Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Lone parents

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

Original poster

Professional Single Parents

354 replies

TeachesOfPeaches · 18/07/2019 08:36

I'm a single full time working mother of one 3 year old in London. As my career is progressing I realise I don't know any parents like myself and I would really like to discuss how others manage childcare, travelling for work, getting a mortgage on your own, tax free childcare etc and I have nobody to discuss this with.

Anyone out there in a similar situation?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Muddlingalongalone · 20/08/2019 17:14

NW London here.
In my early 20's I said I would wait til I could afford not to work to have children.
Now I've had 2 go through a brilliant full-time nursery partly out of necessity in terms of having a roof over their heads and my post mat leave 1 job not conducive to p-t working & partly for my own sanity. I love my babies to bits but it would have driven me nuts to be a f-t sahm.
Surely everyone does their best in their circumstances and we should be supporting each other not judging each other's choices or circumstances?

BumblebeeBum · 20/08/2019 19:37

Forgot to come back and say thanks to everyone for suggestions for clubs. No room for au pair and I don’t want to pay for a nanny. I’ll keep just feeling guilty about it I think!

BumblebeeBum · 20/08/2019 19:39

@EverTheConundrum - what a shitty judgemental thing to say on what has otherwise been and supportive and friendly thread.

OhamIreally · 21/08/2019 20:36

I think Ever has joined this thread by mistake.
Hope everyone has good plans for the weekend going to be a nice hot one (at least in North London Smile

MummyRM100 · 21/08/2019 20:59

@anothermansmother - hey! I'm a single parent, professional, mum of one 7 year old boy. Also live in the Merseyside area ! And also keen to meet other mums in the same boat ! :-) x

anothermansmother · 21/08/2019 21:53

Yeah! @MummyRM100 we should start a group!

anothermansmother · 21/08/2019 21:54

Now if I can remember my log in I'll pm you.

MummyRM100 · 21/08/2019 21:59

@anothermansmother yay!!! Let's do this ! Erm.... I have no idea how to receive PM's ? I'm using the Mumsnet talk app ? I take it I need to log in on the proper site ? Technophobe here and new to Mumsnet ! Literally rejoined today. Last used it 7 years ago when my baby was about 6 months old !

Original poster
TeachesOfPeaches · 21/08/2019 22:08

@EverTheConundrum this thread is for single full time working parents.

OP posts:
Original poster
TeachesOfPeaches · 21/08/2019 22:11

@MummyRM100 @anothermansmother welcome Merseyside!

OP posts:
Original poster
TeachesOfPeaches · 21/08/2019 22:14

@OhamIreally @Muddlingalongalone that's two North of the River I've spotted

OP posts:
anothermansmother · 21/08/2019 22:15

@MummyRM100 I've pm you.

MummyRM100 · 21/08/2019 22:39

@anothermansmother got it. Sent ya one back

Original poster
TeachesOfPeaches · 23/08/2019 10:50

We've made it to Friday once again, hope you're all doing well (and surviving school holidays,those with school aged children).

OP posts:
FionaCorkesWardrobebyKamizole · 23/08/2019 13:57

And you TeachesofPeaches. It's been a tough week with work, and DS has been crying every morning about going to holiday camp (though he does seem to be happy enough when I pick him up so I'm not too worried. He used to do this at nursery too, but I thought he'd grown out of it by now!). I'm looking forward to the long weekend though.

Original poster
TeachesOfPeaches · 23/08/2019 16:57

Thank you. My one isn't well so he spent all night being hot and coughing in my face and climbing all over me. Tired and grumpy today!

OP posts:
Muddlingalongalone · 23/08/2019 19:43

Happy Fri-yay everyone.
Extra happy tonight. My girls come back from their dad's tomorrow after 2 weeks away.
It's been a knackering week workwise though coz I'm on holiday next week. Also been out every night coz I'm 40 next week. Feeling super loved by my colleagues....cake, decorations & pressies today after cocktails on weds night.
Have a great weekend everyone.

Littlefluffycloudos · 23/08/2019 20:02

Happy Friday all! Am having a few drinks with friends but super tired and want to crawl in to bed!!

bluebellsandnettles · 23/08/2019 20:26

I've name changed. Couldn't remember my password so couldn't get into my old account,
I was hooleywoo or some such.
Just came on to say, I am tired, oh so very tired.
Got a week left before I go back to work... we have had a blast, but my god, if someone rocked up and offered me a night off, I would bite their hand off. People keep telling me I need to relax, get some down time before back to teaching full time.... ha bloody ha. When? How?
Ugh...

SeaSidePebbles · 24/08/2019 07:57

Happy Bank Holiday with good weather 😂!!!

In the true spirit of this thread, I shall be mainly writting my essay for a postgrad course I’m taking. I plan to take the ipad on the green outside though, a bit later on.
DD is going to a festival. DP is getting out of my way so I can focus on writing.
What are you all up to?

MummyRM100 · 24/08/2019 09:06

@anothermansmother hi Hun - I can't remember how to log into my private messages - I can't access them anymore ! When I go to the normal Mumsnet page and put my password in it won't accept it. So I can't get to my inbox arrrghhh!!! Not ignoring you. Bear with me please see if I can sort it !! X

anothermansmother · 24/08/2019 09:30

Ah yes a bank holiday weekend with good weather. We're meant to be going to a festival by my parents, but now I'm debating if I can be bothered (2-3 hour drive) or if I'd rather stay home and bbq!
My daughter has her riding lesson today and I'm going to do some gardening as it's nice as the grass is about 2 feet high again
This is where I always feel it the most though, being on my own with the kids...lots of families everywhere but then I realise the only thing I really need a man for is putting the bins out! Wink
Does anyone else have any nice plans?

anothermansmother · 24/08/2019 09:31

@MummyRM100 no worries I haven't had chance to log in for a few days!

MummyRM100 · 24/08/2019 09:35

Keep your eye on this thread hun coz if I can't work out how to access my inbox messages again I'll have to let you know on here and I'll have to set up a brand new account 🙄

NeonMist · 24/08/2019 17:13

@TeachesOfPeaches and everyone else, Hi! I'm glad I stumbled across this thread as I only know of one other single mum in real life, and it can feel isolating to be the 'only single mum in the village' surrounded by 'nuclear families' or lovely couples with children. Even if they're lovely I often feel like the 'odd one out' as a single parent in my part of London!
I work as a psychologist full time in London, and have been the sole carer of my lovely daughter since pregnancy. My daughter's dad is around, but we don't have a structured set up when he sees her. He's had her overnight and from her feedback she doesn't want to go back as he gets frustrated if she's sad etc, which makes me weary of sending her there. As a result I have very little to no free time, like several of you've said.. and family lives abroad.
It's so hard to hold the responsibly alone!
Financially and emotionally...
I want the best for my daughter (I know I'm not alone in that) and don't want her to miss out on anything - so she's enrolled in every activity possible, but it's cripplingly expensive and I'll have to up my salary which is both a stress and a motivator!