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Never knew being an adult was so hard

47 replies

SantasReindeerDonna20x · 08/11/2007 12:14

hmmmm where do i start?
since the age of 12 ive been in and out of care homes. which,was crap,but in a way ok because i always had people around me, someone to talk to and basically not a care in the world.
when i was 14, i met my ex p, moved in together when i was 16, and thats when i realised that i hated growing up. he used to kick me about, emotionally bully me and make me hate myself.
i finally plucked up the courage to leave him and met my dp.
it has been a whirlwind romance to say the least. i moved in with him straight away, i got pg about a month and half after we met!
things were going great up until about august this year. dp got made redundant and has so far, had no luck with finding another job, niether have i. we are really starting to struggle now though, we can barely afford to pay our mortgage every month, nevermind afford the bills, shopping etc etc
we havent even got central heating and i feel so so guilty. its not fair on her that the house is always so cold and she has to wear gloves inside just to try and keep warm.
i feel terrible thinking about what a shit start to life she has had and its breaking my heart.
i dont know why ive even wrote this. i guess i just needed to write it all down.
i dont mind if i dont get any replys and im sorry for telling you all this

OP posts:
bigspender30 · 08/11/2007 12:22

Why don't you send your man to register with the agencies. There is loads of work out there before xmas. At least if one of you was working then it would be money coming in. Also, why don't you go on the Wanted section here and see if anyone has a heater they no longer use?

SantasReindeerDonna20x · 08/11/2007 12:26

he and i are both registered with agencies but so far have heard nothing. we do have a heater but we keep it in dds room to keep that warm

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LadyOfWaffle · 08/11/2007 12:26

Hiya,
It is hard isn't it, but, 1000000's of people do it everyday, I have to keep reminding myself of that. I see you are similar age to me - whereas alot of people our age are out getting trashed and at uni, we are being mothers and wives and cooks and cleaners amoungst other things! Your main things to think about are the essentials... food, clothes, shelter and warmth to begin with. DO you have any heating at all? We are getting CH installed here and the place is freezing, only 3 electric radiators heat the place. Do you have an open fire at all? They are wonderful, the heat really spreads and if you get the balance right between coals and wood, they are cheap to run and last ages. The fact that you are bothered tells me you are a great mum, I am sure your DD has got an amazing start in life. xxx

Frizbe · 08/11/2007 12:26

{{{Hugs}}}} it will get better, agencies are a good place to start though. Is your dp qualified to do anything? where in the co are you, maybe we can help you out?
Re the cold house, don't worry, my dad only just got central heating recently, I grew up with icicles on the inside of our windows in the winter when I was younger and its not done me any harm!

bigspender30 · 08/11/2007 12:29

You need to pester the agencies by phoning them every day-that shows you are keen to work and they will find you something to get you off their backs! Good luck x

Martha200 · 08/11/2007 12:29

Hmm, where do I start in letting you know you are thought about?!

Good on you for leaving your ex, and don't be too hard on yourself for thinking your liitle one (how old?) is having a tough start. She has your love and I assume your partner's love too? I am sorry to hear things are really tough, but hopefully you and dp can get through it.

I don't know what to say other than keep applying for jobs, do you have any family centres nearby that can offer a listening ear/advice or even some time during the day where you can go for warmth?

Do dps parents, are they around to show you some support (even if it's moral rather than financial) I really hope things work out for you, you and dp are under a lot of stress, so be kind to each other and I really hope things look brighter soon.

sorry to be of not much help, just wanted to say I had heard
x

SantasReindeerDonna20x · 08/11/2007 12:30

hiya, we do have a gas fire which is on almost 24/7 but its still freezing!
yeah alot of people our age are out getting trashed and at uni. i dont mind being a mum and all the things that go with it though.
think im just being daft. i know there are loads of people out there that are worse off than me

OP posts:
LadyOfWaffle · 08/11/2007 12:33

one handed typing sorry -

are you getting all the benfits you are entitled to? When DH was out of work for 2 months earlier this year, our tax credits more than doubled .

