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,…
Loneliness
The Holiday
How’s the holiday? Was it good? I’m asked. Having fun? It’s an innocent question, from interested friends. As simple to answer as it is to ask, surely? But I have no idea where to start. Good? Bad? A mix of both? It wasn’t in the realms of either. Holidays are for relaxing. After all, sinking…
Dating With Young Kids: The Reality
It’s an irony that’s hard to get around… If you’re a single mum, chances are you went through a lot to gain your single status; divorce and separation aren’t the only ways to single motherhood, but they are the most common. Once you’ve got out of some shit awful relationship and learned to deal with…
Recovering From A Breakdown
Trigger warning, talks about mental ill-health, baby loss, separation and the struggles of motherhood. Recently I saw an incredible piece of performance art by Bryony Kimmings; I’m a Phoenix, Bitch. It had me in tears almost from the first second I walked through the door (which admittedly was about fifteen minutes after the show had…
Living Without Love: Single Motherhood
I’ve lived without love for 1,629 days now. In the early days, hope for a more *real* love sprung forth from the release of “it’s” grip. A love which caused so much pain can’t be true love, can it? Now I could dream big. Four and a half years later, and the mirage of hope…
My Writing In Review: 2018
2018 hasn’t been quite as busy writing wise as 2017 was; thirty posts, not including this one. I did make a baby though, so it’s not too bad going. The year started with a post about new years resolutions – a promise to myself to be a little more selfish when it came to who…
A Message From Single Mums To Shaun Bailey
If you’re a single mum worth her salt then you will have seen the comments from the Tory London Mayor candidate – Shaun Bailey – and be suitably incensed. For those not in the know, he’s churning out the tired old stereotypes most people have bored of. The ones about single mothers being after the…
Reaching In: How to Help a Friend With Depression
Have you ever struggled? Really struggled? Sometimes it’s termed depression, but it doesn’t really matter if you give it a label or not, most of us have tough times and chances are that you heard the same kind of advice I did… “You need to ask for help.” “Why don’t you ask people?” “[You] Just…
My New Year’s Resolution: When Being Selfish Is Kind
My new year’s resolution this year is clear, simple and to the point. I’m going to be selfish. By the end of last year I was at breaking point (again). Most nights ended up in tears (mine, and occasionally little man’s), I got angry in a way I never wanted to and at times it…
Everyone Hates Me
“Everyone hates me,” I sobbed through the phone. It was 11pm on Sunday evening and I’d called my mum because, let’s face it, who else can you call at 11pm when you’re a blubbering mess*. “Don’t be stupid” she said. It didn’t help. As I write this I want to say I didn’t used to…