
I've been married, then suddenly a single parent to two young children, then married again.
From the age of 16 to 45 (except for my mat leaves) I have always worked to provide for my children and support my family.
And no, I am not in a particularly well paid job - I just refuse to become fully financially reliant on anyone (including partners).
Whilst I understand that, especially with the COL, some may need some additional support, there is no excuse to expect lifestyle choices to be fully funded by taxpayers.
You should be supporting your own kids as nuch as possible and not expecting anyone else to do so.

I find Mumsnet which is supposed to be supportive of mothers very odd sometimes. As I’m Irish I think it’s wonderful you’ve had so many children. You’re clearly a capable, educated, organised mother. You’re also making sure your children are educated.

Do you have siblings, are you friendly with them, do they have children. We’re both your parents abusive. Do your children interact with their maternal grandparents. How did they react to your first pregnancy at 17. Do you find pregnancy easy or difficult?

Congratulations on your second baby boy, it’s a pity there’s such a gap to the eldest, but the baby will have lots of girls to fuss over him.

How many have gender identity issues? Or has that been covered already?

Do you feel bad about the relationship your children have with their dads? Or the perception that have of men through witnessing what you’ve gone through? As in does it cross your mind? As I have this thought.

I ask because I have 2 children, over a decade apart. Different dads. I understand why women are sometimes safer away from a man. But I also really wanted my children to not feel the hole I felt growing up without a dad. I was also so scared that I’d introduce a bad man to my first so I was very careful dating and stayed single for ages. Although her dad isn’t great, I’ve made sure they’ve kept in touch, whilst being open about my experience with him as I also don’t want her to get hurt as she gets older.

Where does she say that? Any of that - you're extrapolating an awful lot there.

Oh for Christ's sake, that's just nasty and unnecessary.

I have no question to ask, I've also never posted on mumsnet, I just read! But I was so compelled to post and tell you I think you sound like a wonderful person. You've clearly had your fair share of tough times, you've kept at it, and studied to improve your lives. What a great example for your children.
You don't know a man is a deadbeat dad until its too late, I've been there. I have three children, two dads - no CM for older two at all.
You're good at responding to those who don't understand UC or need it, one day they might, then they'll understand.
Keep it up OP!

Using my in this context is pretty normal.
saying in the final year of my a levels, studying for my degree etc is pretty standard and nothing to be picked at.

Completely untrue. Yes people can surprise you but if you get to know someone before becoming impregnated you usually have an idea of what they’re like. Op has made this error with at least 4 different men.

Why are you assuming any of them would?

Thank you ❤️ I feel utterly destroyed by most of the other posts!

Are your daughters in Brownies and Guides? It's a good space outside the home, to develop skills and knowledge and female friendship groups. Also they can do the DofE (you won't have to pay).
They can develop a lot of resilience, fitness, team work and determination. That will hopefully stop them falling down because of low self esteem issues that you had.

Interested in what your career plans are post LLB for you to be able to earn more than c£111k (as calculated by poster above), as I think you said you were studying to improve your family’s prospects. But you are already earning the equivalent of a six figure salary (again see calculations above).

It sounds like you have a fabulous and meaningful job in the prison service now. If you are thinking of staying in the justice system or civil service, a government legal service lawyer starts off on around £30k and absolutely tops out after many years service at £120k (NB people may have more up to date figures from when I was in it).

Both DH and I are solicitors and have worked in the private sector and civil service. We stopped at 2 children as we didn’t think we could afford to have more.

None 🤣

Thank you - this is really useful ❤️

Did you not think it would be this bad?

No, as it runs on one of my work days, and they wouldn't get there in time :( I tried to get around it but couldn't unfortunately

Absolutely not! If it was me, I'd have asked questions regarding family, days out, meal ideas 😅