LuckyUnderpants · 08/11/2007 15:57

Hi sorry to hear you are having a bad time of it, there isnt much i can offer you advice wise, do make sure you are getting all of the benefits you are entitled to, i.e tax credits, may even be worth chatting to your local CAB just to make sure, also check if you are entitled to a heating allowence if the weather gets very cold. As long as your little one is loved she wont mind too much about the cold, lo's are very adaptable, i hope things get better for you soon

tron · 08/11/2007 20:40

could you get a grant from the council for the central heating...........my mum got one and heating and double glazing....she lost her job as she was a drinker and hasn't worked for ages. I'm sure you'd be more 'worthy' than my mum

try the post office website they've got a thing on there saying the need extra sorters etc for the run up to xmas - if you both do it you could work oposite shifts for a while so there would be 2 incomes....just a thought though, good luck

lucyellensmum · 08/11/2007 21:24

santasreindeer, i really feel for you. But i have to say, you are doing amazingly well, you have come from a really hard background and yet you still have managed to settle down with a mortgage and all the stress that goes with it, you should congratulate yourself.

You sound like a fantastic mum, and you are giving your DD everything a little girl needs, and that is her mummies love. How can she be having a shit start to life with a mummy who loves her so much. How old is she?

What sort of work does your DP do?

I think you should talk to your bank, let them know the situation, they may be able to cut you some slack with the mortgage payments. Also, are you getting all the benefits you are entitled to? The benefit system is there to help people like yourselves and you deserve to be given a helping hand. You could definately approach social services for some help with heating, a one off emergency payment, of course i dont think that will cover central heating but they may be able to set you up with something. I didnt have any heating when i had DD1, i was about your age too, what i found an absolute godsend was calor gas heaters. Obviously not for the babies room but for the living room, mine was great and you can pick them up for virtually nothing second hand.

It seems to me you have had to be grown up for a very long time. Another thing that jumps out of your posts and yoru profile is that you are clearly very intelligent. I think you should definately consider going back to college at some point, is there a career path you would like to follow, not now, for later on - i went to college when DD1 started school and ive never looked back.

Try talking to your HV and citizens advice, you have to makeyourself heard as there is help out there but you have to go and find it, if you see what i mean.

Best of luck on the job search. And give your wee bairn a hug from me.

lucyellensmum · 08/11/2007 21:28

Another thing, Homestart are brilliant, i think you can get their number from your HV or GP surgery, if they have one near you. If you can maybe get them onside to help you with the benifits to make sure you are getting everything you are entitled to. I also agree with the other poster who said, find a family centre where you can get out of the house for a few hours, it will be great for DD and help save your sanity. M&T often run in church halls etc.

Keep us posted, we are thinking of you.

SantasReindeerDonna20x · 08/11/2007 21:59

thank you so much for all your replys.
it really is uplifting to know that so many people care.
my dd is 12weeks old,thats why really, i dont want to go to work but not going isnt an option.
i have been to all the agencies in town today and a couple have said that they might have some fork lift work coming up in the next few weeks. (i have both flt licences)
i have checked that we are getting all the benifits that we are entitled to, but i hate to be on benifits, as i feel that

  1. i am scournging (please dont take offence,this is not my intention to offend any1) and 2)i dont want to get 'labelled' iyswim. you know, young mum, on benifits, no qualifications etc etc Lucyellensmum-my DP is a young mens health,sports and rec worker. long title eh i do want to go to college. i would love to be a residential social worker but i have no qualifications which makes things just that bit harder. at intelligent, im not, im just very grown up for my age, had no choice really. once again thank you for taking time out to read, and reply, to my post. it is much appreciated x
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JetPeanut · 08/11/2007 22:00

Just wanted to add that I have an electric heater that we no longer use. It's quite new (about 2 years old and very good - heats up a room a treat. I'd be happy to post it to you (I'd pay). Let me know if you are interested SantasReindeer. I know you said you have one, but it sounds like you could use another?

