feeling frustrated!!

[lockdownmummax]

just felt like I needed to vent and see if other single mums feel the same...

I'm a student nurse and my daughter is 18 months old, I pay £600 a month for my daughter to go to nursery so I can do my classes I also work 16 hours a week to pay the bills, money's tight. I had a works night out planned ( first night out I would of had since before I was pregnant ) my daughters gran was supposed to be having her but they have tested positive for Covid ( I am no way annoyed at this of course it's just the world we live in just now )

my daughters dad hasn't paid any child maintenance since we split up months ago, he has seen her but hasn't took her out alone and also says he can't do childcare for her as he works? He still says he wants to be a part of her life but he doesn't do anything that proves this

I'm just sitting here so annoyed that he's financially stable out doing whatever he wants, buying himself nice new things and I'm left struggling financially and doing absolutely everything myself for my daughter, does being a single mum get easier feel like I've hit a low today

I take it you have applied for all the benefits you are entitled to as 16 hours is not that much - try entitledto.co.uk or turn2us. Put a claim in via the CMS for him to pay. You could look at an app called Bubble who help parents arrange regular or one off child care. Good luck x

Hugs. What conversations have you had with her dad re money? Can you go via CMS

i get this. you'll have to go to cms, he'll have her more if he realises he has to pay more maintenance if he doesn't have her.

you're doing amazingly, what a great example you to your child.

If he refuses to look after her then there's not much you can do to change his mind. My son's dad see's him for a few hours every week (whilst I am at work) but if I ever mentioned a weekend or one of his days off it would suddenly turn into oh I've got to work.
It's like he does the bare minimum so he can say he isn't a dead beat dad. No more no less.

I don't know if it gets better because our kids are the same age but for yourself I would say go through CMS. - your child deserves better.
At this age you are all they know but as they get older they will see the differences in care.
Have you got any other relatives who might be able to help with childcare so you can get your well deserved night out?
I know there are babysitting services but they aren't a cost that some of us can justify.

Your daughter’s father sounds useless. The best thing to do here is contact CMS so you can get some proper maintenance for your child.