Please tell me about the realities/practicalities of being a single parent

[relationshipwoes]

What’s it like having less (not enough?) money?

How do you co-parent successfully? How much interaction do you have with DC father regarding bringing up the children?

Are you lonely?

Are you happier despite the downsides?

I have a thread in relationships and I feel I need to hear the warts and all realities of what I might be heading for.

webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100104220535/www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/TaxCreditsandChildBenefit/TaxCredits/peoplewhohelpothers/Entitlementtablesfortaxcredits/Youworkandalsohavechildren/DG_174789

Don't know if kink will work n

Thanks for all the links and info.

Absolutely 0 in savings. No idea why it's coming back with 0 then. I pay £33 per week on childcare (through childcare vouchers, but the calculators don't touch that) so that's less than the smallest entry on the chart.

I've gone back through the calculator but put in lower hours and a lower salary and that makes a change - suddenly I'd be entitled to a load of Child Tax Credits, so I guess I'm just over a threshold.

Kiddo's 3 in a few weeks, so I should be able to stop my childcare payments after the Easter hols. That'ill be a definite help to keeping above the water.

Much better without father. He was angry and unpredictable and i was always worried what mood hed come in. He was controling. Now i can actualy breathe amd not worry on his impact on my baby. He never helped out so that never changed. Its just less stress. Also money didnt really change because he never shared his money with us.
I just know what i and my son deserve and focusing on just us right now.
Money shouldnt be a focus to stay with someone.
Divorce is on the rise because women can finally leave shitty relationships not becasue were failing in any way. Do whats right for you and your child. Your child will sense a fake forced relationship.

Single mother to one son who is nearly 1.

About to go back to work. I am able to support my son and I. I have never had any maintenance from his father. I saved up before my maternity leave and have managed to make it last luckily.

No contact at present with father so no co parenting. He is a difficult and erratic individual and after continued sexual harassment I said I would only bring our son to a contact centre as I didn't feel safe, and he needed to go through a solicitor. Not heard from him since. To be honest it's a relief!

I do find it hard when for example I am ill but generally manage ok. Family live a few hours away but I see them once a week, and moving nearer very soon. It probably helps that I was mostly single and lived alone for 8+ years before my son was born so I'm fairly used to ticking along independently. It will probably be tougher when I go back to work and I don't have a social life apart from play dates as I can't leave my son in the evenings but I can't say it bothers me tbh :)

I felt a weight lifted off my shoulders when we finally split. The endless arguing and stress was over.
I was in control of all my own money which was great and with one less to feed and some tax credits, I managed fine.
I work 3 days a week, earning approx £30k (pro rate) so was eligible for some tax credits and also got a small amount of maintenance.
I had grandparents from both sides helping with childcare through the week and then DD was at her dads one night each weekend. In fact, when we first split around 5 years ago, we tried to do around 50/50 split of the week but it soon became clear that it wasn't working as DD needed routine and her dad's mental health was deteriorating so he wasn't reliable enough.
On the whole him and I get on okay, although he infuriates me from time to time with his (bad) parenting choices!!
We split 5 years ago and can honestly say it's the best thing I did, despite the odd pang of guilt now and again when my daughter (now 7) says how much she misses her dad (even though she still sees him at least every few days as he helps with drop offs and pick ups).
I felt really sad at the time but was ultimately happier being apart. It's not easy :-(