I get to watch the football! 
Just found this thread, thought I'd add to it as have been feeling a bit down and thought it might help me to think about the positives.....so here goes....
I love having the radio on instead of the tv...have got a DAB radio now and the choice out there is great
Love the fact that I have remembered I can cook...after being told for years that I can't....and that my girls love my cooking too
I love having my friends round whenever I want....and the girls having their friends round too
I love feeling safe....not waiting for a drunk man to come home and worrying what that may bring
Being a single parent isn't all bad after all 
Great post, pancake queen!
Yay!!
Being a single parent is great. I love it. So glad that I have not got a man. I can do what I want, when I want because I want to do it. It is nice to have a good support network of friends and be independant. I dont have much family support at all but that just makes you stronger in the end. It has taken years to get to the position I'am in now, and it has'nt been easy. I relocated 11 years ago. Had to fight for my son. I had nobody and nothing here. We now have nice house and live in a good area and my son and I have built up some good friends My son is 17 years old now and doing really well at College going onto University. I'am a Voluntary worker. If anyone is doubting whether to move on I would recommend that you do it. Be brave. Its the best thing I ever did other than have my son!!
Great post Kirsty ST1! It sounds as though you have faced some huge challenges and faced a huge uphill struggle, but you have now made it at the top! Well done you!
Just a thought though......probably not for this thread......you mentioned that you are glad that you have not got a man and say that you can do what you want...if you are with a kind thoughtful parther, you can still have all of the above.
If you fancy talking more about this come and join in this recent discussion What do you look for in a partner?
Thanks for sharing where you have got to now though, I hope that it will encourage other parents who have recently become single or who are struggling to know that there is hope!!
the house is a tip n hes not hear to whinge complain n berate me for that!
il clear n clean up in my own sweet time thank u very much 
ah yes! Once, shortly before our separation my husband asked if we had been burgled (as the house was such a mess) Answer no, but you can tidy it up a bit DEAR.
Good one chocolate81,
I remember my ex would often make comments about the state of the house, but he never offered to do anything about it!!
I had one of those PQ, thing was he was never happy either way.
This is an awesome thread. It's not all doom and gloom!
I love the sense of achievement that comes with being a single parent. Knowing that you're the one who makes things happen, who keeps the house going, who keeps the kids happy and safe.
I love the quiet evenings in by myself, strangely enough especially at the weekends when I have my kids. I don't watch TV much but sometimes, a bad movie and a takeaway on a Friday night is all I want! I do get lonely sometimes but I relish my alone time.
Ooh, what else...
To be honest, the very best thing is that very special bonding that happens when you're the main carer of small people. When my husband was at home with us, I found myself being so checked-out all of the time. I was so distanced from all of them, I didn't realise how unhappy I was until he was gone and things started clicking into place. I feel like me and my little boys are this really awesome team, us against the world. It's awesome and I don't think I'd have it any other way.
I was thinking the very same thing the other day just-immi. Its a great feeling
... Terrible jokes!
Daddy! Why did the cow cross the road?
I don't know, why did the cow cross the road? My little sunshine, sweetness and light.
To get to the udder side.
:)
That made me laugh on the walk to school this morning.
What's the best time to go to the dentist?
Tooth hurtie!
(Two thirty?)
:)
The tooth hurtie joke always makes us laugh too
When they get old enough and want to start cooking the supper
... or hoover, or tidy up after themselves even, just a bit, just the socks even.
: )
Mine do hoover though, they even argue over who's going to do it, they take for ever and actualy do a good job, my daughter even hoovers the dog as well : )
Ha ha I bet your dog has to put up with a lot in your home bubblegum! Has he/she had their hair dyed too recently?!
My bathroom sink was looking a bit grubby the other day, I kept thinking I must do that before the weekend, but didn't actually get down to it. When I was brushing my teeth last night I noticed my girl had 
, I felt joyous!! I said thank you to her and she said well it was beginning to look like a sink in a squat!! Ha ha, it wasn't that bad at all, but I'm not going to argue, long may this last
When I was doing their hair they did ask and ask and ask, please, please, pleeeease daddy! Can we do Anjis too : )
My daughters standard reply of late when I don't do what ever it is she wants me to do, is... (over dramaticaly) You're hurting my feelings.