SantasReindeerDonna20x · 08/11/2007 22:10

awwww thank you so0o0o much. are you sure though?? x

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EachPeachPearMum · 08/11/2007 22:15

Hi SRD, have you contacted your aftercare service at all for support? I know yr 20, but they usually can help with advice etc (well, the ones round me do anyway).
Lots of college courses have childcare attached at no cost too, though SW may not be one of those, if you may need to do an access course first, that might be on that does have childcare.
Just seen your dd is only 12 weeks! WOW- you're doing so well to be posting on here then- I was a complete state when mine was that age, didn't put the computer on till she was about 7 months!
Some mortgages allow for 'payment holidays'- its worth checking with the bank if your does.
Good Luck!

JetPeanut · 08/11/2007 22:15

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SantasReindeerDonna20x · 08/11/2007 22:20

EPPM-i am with an aftercare team, NCH,but that ends when you turn 21. next wednesday as it happens. thats why i think im panicking abit.
JET-your kindness is overwhelming, im sat here in tears because i cant believe that there are people like you out there. are you positive your sure? do you want anything for it? x

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ScoobyDooooo · 08/11/2007 22:23

I am so sorry life is hard at the moment, try & be postive, we all go through bad times but you WILL come out the other side.

Trying to think if there is anything i can do to help, does your dd have enough blankets & things to keep her warm at night? gro bag?

JetPeanut · 08/11/2007 22:26

No, honestly you're doing me a favour - it's sat in my hall at the moment in the way! We just had a new patio door fitted (there was an inch gap in the old one) and so it's nice and warm in here now. It used to be freezing. We bought the electric heater when we had our baby girl - so know where you are coming from. Send me an email and I'll sort it out. You're really welcome - it's nice to know I'm helping someone out x

SantasReindeerDonna20x · 08/11/2007 22:30

scooby-she has a grobag and her gran got her a blanket the other day. to be honest, most nights, i fetch her into bed with us so its warmer for her. although i do it to make it easier to bf her through the night too x
thank you jet, i will email you x

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JetPeanut · 08/11/2007 22:41

Ok I'm off to bed now. I'll pick up your email tomorrow and try to get it posted off as well. Night!

SantasReindeerDonna20x · 08/11/2007 22:53

goodnight hun thank you x

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lucyellensmum · 08/11/2007 23:04

I think that it is great that you co-sleep, its great for baby.

I know how you feel about the benefit thing, but its there as a safety net, the scroungers are out there, the ones who dont want to work, but you owe it to your baby to make sure you get everything you are entitled to. You will "pay it back" when you are back on your feet, working and paying tax. I hated being on benefit when i was a single mum, but it gave me a safety net and something to fall back on while i was studying. I left school without any qualifications, i dont have any excuse for that really, you do, not an excuse, a reason! What i am trying to say is, dont let the qualification thing stop you, find out what is on offer. Maybe you could just do a few GCSEs at night school whilst the little one is so young, and then you will have your foot in the door to maybe do an access course to do a degree. That is not the issue just now, but it is something to hold on to for the future.

It will get easier i promise you. Just dont be afraid of asking for help, if anyone is entitled to it then you are.

Your little girl is lucky to have you for her mum.

SantasReindeerDonna20x · 08/11/2007 23:12

i will deff look into doing a few gcses. i dont have any excuse for not doing them 1st time round, not even a reason really, i was a little sod, decided that i could be defiant and unruley just because i could. well, what punishment could i get? i rebeled, which now i regret, but my past is in the past and theres nothing i can do about that.
im really ashamed about this, but i also got into drinking heavely when i was about 14. so bad infact that i got into some trouble quite a few times with the law. would this affect my chances of getting the job i want.?

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