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Lone parents

Use our Single Parent forum to speak to other parents raising a child alone.

Original poster

Anyone else sick of playing happy families without another grown up?

56 replies

fairyfly · 03/09/2006 15:43

I'm bored out of my tiny mind. Sat at the dinner table talking about power rangers. Listening to them eat like a pair of waste disposal units. It's groundhog day unthanked.

What happens when you go on strike as a single mother?

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
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spook · 03/09/2006 18:01

Oh God Oh God. I know EXACTLY what you mean. Sometimes I would like my 6 and 9 year old to crack open a bottle of wine and lean against the kitchen counter chatting to me about their day whilst I lovingly prepare fish fingers.
Then I would like them to offer to put each other to bed whilst I finish said bottle and watch Eastenders.

Original poster
fairyfly · 03/09/2006 18:01

When i first became single and lost my marbles i used to buy paper plates to solve the problem.

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Original poster
fairyfly · 03/09/2006 18:08

Spook, i would like my 5 and 7 year old to say

Have you seen this article in the paper? It's fascinating. Goodness you look drained, why don't you sit here, read it, we''ll wash up and bring you some champagne and run you a bath. Then perhaps we should both get jobs to keep you in the manner you should be accustomed to.

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WelshBoris · 03/09/2006 18:10

Id like my DD to say
"that dress is fabulous, I wont rub my bean covered hands in it, you go out and enjoy yourself. Heres £50 on me, you deserve it. ill put myself to bed dont worry about what time you come home, Ill stay in bed til 10 then make my own breakfast and not jump on your head at 7 screaming WEEEETBIX"

Original poster
fairyfly · 03/09/2006 18:16

My 7 year old doesn't think, bugger, hell or dam it are swear words, i've just told him they are, discuss.

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spook · 03/09/2006 18:20

pmsl you two. I would like my 6 year old to at least ATTEMPT to wipe his own arse. I would like to go out in public without having to break up a full on Rey Mysterio/Edge battle.
I would like my 9 year old to say "fuck it! Lets go out-I'm buying! the next time I am trying to cobble a crap meal together at 6.30 on a school night.
I would like someone to be as excited as I am about Dalziel and Pascoe tonight (my personal fave)

spook · 03/09/2006 18:21

I'm with the 7 year old.
My 2 have just spent the entire afternoon talikng about their "ballbags"

HappyMumof2 · 03/09/2006 18:38

Message withdrawn

Original poster
fairyfly · 03/09/2006 18:40

Oh yes, i get that, my youngest tells my eldest he has no balls. Eldest then shows him them.

I am laughng here as my x has just texted that after weeks of thinking about it i am allowed to go on holiday, it is ok, he will let me.

Bless him.

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rustybear · 03/09/2006 18:54

Sorry fairfly but is it you or Robbie that's on the horse?

chocybickie · 03/09/2006 19:01

i've been separated for 18 months now.
i have those moments where i think "shouldn't someone else be helping me right now!"
but the answer is no, not at all. and i know if i do a, b and c i have the evening to myself. and then sometimes i get to that point of closing their bedroom door and i sit in my bedroom on my own and wonder what it was that i was looking forward to.

but i keep on top of things, i never had any help when i was married so it wasn't a great shock to me.

sometimes though i do need a break. my DP is great at understanding my needs and at providing great nights out and in, they make the weeks in between seem worth it.

Original poster
fairyfly · 03/09/2006 19:06

No horses here.

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WelshBoris · 03/09/2006 19:07

Amazing sex most nights and racous nights out with the girls once a week keep me going

And virtual sparring on MN of course

moondog · 03/09/2006 19:14

I do it on a p/t basis.
Weekends are the worst,soooooooo fecking long.

Judy1234 · 03/09/2006 19:21

They go into care I suppose if you go on strike. I sometimes think about it. My ex is relying on me to support us and look after them 100% which is terribly convenient to him and not like most fathers in the UK, even after divorce. I particularly noticed when I was away on holiday 10 days ago with all five children how much I just wanted some conversation with someone my own age, even the teenagers don't really fill that need.
It's a circle because as you have them all the time you aren't able to find anoyone else so it just carries on whereas parents with the luxury of an ex who sometimes has the children or even... wow... has them to stay for a whole night... have it so much easier in terms of finding someone else.

chocybickie · 03/09/2006 19:28

My ex has said he isn't capable of looking after the children for more than a few hours and definitely not over night as he has a life afterall. Least he's honest.
My mum babysits for one night each month. But DP is happy to stay at home with me. I think I got very lucky finding him tbh.

spook · 03/09/2006 19:29

Oh Xenia. If my twat of an ex had not had the boys on overnight stays my new relationship would definately not have gone the distance.
If you have really done a holiday with 5 kids on your own then I salute you I really do!

spook · 03/09/2006 19:31

I think you did chocybickie!

Original poster
fairyfly · 03/09/2006 19:40

Xenia, your not alone, i would say most fathers don't bother from my experiences and the people i know. Try building up a network somewhere else, kindness can be found.

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nikkie · 03/09/2006 19:54

I go to work for a break and adult company!
Unfortunatly I then use up babysitters whilst I do that
I have found been off work for the hols very hard as I had no adult company.I met some friends with the kids etc but Mammy friends aren't the same as just friends

HappyMumof2 · 03/09/2006 20:06

Message withdrawn

UselessMum · 03/09/2006 21:42

Xenia, I've told you before when I did not know you were doing it all on your own. You are a SUPERWOMAN!! I salute you too. [respectful face]

Vindaloo · 03/09/2006 22:32

wow!! the thought of saying 'am off to the shops, back in half an hour'. Am single mum with dd 2.6, my parents are visiting me over the summer and I actually got to say it!!

Original poster
fairyfly · 04/09/2006 02:02

Fuck em

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Judy1234 · 04/09/2006 15:12

I suppose people manage to find someone else even if they have their children 100% of the time. My mother died 18 months ago and we're having to arrange my father's care and no relatives live near by anyway so that's hard. I can pay people to babysit but it would just be easier if I could say to someone - well every other weekend they're with their father or their father has them for a week in the summer or something easy like that.