Has anything good or bad happened to you that you never thought would?

[eowal]

I am struggling to come to terms with being a single parent. I know it’s common but I spent a long time searching for the ‘right’ person and felt I hadn’t settled. Yet here we are. It’s been a couple of years and I still don’t really recognise myself living this life.

I never thought that I would lose my mum before I had kids, that she would never be a Nanna.
I never thought that it would come to the point where I live in a loveless, sexless marriage.

@peachgreen  your daughter sounds wonderful.

Another shock single mum here. Never thought I would be; from a family of no divorces.

@eowal I've found that finding 1-2 single mums a bit like me has really helped. It normalises things. I now often see the positives of my situation, although money is a stressful area. Earning plenty is important, but difficult. Make sure your ex supports you financially.

Yes. After finally meeting my husband and 39 and marrying at 40, I thought after our two kids were born we were on a good trajectory to a long stable life. And then he died, suddenly, when our kids were very young.
Then now, with my youngest 17, she is undergoing tests for Multiple Sclerosis. This is an incurable degenerative disease, and while there are good treatments, she fears becoming disabled. Plus she wants to go into a creative field and will need the full use of her right hand and arm, which has been most affected so far (numbness). A devastating blow to someone just about to start out in life, and I worry too about her future when I'm no longer around.

@mondaytosunday Please keep me updated about your DD, if you think it's ok to. I have also been referred for an MRI now to 'rule out' MS and it's a very scary time