I'm a single mum of 7. AMA!

[WorldCupSadness]

Scared 😅

I think with your existing experience the probation or prison service would be keen on you and you could probably be promoted quite quickly. Although the pay rates are low,
you would still be able to keep some benefits I think 🤔 . Best of luck

That's a shame. Being in the Guides helped me in my situation, especially as a teenager.
Do they have friends who they could go with, or another parent to drop and collect?

Btw, Op
It’s almost the end of the month and many people on here will be a few days away from their end of month payday. Perhaps down to their last few quid of the month (if not into their overdraft) after a month of frugal living and are now looking down at their payslip with all the hefty deductions for tax, NI and so on and just wondering why on earth they are even bothering.

I’m genuinely sympathetic that you have ND kids, I know the level of work that requires to care for them but can you not comprehend how unfair the current system is? If you’re hard working, responsible, make sacrifices etc the UK taxation and benefits system just feels stacked against you.

I’m done.

My goodness don’t be surprised. You’re doing a wonderful job raising 7 children single handedly. Really impressed that you’re working in the prison service, studying AND bringing up the children which is the most important job of all. There is nothing about your life that is easy. Except for maybe breastfeeding. 🤗 The thought of your daily life is exhausting to me, but you’re clearly a loving household. You can’t do better than that.

Thank you.

My mum was by far the worst but my dad just let her do it. I am no contact with them and have been for years so my children don't have to interact with them thank god.

I was first pregnant at 18. My mum was jealous and beat me up, and my dad was embarrassed and treated me like shit on his shoe.

I find the first half of pregnancy really tough as I get HG.

And thank you! I still can't believe he's a boy 💙

OMG! MN is notorious for the pile on, isn’t it? I have never posted a thread, I don’t think I ever will. I lurk and respond. You are very brave to have done. If it gets too much you can ask MN to pull the thread.

Just continue to be the best DM you can be. No more men! Just you and your DC. Aim to give them the absolute best upbringing you can!

Aww thank you! This means a lot ❤️

OP your responses are likely to elicit sympathy. Expect a plethora of you’re doing a great job now. For balance I remain a fan of personal responsibility. Many unfortunately experience abuse, less than great childhoods, low self esteem but there comes a day when they vow not to repeat cycles. Taking responsibility important. It’s clear you have a much more affluent lifestyle that many of those paying the tax to fund your poor choices, people working more for less, and that’s a basic fairness point. Do also remain steadfast that being rewarded for being unable to control having child after child with different deadbeats is not something the taxpayer should have to support. If your benefits all stopped tomorrow how on earth would you manage? Yet that is the reality for those who have only the size of family they can support themselves. It’s not personal but have found some of the flippant responses here hard to sympathise with as they don’t ever recognise how unfair it is that your family all in will over years to adulthood have claimed over £1.5m in free money/handouts and your irresponsibility has been rewarded with a comfortable lifestyle that you say makes you ‘very lucky’. Good luck to you regardless.

Did you think about how your ND kids might struggle with the noise of such a big family before you had more children?

Me too

Thank you, great advice! I wish they would pull the thread... I feel like I HAVE to answer these people but my anxiety is spiralling

They were diagnosed quite late

Ok. Genuinely, if you are spiralling then contact MNHQ and ask them to delete the thread.
This is no good for your mental health, and will impact your children.

I don't think so, but will ask! Good idea

OP I don’t have any questions but just wanted to say well done for raising 7 kids, working and studying. There’s no way I could do what you do. I struggle with two!!

you’ve done so well to survive the past and abusive relationships. Your kids will see you as a strong mother

I do worry about this thread though and what it will do to your MH. You were brave to post this. Lots of people like a pile on. They’d never say this stuff to your face in real life.

please consider asking for this to be pulled.

sending love. ❤️

Of course I'm spiralling, it's horrendous 😫 how do I do that?

You would known though before that.

Thank you ❤️

Do it, @WorldCupSadness!

This thread could go on and on. Not good!

I did, but no one would listen to me

I’ve reported the thread OP in the hope they might pull it @WorldCupSadness

Thank you!!

You sound so organised I assumed you would be about food too. What do you cook, if it were me I’d be doing things like pasta bolonaise on Mondays, bacon cabbage, turnip potatoes Tuesday, Shepard’s pie Wednesday, fish fingers, peas, home made burgers, (made from mince) Roast on Sundays,… . The children each having a job… Breakfast would be porridge weekdays.

Do you have a dishwasher? You surely must.

So as parents we know they are ND so why have more then as the noise must cause them issues.

I do have a dishwasher!

Honestly, with so many children there isn't one meal that they all like. It drives me mad.