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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?

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Original poster
TeachesOfPeaches · 02/08/2019 18:52

A tan in Ireland? Never heard anything so ridiculous!

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Whoseagooddoggiethen · 02/08/2019 19:16

Well now you are a laughing stock cos i just applied an all body one and plan to sit outside tomorrow and pretend it was a real one hahaha I couldnt tan if i lay ON the sun I can tell you. I have that loverly oirish ginger hair with skin to match! The boys look like they are swedish in the sun though. They bronze (bad mammy allowing the kids to colour ahem) and they are blonde anyway so i will be beating the women off them in years to come ;)

SlightlyMisplacedSingleDad · 02/08/2019 19:23

That's work over for me! The kids are back from their holiday with their mum, and now I have god knows how many loads of clothes to unpack, wash, and repack ready for our holiday to start on Sunday. But, in the meantime, I also have to squeeze in the 12 year ild's riding lesson tomorrow, and the friends she's invited round in the afternoon. Who needs sleep anyway? 😀

Original poster
TeachesOfPeaches · 02/08/2019 19:25

Jeysus mother Mary of god - not the sun! Shockmy grandparents are orish and I have two very red headed sisters - one tans a dream and the other starts blistering at daybreak

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Whoseagooddoggiethen · 03/08/2019 08:58

Singledad sleep is overrated anyway ;)

Ah well there goes any pretence my tan us real - its raining here today. Kids have a party on later so going to get food shopping done and then nest for the day while eatingrings around me. Sure nobody sees me naked anyway like!

Whoseagooddoggiethen · 03/08/2019 17:49

So the kids fancied a slushie today and me trying to be practical and think of all the slushies they might want in future bought a pack of slushie mixes in argos! We have an ice crusher and a sodastream so i set to work and they mixed their own slush colours .... meanwhile i spied the christmas vodka do im currently sipping a rather large voddie n coke slushie now myself Grin

Original poster
TeachesOfPeaches · 03/08/2019 18:55

@Whoseagooddoggiethen I most definitely HAVE NOT got an M&S premixed cocktail in a tin and blitzed it with ice in my (now defunct) Nutribullet, no, not me, never !! BlushGrin

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Muddlingalongalone · 03/08/2019 19:05

Hello everyone. Can I join you pls.
Single mum to an 8 year old & a 4 year old since the youngest was 4 months old, living in zone 6 west London.
I work full-time at the UK Head office of a multi national, no family nearby, ex moved 120 miles away and has the children at half-term & in the holidays.
We live a very crazy, rushed slightly chaotic but quite fun life!

Whoseagooddoggiethen · 03/08/2019 19:09

Ha teaches my ice crusher is also my non used nutribullet Grin once theres ice its classy!!

Welcome muddling! Nice to see new names pop up, makes us feel less alone Smile

Original poster
TeachesOfPeaches · 03/08/2019 19:21

@Muddlingalongalone welcome to the the thread!

My colleague at my new job asked me what I was doing this weekend and my answer was 'whatever we want!' That's one of the good things about being a single parent. Today it consisted of sitting in a deserted BMX track and racing toy cars down the slopes !

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Original poster
TeachesOfPeaches · 03/08/2019 19:26

Watching a new kids film on Netflix called Two by Two and it is bloody AWFUL!!

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Whoseagooddoggiethen · 04/08/2019 08:31

Is that a noahs ark type thing? If so cant let the boys watch, if my catholic mother found out she would things we are coming back to the church lol

atomicnotsoblonde · 04/08/2019 08:57

I'm a senior NHS manager. I've an 6 and 12 year old. No involvement nor CMS from their father and my parents are beyond useless. I have to cover day shift and on call too. It's exhaustingly hard work and people just don't get it. But, on the whole we busk it, reduce standards and have a really tight unit with the three of us. The kids are great and they are seeing a strong work ethic.

However, if I'm told 'I'm practically a single parent' one more time I may scream. No, you're not like it, not even close!!!

Original poster
TeachesOfPeaches · 04/08/2019 14:32

@atomicnotsoblonde welcome!

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Toomanycats99 · 04/08/2019 18:08

I think I'm going to be dolally by the end of the summer. I am working from home most of the time due to childcare and I really need adult conversation. Just feels like I haven't spoken to anyone. We had a full on weekend last weekend at a friends who had a load of people staying and there I needed my space as it was all too much.

I can't win!

Original poster
TeachesOfPeaches · 05/08/2019 10:45

@Toomanycats99 welcome to the thread! We all know too well here what it's like to not have an adult conversation for days and maybe even weeks Confused

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Original poster
TeachesOfPeaches · 05/08/2019 10:48

@Toomanycats99 welcome to the thread! We all know too well here what it's like to not have an adult conversation for days and maybe even weeks Confused

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Whoseagooddoggiethen · 09/08/2019 13:54

So apparently the boys will see their dad on Sunday. Last time ws 20th July for a few hours so not bad it only being 3 weeks since he last contacted them. Must be the 5th time this year too - he lives 15 mins drive away just to add. Its not like he is a different country or anything, he just has little or no interest in them. I am going to plan something for the day myself!

Original poster
TeachesOfPeaches · 09/08/2019 14:17

@Whoseagooddoggiethen well at least you will get a bit of time for yourself. Mine has 4 hours every other weekend and has been in touch to say he can't do the next 2 and could I be flexible and allow contact on either a Sunday at 5pm or a Wednesday at 7pm. My son is 3 years old Hmm

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Whoseagooddoggiethen · 09/08/2019 14:22

Jesus he is daddy of the year. Does he have no concept of bedtimes?
Yes I am going to meet a friend for lunch and have a decent catch - maybe even a glass of red while there. He is collecting them at 10am so realistically could drop them home for 4 knowing him lol

LondonSouth28 · 09/08/2019 15:45

Hello, please can I join? Recently became a single mum. Live London zone 2, 3 children (4, 3 and 1) and work full time in City. Literally do not stop. Need to move out of family home and get a new home - need to mortgage myself to the hilt and prey I don't ever need new underpants - not in the budget!!

Original poster
TeachesOfPeaches · 09/08/2019 16:36

@LondonSouth28 firstly Shock wow, three tiny ones. Do you have any local support?

Secondly, yes of course you may join!

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LondonSouth28 · 09/08/2019 16:41

@TeachesOfPeaches - no local support that I don't pay for! And yes teeny tiny ones. Thanks for the welcome.

LondonSouth28 · 09/08/2019 16:42

@TeachesOfPeaches - no local support that I don't pay for! And yes teeny tiny ones. Thanks for the welcome.

Original poster
TeachesOfPeaches · 09/08/2019 16:47

@LondonSouth28 I'm the same as you, no local family and pay for every single hour of childcare I use!

Do you have a nanny or do you have to get 3 children ready for nursery before work? I'm intrigued (and nosey and in awe)

Having one baby on my own and working full time was so tough to start with.

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