Mums who make this site possible
There are several mums who make this site possible by contributing articles and generally giving there wise pennies worth. Here you can get to know them.
First there is me. I’m Kairen and the culprit behind Confessions of a Single Mum. You can read more about me or get to know the other mums who contribute with articles.
Jo
My name is Jo and I am a single parent to two daughters – Bee is 14 and Belle is 7. I was only 16 when I became pregnant with Bee and she was born in the summer holidays between the first and second year of my A-levels. Her father was incredibly supportive and we stayed together for three years, but eventually grew apart. We separated when Bee was two years old and I was in the first year of my degree.
I was a single mum to Bee for about two years and when she was four I met the father of my second daughter. We were a couple for eight years and split in early 2008 – I have been a single mum all over again for around 18 months now.
Second time around is quite different for me. I am a lot older, if not necessarily wiser, and am now self employed, working from home as a charity consultant – www.monetas.co.uk – and freelance journalist – www.jomiddleton.co.uk – to try and fit in with school and children.
I do enjoy the independence of being a single parent – not having to worry about clashing parenting styles or choices and knowing I can take most of the credit for having two fantastic children! I do find it restrictive personally, not having the freedom to go out much at all in the evenings or pursue my own interests outside school hours. I am not in a rush to find a new partner though and am quite happy with my family of three.
Jo has written a few articles for us so far :
As ever, another witty and wonderful post from Jo.
As a self employed single mum, my time always feels stretched to the max - kids, school, work, home - something just has to give ‘Do it yourself’ is the mantra of single parents everywhere. As a single mum of two daughters, aged seven and fourteen, I know I have to rely on myself if I want anything done at all.
When I set out to write about being a single parent I had a good idea of what I wanted to say. It was going to be very balanced – an essay type Being a single mum is hard. Making friends is hard. But what about combining the two? This afternoon I spent four hours at an indoor soft play centre. How, you may be wondering, did I do this without wanting to drown myself in the ball pit? Easy.
