Methinks its time for another achievements as a single parent thread

[HerrenaHarridan]

So I'll start

Recently I...

Travelled from Edinburgh to Portsmouth by train with baby in buggy and dog by bus train and tube (yes I failed my driving test again )

Have been mowing my lawn

Conquered (or surrendered to) alopecia by shaving my head and leaving myself with nothing but a punky fringe and a few dreads at my nape. Then continued life as normal in a poor shocked wee village

Got 2 piercings

Fixed washing machine

Fixed Hoover

So what are you proud of yourself for?

Did you conquer that spider?

A life of quiet bravery......yes!!!!!

Well done you on a decade (virtual high five and a slap on the back!!) :)

Put up an Ikea Pax wardrobe!! Knackered but v pleased with myself...Will tackle the sliding doors tom...:0)

"Quiet bravery", yes I think that sums it up - when I have been in various ambulances with ds or the fire (only a small one!) we had the other week.

I'd quite like to freak out and collapse and let someone else deal with it but there is no bloody choice but to keep calm and carry on.

I passed my teaching assistant course with flying colours whilst pregnant, extremely ill, dealing with a relationship breakdown (ex was violent) and coping with DS1 who was ADHD and also going through court as ex wanted access to kids. . Well done to everyone else who posted, single parents really are made of strong stuff

Wow Helen!!!!!!! Big, gold, shiny medal!!!!! You are made of strong stuff!!!! Indestructible or what :)

Am feeling all warm inside reading this, and it is inspiring to hear people who have raised successful children alone. I wish the media would pick up on some of this as single mums are so often beaten with a great big stick, when it is usually the shit bag fathers that are the one's who screw things up!
On my list I would put:
Assembled Ikea furniture (only Expedit!)
Painted my bathroom
Took the children on holiday
Kept the garden under control
Moved my shed (!!!) so faced different direction making garden seem bigger
Painted front door
Go us!!!!

I´ve been waiting to be able to post in this thread.....

Today I ....

HAD MY FIRST PROPER MUAY THAI FIGHT!!!

It was a "non decision" bout....really enjoyed it...nothing but a little bloody nose in terms of injury....and can´t wait for the next one :D

I recommend muay thai to all single mothers out there.....it boosts your confidence like nothing else and also comes with literally mountains of support and community from your gym and training partners.

AM BUZZING!!!

awesome!!!!

First three months on my own:
Took three kids to my first festival in 10 years!!! We all loved it
Took them all to a cottage in shropshire and did the motorway driving for the first time even tho I hate it!!
Survived more crap from soon to be ex and each day is getting easier with that (I think!)
Met a very beautiful and caring man!! Who makes me smile a lot more than ex ever did
Scared shitless about going back to work next week and two out of three kids starting new schools. so after the next couple of weeks I am hoping to write these down as emotional achievements for all!!!
Great thread xx

DD needs a wardrobe and an Ikea catalogue plopped through the letterbox yesterday so I might be able to post on that soon...

In the meantime I have

Mowed the lawn
Unblocked the toilet several times
Taken the DC on an adventure type holiday twice
Packed up and moved house
Passed maths GCSE ( I was a dunce doncha know)
Learnt to do everything online
Got a FT job and been promoted

It has been nigh on four years though but overall its the casual way I approach stuff with a "I can probably do this" attitude rather than I will ask XH

wow - this has made me rethink my recent low mood. After stupidly thinking I might be able to revive past relationship - son's dad....and epic fail! Forgot temporarily what a dick he is! Needed a reminder of how amazing I have coped, moved out of his, set up house, just about to move to nicer area and house, gone back to work and started to advance work achievements, kept little one in nursery and am so proud of his talking abilities. I have coped with so many things that xp has not even had to think about - and he reckons its because I work p/t - well two fingers to you Mr! Its because I'm amazing! and so are all of you!

Just finished spending 2 weeks sanding down the kitchen cupboards. Only 5 left to prime and paint.

I'm soooo sick of sanding.

In my nearly 7 years of single parenthood (DH died when DCs were 8 & 4) I have:

moved half way round the world and started a new life from scratch
bought a house
bought my own car for the first time
learnt to do all the IT-related things DH used to do
carried on doing all the flatpack assembly etc I have always done (DH was hopeless at following instructions, as well as reading maps)
travelled on four continents with the DCs
gone back to university
seen DS through his first two GCSEs this year (A*s).

Mostly I am proud that I have two happy, healthy children who are doing brilliantly at school and get reports praising their friendliness/helpfulness/mature attitudes etc as well as their academic ability. So much for the doom and gloom about children of single-parent families...

When I was 37 weeks pregnant I striped and painted the babies room and the floor built the cot, a bedside table, 38 weeks built a 6 drawer ikea chest of drawers gave birth the next day! Think that brought on my labour!

Fifi.....you've put me to shame! My ikea chest if drawers is still in the hall in bits. I was proud just getting it out of the car and into the house by myself. I'm psyching myself to make it.......can't believe you managed it 38 weeks preg. Pretty amazing!!!!!!! X

Ok...here's mine.
Lived alone with DCs for 14 years and therefore did everything. Stayed in endless nights on my own.

BUT:
Build myself two careers (in horticulture and events)
Learned to dance
DD in Uni
DS in college (just, after an unexpected year of home ed)

Yes I would like to add steering DS through his GCSEs , he just got a great set of results. This is in spite of XHs oft repeated mantra that education is a waste of time

High fives to all of the mums whose dc got good results. My dc are 3 and 1 and sometimes I worry about the teenage years and how I'll cope. Just got to take each step as it comes though.

I've just changed my sons mountain bikes rear inner tube and replaced the tyre on my own in my jammies using two eating knives and the mole grips I've had since 1998.It took less than ten minutes my son has been cycling round on a semi flat tyre for weeks waiting for his dad to come and do it for him.Ive destroyed my manicure but who cares.at least my son knows someone cares.

Well done! That's a pig of a job at the best of times.

This is such a lovely thread. Makes you realise how far you've come.

I love this thread

I have been on my own for just over a year and have replaced a toilet seat, built a flat pack bookcase, repaired the washing machine (thanks you tube!), went on hol driving on the motorway just me and DS, got a promotion, and moved the furniture round (seriously heavy!)

I never thought I was capable of doing this stuff. Sounds pathetic I know. XP didn't think I was capable either so his face has been a picture

I'm on a roll today any more macho and I will have to consider growing a penis.I felled a tree not a little one a full on taller than my house tree using a bow saw and a hell of a lot of effort.ive cut the bugger into manageable sized bits and a friends hubby who has a dumpy truck is going to take it for their wood burner.I now have to get the root out because that's where when I've saved enough money Iam putting a seriously naff hot tub Now IMHO that's a single parent success especially as I managed not to timber it onto my son and daughters who are deeply impressed with mummy's efforts.

So many amazing stories from amazingly strong women here. I love it.

I have become a flatpack wiz, built a bike, got a good degree and am now being paid (not a lot of money, but it's only the start) for a job I love and can do during DS's schooling.