No it's bloody not

[Bunkai]

Chatting to my married colleague at work she asked what I did for my own Christmas presents seeing as I'm a lone parent with no family.

I replied that I buy a few bits to open with my DCs on Christmas Day. She told me that was "really sad". Then said she had to give a list to her DH to get her presents that she wants, her adult DCs only get her a token gift each and MIL gives her money.

"So when I think about it I'm the same as you."

So what nonsense have you had to put up with because you're a lone parent?

Ugh, she sounds an idiot! I don't think it's sad, the fun is in watching the kids open theirs. And it's nice that you have something to with them (and you can make sure it is exactly what you want!). But it definitely isn't "exactly the same" as for her!

My son's previous childminder (lovely in most ways!) used to say "oh, I'd love to have a night off from the kids, you're really lucky...", "my DH leaves the house early and doesn't get back till 7 so it's like being a single parent for me too...". And my personal favourite "if my DH and I split up, we'd get SO much more money from the Govt..." (yes, only you'd have to fund two households with it!). I think people just don't think sometimes.

Don't get me wrong it isn't all bad being a single parent (it's certainly better being alone than lonely in an awful relationship!) but it is just not the same and it is frustrating when people try and draw comparisons!