we dont know how strong we are

[Gottabbrave]

Until we have to do it alone.
Hi just a boost realy to all those newly lone parents out there who for whatever reason are wondering how to cope. I have 4dcs from a baby up to an 11 year old newly single after dv towards me. Ex p doesnt realy care about seeing his kids so far (younger too) been nearly a month now.
But im doing it! Its a struggle with not much family support as my parents work ft . Im sure you will agree its exhausting and liberating at the same time(being a single parent) but i think us women are capable of so much more than we give ourselves credit for.
I read some of these threads of you asking how will you do it alone financially emotionally and physically and i just want to tell you you can. We all can. There are some brillient single mums out there who dont get the recognition they deserve because society puts us in a box but im proud to say im not a scrounger because im raising my dcs to the best of my ability to be happy healthy members of society and thats the hardest job i know! I am on benefits at the moment because i have to be and im not ashamed to be. So you can do it . Good luck to you all. Xx

Hi five.
I do it and I do it well
More to the point I am a better parent on my own than I was in my marriage.
I am strong

well said Brave, glad u started this thread. Yes it's tough but I've found reserves of strength and courage I never knew I had. And totally agree Pillow about being a better parent now I'm on my own.
We should all be proud of ourselves.

I read somewhere (maybe on here) that:

Women are like teabags, you don't know how strong they are until you put them in hot water.

I've never forgotten that and it has cheered me up during low times when i think of how things were to how they are now and everything that's happened inbetween.

Well said Brave, I too am a newly single mum(since september) and do worry alot about it all, like you say we all manage somehow though, although I do worry alot about the finanacial side of things especially now, (dd is 6 and has just been diagnosed with ADHd, I currently work 4 long days a week and ex dp, his dad and his friend (mainly her at mo as ex working) do school drop offs and pick ups, however dd really needs me at the moment so from February I am changing my hours to working within school hours five days a week so am around to do school runs and be there for dd more- This means I will need to take a massive pay cut but dd has to come first) and as you say Brae we stay strong and do what we feel best for our children.

All the best to all single parents (Mums and Dads) out there.

One thing I think helps me a lot is I have a friend who lives miles away so cant meet up but if things are getting on top of me (and of course them) we text each other and talk which helps massively.