I'm a single mum, to a now 16 yr old daughter, dad left 4 years ago, no contact or child maintenance as no known address for him.
I had to go on universal credit, I worked part time until my daughter was 15, when I went full time.
My daughter has blamed me, she's blamed me as we don't have alll the things others have, she's blaming me now as I'm always working, and I need to, to pay the rent and to provide her with clothes and all the things she needs ,now it's for college and I know I have help from the government, but it's still so hard.
I work long hours to pay for a home and things for my daughter, I spend nothing on myself, I can't afford that, it's a struggle to balance bills and food..
I have to work as I'm very grateful that I get universal credit, but with no support financially from dad and the cost of things it's so hard, he left me as my husband in shared rental with a shared tenancy , but told me that he would not pay his half of the shared tenancy when he moved out.. unless I took on all of the bills that we paid half of, leaving me with a debt , since he left his job before he left and it was all in arrears..
He was still supposed to pay half as we had 6 months left on a joint tenancy so I was stuck but it would be hard to force it so I took on the debt, as well he was threatening and I felt stuck .
I've been working full time for the last two years but due to paying a private rent , on a low income, I still haven't gotten myself out of debt with utilities, I was so glad to get out of an abusive relationship, but I'm so down now.
I'm ok with not having anything for myself, and working, but my daughter blames me for everything wrong, not having spending money or holidays and I'm always working so I feel so guilty.. I work and try my best and to be involved with my daughter.
She is going to college soon, but has been bored and fed up at home while I work, I've tried to explain that it's hard and the cost of things is high, have encouraged ny 16 yr old to look for a part time job, and helped her but she has no interest.
She seems to have no work ethic or understanding, I want her to do well, but everything is ny fault, I don't have time to rest , she refuses to do any chores or help, I know it's hard for her as her dad left completely, but I'm worried for her future and I really don't know what to do.
Her dad left and she self harmed, she had school counselling, this was at age 12, she's now 16 and I feel I've completely messed up, wish I could cut down ny hours, I feel she thinks I want to work more than spend time with her. Any advice would be appreciated so much