To be so happy that I’m a single parent

[Melonlover80]

Really

I have a great relationship with my ex but... we were incompatible. No fireworks. Just incompatible.

So I have been a single parent for last five years. He has the primary aged children every other weekend. I get every Christmas.

And I bloody love it. I read all these threads about tension and arguments with their DHs, and I know there are happy marriages but all those that seem so... unhappy.

Here.... no tension, no arguments, I lead the way as the one parent! And it’s absolute bliss.

Shout out to other single parents.... hard in some ways but so so much better in others!!

Better to be alone than badly accompanied.

I k so what you mean, the loneliness that sometimes creeps up, and the relentlessness of it all can be hard work.

But honestly the last 3 Christmas’s have been the best. No drama, no one moaning, no complaints.
No resentment caused by petrol station presents. No one needing to go back to bed. It’s bliss

Merry Christmas! It’s just me and Ds this year and it’s FABULOUS! Have a wonderful day :)

Yeah, I felt exactly the same. Leaving was a relief, and life just got better.

Still single ten years later, and still very much the happier for it!

Have a lovely Christmas.

Hear hear.

I've been a single parent for five years and I wouldn't trade it for the world.

Christmas really brings this home to me... I did everything while my ex lay around in bed watching TV for hours. I read these threads on MN about useless, feckless, shit dads and think "there but for the grace of God". Even the OK ones never seem to pull their weight.

Now its just me and my lovely DD and I am totally in control of it and don't have to compromise with anyone. So bloody lovely.

Here's to the single mums out there and to never having to compromise again.

Love this

My children never hear shouting, arguments, low level awful tension. Oh yes I get cross and stressed but... it’s just mum blowing up and then it’s over

I feel very happy and the thought of a man here... quite honestly is unappealing!

Anyway... prezzie time now

Happy Christmas all

Doing it for the first time this year with ds and dd. Thanks for all the positive comments, it means a lot. Happy Christmas xx

My eighteenth Christmas as a single parent....let me tell you it gets even better..the older they get.😉Merry Christmas....

Merry Christmas, OP. I'd much rather have been a child in your house than my fighting, screaming, abusive, toxic two-parent one.

@MackenCheese

Doing it for the first time this year with ds and dd. Thanks for all the positive comments, it means a lot. Happy Christmas xx

Have a fab time, just do what you want with your children. I was worried about the first one, but we had a ball. I pity the old me, creeping around ex Incase I upset him.

It's a shame they don't see their father more though.

It can be lonely when they are very little and you're up making your own cuppa at 5am and no-one is there 'for you' but it does get better as they are a little older, sleep later are slightly more thoughtful. I actually also rather enjoy the ones when they are at their dad's and I sleep late, watch my TV, read my books and get uninterrupted conversation with other adults. Lots of positives!

YANBU..whatever makes you happy.

I’m lucky to have a very lovely husband but I would choose single parenthood over most of the absolute arseholes I read about on MN. I can’t believe what some poor souls are putting up with!

@Coolerthanapolarbearstoenails

It's a shame they don't see their father more though.

Mine see their dad all the time.

Sixth Christmas as a single parent here. We’ve opened the presents, and grandma is on her way to collect the DC so they can spend time with their dad and do round 2 of presents. I will crack on with cooking and tidying up, then the kids will come home for Christmas dinner about 6pm. Much as I dislike their dad, it’s not about me. Everyone’s happy.

Merry Christmas from a very contented LP here!

I absolutely love it. As a PP said - I may have a moment of blowing up every now and then, but my DCs are growing up in a really loving, harmonious household. I too grew up with parental rows, tension and then an acrimonious divorce that dragged on for ever - I know exactly what NOT to inflict on my own kids.

I 100% love and embrace lone parenthood. It's tough at times, but soooo lovely to have a calm home.

Wishing my fellow LPs a similarly peaceful Christmas!

Merry Xmas it’s just my teenage son and me this year . His dad was planning to come and see him but that may well change now . It’s hard at times but in no hurry to change the current situation being honest

I'm with you in the single mum boat. I'm having a wonderful morning so far. Currently going through the courts system with my violent ex partner. In comparison to what Christmas day was like last year.... Slaving away to make a beautiful dinner to the end up crying my little heart out and being called a c* more times than I can remember and DD and I locked in the bedroom whilst he smashed up the plates.. In comparison...this Christmas is like a miracle. So grateful to be safe and with my baby xx

Same here. 5th Christmas just me snd the children and I love it. Same amount of work from me but no compromise, no hungover husband getting in the way and all the fun 🤩
It’s so so much easier doing it all yourself when you don’t have the added resentment of an extra adult there who could be making things easier/nicer but isn’t 💗

@Pebbledashery

I'm with you in the single mum boat. I'm having a wonderful morning so far. Currently going through the courts system with my violent ex partner. In comparison to what Christmas day was like last year.... Slaving away to make a beautiful dinner to the end up crying my little heart out and being called a c* more times than I can remember and DD and I locked in the bedroom whilst he smashed up the plates.. In comparison...this Christmas is like a miracle. So grateful to be safe and with my baby xx

So glad that you are safe now. Enjoy your day with your baby.

Pebble🎄🎄🙏🙏❤️❤️ having also grown up in a volatile house it's beautiful to read of these peaceful happy Xmasses you are gifting your dc ❤️❤️.

I dearly wish my dp had divorced sooner...

So brave.

Hopefully some of the traumatised women on here still mired in toxic relations will see the light...

I've been a single parent for 12 years - my kids are teens now - and am never happier about it than at Christmas. He was a total nightmare at this time of year and ruined almost every Christmas we were together with his excessive drinking, unreliability and selfishness. Being a single parent is the best and I wouldn't change a thing.

Felt the odd stab of envy at picture perfect families, but life is soo much more peaceful separated.

With you sister. I’m a single mum and things are great. I get on fine with ex and ensure happy and relaxed co parenting. I like the freedom and independence of being a single parent. It’s hard at times and I’m not closed to having a relationship but happy with our family and my lot.

I don’t understand why some people seem to think all single parent families are desperate or unhappy or poor. We’re not. Lots of us are happy comfortable families like two parent families.