Christmas is supposed to be a happy time. A time for the whole family to be together. But after divorce, when relations with your ex may be exceedingly un-festive, you will feel anything but a complete family. Even if you don’t miss your other half per se, your children will. Read more…
I’ve written before about how I have trouble asking for and accepting help. It’s an ongoing theme in my life, but this year, I feel, has been a lesson in doing just that. It’s not so much that I’m this proud, independent single mother who wants to do everything myself; Read more…
I wrote a post the other day about accepting or asking for help as a single parent. I received a couple of messages after this from people saying they knew single parents and wanted to help them, but didn’t want to appear condescending or rude by offering their help. Or Read more…
S is obsessed by superheroes these days; if you follow me on Instagram you may have noticed all her superhero themed clothes, costumes and face paints. I often joke with her that I’m a secret superhero too, but she never takes me seriously. The thing is, I really am a superhero Read more…
Don’t feel sorry for me because I had a nervous breakdown and had to leave my job because I couldn’t cope with speaking to people. Don’t feel sorry for me because I ended up in an abusive relationship and had a traumatic pregnancy which ended fairly dramatically when S was born 5 Read more…
I am an introvert. I didn’t realise there was such a thing – or that I was one – until fairly recently. When I figured it out, suddenly everything fell into place. I’m sharing this because I feel like learning these things about ourselves can help us in many different Read more…
I’ve always called myself a single mother – hence the name of this blog. But just recently I’ve been intrigued by the different terms there are out there for people like me. As far as I can tell, there are three: a single parent; a lone parent; a double parent. There’s Read more…
When you’re a single mother… The Centre for Social Justice bring our reports bemoaning the rise of single parent families and talking about “disposable dads” – as if you deliberately went out and tricked a man into getting you pregnant, then ditched him once you had your grubby council flat. Read more…
A while ago, I wrote a post entitled Things NEVER to Say to a Single Mother. It’s been really popular; in fact, at the time of writing it’s the third most popular post on this blog. The thing is, one lady left a comment on the post, asking what I felt Read more…
Normally on a Monday, I post a weekly weigh-in. This week, I’m posting this instead. I don’t feel like weighing myself or measuring myself or taking a selfie for a weigh-in post. I don’t feel like facing the fact I’ve put on weight and am the largest I’ve ever been Read more…
A couple of years ago, I wrote a post called Single Mothers Don’t Get Sick, about the fact I don’t have the luxury of taking to my bed with every sniff or cough. Since publishing that post, I have had the odd bug, and my sister has stepped in to save Read more…
Last year, S and I went with Auntie Af to a holiday park on the coast for weekend. I was so glad to have my sister with me; at the time, S was 2 and into everything (not much has changed; now she’s 3 and into everything). She figured Read more…
Tuesday, 8th May 2012. S’s father stormed out of the house a few days ago. Since then I’ve tried to call, but he’s never answered, texting only occasionally and never enquiring as to how either S or myself is doing. This morning I wake up and find a text Read more…
Today is Single Parents’ Day, though you probably didn’t notice. There don’t seem to be too many cards in the shops for this one, do there. Probably because if you’re a single parent, you don’t have a partner to go out and blow a small fortune on gifts for Read more…
For those who don’t know, we moved house last week. In the week or so before the move, I was trying desperately to juggle my workload (oh, the joys of being self employed) with caring for S, and packing. My mum had S a couple of days so that Read more…
The thing about dating when you’re a single parent is that it’s such a kerfuffle! I mean, dating in itself is a pain in the bum – you get dressed up, you put on your best smiley face and basically make like you’re having a job interview for an hour Read more…