This week marks one year since the end of life as we knew it. It might sound dramatic, but, I think we are all starting to realise that while lockdown easing is beginning, the reality is, life has changed for good. Some of these changes are positive. Like work places are more likely to grant…
Articles by Ellamental Mama
Valentine’s Day: A single parent love story
“Oh my God it’s a baby. It’s MY baby”, I screamed as the midwife placed my first-born son upon my body as I lay, exhausted in the birthing suite. Despite having had my allotted nine months warning, I was in no way prepared. Sure, I had the Moses basket that he’d never sleep in, the…
2020: My Writing in Review
Wow, what a year to be writing. And write I did, although a lot of it was off the blog both for other publications and for projects which are still not finalised so it might have felt a little quieter than normal (watch this space for the other projects sometime soon-ish). I started the year…
Why Feeling Like a Single Parent In Lockdown Isn’t The Same As Being One
As the coronavirus crisis strips back family support systems it’s become clear who’s been holding the fort: women. Women have absorbed the bulk of the economic and emotional impacts, the additional childcare and the home management responsibilities. In some circles these additional burdens have led to coupled mothers claiming they ‘feel like a single mum’. Whilst many have indeed experienced some of…
Longterm Lockdown
I started this year with a spring in my step. There’s photos of me and the kids seeing in the new year on a night train in Egypt, travelling again just how I’ve always loved. Things were going well. I could feel the gentle waft of hope once more. And things did go well until…
How to help those with suicidal thoughts
Content warning…. Talks about pain, depression and suicidal thoughts. It’s suicide prevention awareness week, or it was. I’ve been aware of it out there but I’ve not been with it enough to say anything. And no doubt I’m still not. But something needs to be said given we keep hearing how depression and mental health…
Exiting the Ashes of Lockdown
My counter tells me its been 4220 hours (or is it days???) since my little family of three went into lockdown. As restrictions have eased, things have become easier for many, but looking at social media tells you the difference in experiences of many this summer. Of course we aren’t still living in full lockdown,…
How to support the campaign for legal rights for single parents
I’ve been writing and campaigning about single parent issues for years. The stories of discrimination and stigma within our community are plentiful, as are the stories of bravery, strength and fun. Single parenting isn’t a curse or a synonym for hardship. However, it is all encompassing. It’s a life built on independence and with it come…
Why Single Parents Need to be A Protected Group in Law
Did you know that in Britain in 2020 it’s illegal for employers to discriminate against married people, but if you’re single you’re fair game? This *may* have made sense when married people were potentially considered to be less flexible given responsibilities at home and therefore faced unfair treatment in the workplace. But what of now…
The Worst Bits of Lockdown As A Single Parent
I told you about the best bits, now here’s the worst. Everyone’s ‘worst’ will differ, but I’m sure we can all relate to many parts of this current situation being crappy and I appreciate that in the grand scheme of things my situation really isn’t so bad. Many of these challenges are the flip sides…