Reasons to be cheerful...

[HappyWithLife]

It seems the winter is bringing a spate of unhappiness to the lone parents thread, so I thought we could do with a new 'great things about being a single parent' thread to brighten our days and make us count our blessings.

Ok, I'll kick off...

It's freezing cold outside and I can put the heating up as high as I want without anyone moaning about it, as I am the one paying the bills.

I can shout at Gillian McKeith on I'm a Celebrity without having constant comments in the background.

I don't have to watch the football tonight.

I can wear socks to bed and not have to explain that it's just cos I'm cold and not because I am trying to put him off me sexually. Similarly thermal vests.

I can wear big knickers that cover the end of my back and keep me warm. Thongs do not provide warmth to the lumbar region.

Your turn...

I can come home from work at 6pm and be in my pyjamas within 15 minutes.

I don't have anything in the fridge that I won't eat.

Marmite is banned in my house.

I don't have weekend newspapers lying around the house until the following weekend.

I can chat up men 15 years my junior on dating websites

Great idea!

Having a kingsize bed all to myself.

Being the one who see the huge smile on DS face in the morning when he gets up, melts my heart!

Buying what I want without having to justify it!

Cooking food I like for myself and DS and not having any criticism over how it was cooked!

I have recently redecorated a whole house on my own, enormous self satisfaction and all to my taste.

Having a tidy house and no man leaving everything at their backside - have to say was in ex house today and it was a total tip :)

Not having to put up with a fridge of out of date food the ex refused to bin

....being able to come in from work, be totally knackered, eat what i like, watch crap on tv and not have to listen to a tirade of pointless drivvel

Out of date food....why do men do that? I won;t ever eat anything past it's date, but with every single man I've dated/married it's been 'you can't throw that out, it's only a week past, that's a waste, it'll be fine' ...I've had food poisoning and it is not worth saving 50p for.

Ok...no toenail clippings on the living room carpet.
No letters/bills opened and then just left in a pile on the table.
No shavings left in the bathroom sink.

king sized bed all to myself.

any money that gets frittered in this house gets spent on clothes / books / toys / nice things instead of beer & kebabs.

I can buy wine in the knowledge that it will stay there until I decide to drink it, instead of being guzzled like beer, or even worse drunk from the bottle in the morning because 'it's cold and I was thirsty'!!!

So many to choose from!

Kingsize bed all to myself.

No foul smelling farts in bed or snoring - peace and quiet!

No pile of yesterdays dirty clothes disgarded on the floor in front of the laundry bin to pick up.

No foul tempered, abusive alcoholic to live with

No Virgin Media huge TV package to pay for - only need the basic 5 channels for my viewing, AND I get to watch what I want.

Peace, calm and tranquility at all times, no agro, no arguments, and a very happy and contented baby.

Can wear vest and shorts to bed without having to explain that I'm chilly and no its not because I've gone frigid.

Ah...the peace and tranquility, bliss. There is no tension, no walking on eggshells, no coaching the kids what they acn and can't say in case he explodes....sighs happily.

I can watch back to back episodes of the Vampire Diaries and drool over the male characters.

Yes, the eggshells. Certainly don't miss tippy-toeing over those on a daily basis.

And my gorgeous dog is happy too now that she doesn't have to cower in her bed petrified to move

Not having to worry about being better at anything then anyone else for fear it might dent the male ego and cause several weeks of angst.

Oh and being able to say 'no I think your drawings and piantings are shit actually'

Good timing - it was DD's 3rd birthday yesterday, so we went for a meal with ex, who was on best behaviour and made me ever-so-slightly nostalgic for being together.

But - I can go home and not have him complain that the washing up hasn't been done. I can have DD in my bed and cuddle her without him wrenching her away from me. I don't have to wait for him to be finished in the shower in the morning. No more worrying about anything that might jolt him out of his good mood and back into being nasty again.

I never before realized that being able to "breathe easier" has a quite literal meaning.

Nickname...oh it definately has a literal meaning. I'd been holding my breath for so long that I still feel like I'm exhaling now, long after he went.

Lol some of these are so true, most def the not shaving if we dont want to, i personally quite like having legs like bigfoot under my jeans in winter, saves on tights!!

Also i swear my ex used to hide a mug or plate till after i had finished the washing up then just as i pulled the plug he'd put it on the side going "u missed one" grrr

Hoping ds doesnt grow up like him as loving the no skid marks in the loo(tho the brush its right next to it) nail clippings in the carpet and wet towels in heap on floor.

Am in a really crappy mood but reading this has made me feel better even if i cant add at the mo.

Then it had the desired effect Iwillmakeit .

Such a lovely thread Happywithlife.

You've really made me laugh Emmalou78.

I love love love having my own bedroom just for me without it being foggy with farts.

There are so many pluses to being single. I wish people in RL would stop asuming that I should have another man in my life. It's always going to be my DC and dogs from now on.

This is a great thread - loving it.........
I've been enjoying all of the above for the last 12 years - why would I give it up for a man - I am in control of my own destiny! :) (except for all that parenting stuff lol)

Sundays RTBC...

I finally worked out how to change my MN username...

Being abe to listen to Radio 2 in the car, and not have my 'can I get home before Paul O Grady finishes' challenge questioned, or branded foolhardy

My reason to be cheerful is that my toxic mother has gone home after a hard and long weekend so me and DCs can breathe again

Just discovered this thread and it's really helped. Dumped by bloke of one year on Wednesday as he can never live with my children, so feeling pretty crap. However, you people have reminded me how wonderful, imaginative and strong single mums can be. And I'm looking forward to no waxing bills from now on...a reason to be cheerful on a dark day!

Another vote for the Yeti legs here
I spent all day Mnetting working at home in a huge jumper and no make up (tis snowy here, I'm loving my jumper) without feeling I had to change
God, the toilet smells [vom]> Though the Ex has been known to pick up DD and "oh, I'll just nip to the loo" - pebbldashing the whole thing.
Not having to waste money on fags or beer or parking tickets.

Can't think of many reasons to be cheerful this teatime. Looked on fb to find ex playing in snow with his kids. He's very cheerful and obviously not thinking about me. Miserable. Oh dear. :(

My STBExH NO LONGER LIVES HERE!!!!

This mornig I snuggled in my bed with my 3 dc and we had a lovely time, and then got up and made pancakes for breakfast ( even though it MADE A MESS !!!) no one shouted, nobody was abusive.

Heaven

and I have a date tonight!

I'm back in Lone Parents again lol. DH left a couple of weeks ago so far my reasons are:

I'm happier than i have been in ages (after the intial shock he said it was over)

Housework etc is done rather than me leaving it because he's said he do it and it never happens

Cooking once a night instead of twice

Redecorated my front room to my taste (ie not boring)

Cooking a meal or not - my choice

No football dominating the airwaves every weekend

No more bending into every shape and turning myself inside out trying to make him notice me

No more wondering how drunk he will be when he comes through the door after being out every single night

No more listening to him huff and puff about how hard he works how important he is every single day

No more cringing at the way he speaks to people in shops etc

No more puddles at the base of the toilet every single night

No more having every lifestyle choice ie music,films,clothes derided

No more running commentaries on the short comings of every single road user on the planet

Theres plenty more where that came from

Oh yes indeed after a rollercoaster year I love being single