What's GOOD about being a single parent?

[Janos]

OK, It's really hard work, no mnatter how mych you love your LOs. Sometimes....actually no, A LOT of the time it can be a real struggle. Not much money. Little or no support. Prejudice and judgemental attitudes.

BUT BUT BUT.

Despite all of that, I am SO much happier as a single mum.

And here is why.

• No selfish, bullying, controlling XP casting a shadow over me and making my life miserable.
  
  
• I have my own place. OK, it's not luxurious but it's warm, cosy (reasonably clean and it's MINE.
  
  
• What I say goes in my own home.
  
  
• No-one to think about but my and my DS.
  
  
• The pride of knowing I can and do manage on my own.
  
  All of these things make me glad to be a single mum. And actually I think everyone who is should bloody well be proud of themselves!

[shelleylou]

Im ok my sons already being trained lol just from watching me. 15months n takes his plate or bowl into the kitchen n if cant reach 2 put it on the worktop puts it on floor just infront n calls me.

[discoverlife]

Havn't been a single Mum but was a forces Mum.
None of his washing and ironing.
None of that male smell in the house, you know the 'socks been on 2 days or more smell'
and all the ones to do with own space and own duvet etc. But still loved it when he came home. (still with him)

[madamez]

Well I have always been a single parent as DS dad and I were not a couple when we concieved him, and have resisted all suggestions that we should become a coupl. I love eing single anyway - can do what I want, MN all night, fart in mhy own bed and not have to argue about what to do with DS when he's playing up.

[shelleylou]

As hard as being a sigle mum might be i love every miute of it. MY ds 15 months and as weve been on our own 4 the past 7 months have such a close and special bond i wouldnt change that, he knows when mummy needs a hug n comes n sits with me giving me one till he thinks im happy again always been loving but sooo much closer to me now than wen his dad was around!!

[manda31]

My name is Amanda Standish and i am the Outreach Advisor for Reed in Partnership Single Parent Programme the programme is available in your area. As part of our Community Partnership Programme I would like to take this opportunity to give you a brief idea of what we do for Doncaster communities..
Reed in Partnership have successfully operated the Governments Welfare to Work Programme in Doncaster for the last 4years,and placed more than 850. single parents into Employment and Training. We offer a completely voluntary, supportive and specialised service. Financially better off Calculation, CV writing, Training courses if required, Child-care Tasters, Interview Techniques?, along with financial and practical help with the initial costs of returning to work

Our team consists of Specialist Advisers and a Child-care Coordinator. Our aim is to remove barriers to employment whatever they may be. Apart from child-care, the most common barriers are the financial transition from benefits to work, self-confidence in the workplace, and access to information.
Why don t you gives a call and see how we can make a difference.
Amanda Standish
Out Reach Adviser
Doncaster Single Parent Employment Zone
Reed In Partnership

A: Units 4 & 5 Kingsway House, Hallgate, Doncaster DN1 3NX
P: 01302 738096
M: 07506740997
F: 01302 739407
E: [email protected]

[MiaWallace]

I really love this thread.

I've printed it off so I can read it anytime I'm feeling down about being single.

The good definatly outweighs the bad.

[bethoo]

dont have to answer to anyone!

[Scramble]

I will probably get fed up with it , right now after 14+ years I am enjoying the novelty of it all .

Singledad you are terrible .

[singledadofthree]

my thoughts exactly. just want someone to share it all with - is that simple.

[colditz]

When I am poor, I know where the money went.

[MAMAZON]

there are of course many advantages to not being with my ex but at the moment i am really tired of being single.

[singledadofthree]

couldnt help that

[singledadofthree]

sobbbb....she used to do it for me

[Scramble]

Must be some things you like about not having your ex there, like scratching your balls , sorry that is so stereotypical isn't it.

[singledadofthree]

i've yet to think of anything good about it. but then, i'm a fella and had 12 years of it. all my kids are career minded and have no desire to have kids early as i did - wonder why?

[PurpleOne]

Seeing exh's face on Friday when DD2 showed him a ring I was going to post to propose to DP...was a total picture!

Of course exh had to make comments and say 'their my kids too, there's no way you guys are moving to Los Angeles'

Really?

Exh is married now and moved on, likes to try and exert control over me, but when his wife strolled in here and assaulted DD1 back in October, pressed charges etc.
He's only taking dd1 out for THE FIRST TIME SINCE THEN next week! Some bloody father!

Yeah I miss the hugs, I miss my dp and I miss sex BUT to sacrifice all that and do my own thing, regain my independance etc is paramount.
I've been a single mum for 8 years in June. It's hard (I wish lol) but I wouldn't have it any other way. x

[Scramble]

The only time I have missed him was when I crashed the car, it was the only time I wished someone was there to comfort me, but in reality he would have been working anyway and it would still have been the kind man that stopped that helped me and my PIL who comforted me and helped retrieve the car.

[mummyofaprincess]

I also have money left at the end of every week!!

Weird isnt it xp earns twice the amount i have and hes never got any money left (so he tells me anyway)

I went shopping today for baby things for my bump and i didnt have to check that it was ok with anyone.<br /> <br /> DD also has a better life now she wants for nothing (in reason lol) and its ME who puts her clothes on her back and food on the table and i love it!<br /> <br /> I do miss the cuddles, the lieing in bed with xp when he didnt have to work but thats about all i miss really oh and the other bit

[Scramble]

Funny I have half the income to run the house but still have money left .

[Scramble]

Having good days like today, exH had the kids so I spent all morning in town looking for jeans in the sales, Subway for lunch, came home and sprawled out with magazine and a cuppa. Once he was gone kids worked together building a theme park on the PC, while I made soup, and bolognaise for the freezer, then made toad in the hole, helped DD make angel delight and she helped me make bread.

The point is I did what I wanted to, when I wanted to and felt like it was a good positive day .

Tomorrow I have inlaws for dinner and clearing out DD's room for painting so might not end with the same satisfied glow .

[Xavielli]

• Having half the imcome I used to and still having more left at the end of the week (go figure)
• Having to clean up what I see or cause to be messy.
• Being "Xavielli" again instead of "Ex's bird"
• Being seen for the person that I am as opposed to the baby making machine that I was.

[davidtennantsmistress]

( but I do miss the hugs on the sofa - having someone there when I want (not when he wants but when I do! lol) companionship I suppose they call it - sound about 50 now! oh and the obv other one as well but can wait on all of that till someone good enough comes along. )

[davidtennantsmistress]

I can do everything in my own time, how I want, when I want.

(might have well of been a single mum ages ago as H was always away with work but anyhow)

no more alarm going off at 6.30 - and then hit the snooze button till 7.30 when it's a rush to get out the door to work.

no more thinking OMG i'm not at home to cook his dinner/lunch - instead we have lunch where we are

no more star trek/wars/top gear every night

the computer's all mine!

can listen to the music I like. (still deciding what that is)

have got loads more confidence now

can talk to who I want wihtout feeling like I shouldn't.

[wooga]

Not having to hide stuff for ds's lunchbox-my h used to eat it despite me telling him what it was for.

Also much easier to cook as h was really fussy- a mummy's boy who had limited foods he would eat (unless they were dc's-as above!).

A much nicer toilet-no h peeing everywhere-used to think it was ds doing it, but it was my lazy h-he couldn't be bothered to lift up the seat.

No more worrying that h would say something embarassing outside ds's school-usually personal comments about other people's looks.

I only have two dcs now instead of three!