: )
Our bathroom sink got blocked a while ago... and it transpired that my daughter had been putting her used herbal tea bags down it.
: )
I doubt I'll ever live to see the day they clean anything... sniff sniff : (
Oh trust me bubblegum, it will come! I am sure one of them will become the Business Person of the Year, earning loads of money, wearing a suit and being ultra clean and tidy - even if it is only during their rebellious stage!!
Your daughter's comment of 'You are hurting my feelings' tickled me, when my daughter was teeny, her nursery teacher used to say 'It is not ok for you to xyz' (which I continued to use as it worked!), but one day she said to me when I was in a filthy mood, "Just because you are in a sh*tty mood mummy it is not OK to swear!" 
Funny really because she wouldn't dare to use swear words around me now!
I hope when your daughter says this you are take her seriously, unless of course she is joking..........or is she?
She's joking : )
Can I have some sweets? No! Your hurting my feelings. Bed time! Your hurting my feelings.
That sort of thing.
When she's actualy upset she cries... And gets what ever she wants (according to my son anyway)
:)
My son's favourite expression for a while came from him having heard and been impressed by the word "humiliated" Every time his evil designs were thwarted, he would say in an anguished tone, "Mummy, you've few-miliated me!"
Chores: eldest did all the family's ironing for a couple of years, after he started work in a posh clothes shop where he was involved with the displays. Youngest has his set list of jobs every week and he can choose whether to do them and have his board and lodging payment reduced (heh heh).
Bubblegum, I know you have told us before that you used to hoover your sister's dog so it obviously runs in the family 
Yes! I just watched that video over on the onespace facebook page, 'children see, children do'
Suddenly it all makes sence :)
Aha, although hopefully they learn good and/or quirky things from us like that...a colleague of mine has facilitated many parenting courses and usually asks the parents why they are there. One woman said to her, "Well, I just want my daughter to stop f***ing swearing."
Hoovering the dog is just not in that league, thank goodness!
: )
Made me laugh : )
Haha! Classic Anna!
Not having someone trying to put me down all the time! I wasn't with my daughter's father for very long, so I don't know how much worse things could have got, thankfully!
I do feel I have a lot of independence though, not having to answer to anyone, just got my little princess and me to think about, and she's pretty much an extension off me! :-) <3 it really does feel like the two of us against the world, it's nice- when she's behaving herself anyways! She's 18 months going on 2 1/2!!! Lol xXx
Yes, that feeling of independence is a fantastic thing!
Not having to answer to anyone else bar the kids of course
no arguments
being bake to make a decision without being made to feel it's the wrong one
i get all th kisses and cuddles - that by far is the best part of being a single mom
Kisses and cuddles, that's lovely sofu77
Best thing about being a single parent for me is.
The house is filled with laughter.
Silly stuff. I get to make dens and play.
The strange converstations we have because they feel safe to have them.
Looking forward to seeing them flourish.
Thats lovely suneagle, sounds like you all have loads of fun and enjoy being together
Sally W,
Exhaisted and don't always get it right but happy.
Only having me and the kids to think about, so able to be spontanious, no extra mans washing!, knowing when I get home my house will be the same as when I left it! being able to treat myself to something and not hide it or lie about the price! because someone else is supporting me! knowing I can go home close my door, and I only have to see someone if I want to, feeling safe that I have control of my life.
High Five Abbie lou!!
Yesterday I got in from camping and fell asleep on the kitchen floor I was so exhausted! When I woke I actually laughed out loud because I could imagine my ex's disapproval, hee hee!!
god pancake queen i relate to what u said, its just me and my child, i dont have to worry about a drunken man coming home and what it may bring, haha theres no puddle next to toilet no smelly thing in my bed (unless its me) i eat what i want i wear what i want, i watch what i want and when i want to, its taken me 5 months but now i see light at the end of the tunnel xx
you have taken the words out of my mouth, it took me 5 mnths before i realise hey im enjoying my life, and i am and best of all so is my daughter, its good x
Thats great trudyrl, sometimes when we're going through things its hard to see how things are better. This thread helped me look at the positives and it really lifted my spirits. Glad you are feeling good too.
I love this conversation thread..lol... What I love about being a single parent:
Freedom, no longer lost in a miserable marriage. That's got to be good for my daughter.
We can watch soaps on the telly without ex bleating on about how bad soaps are for our daughter, this is the same guy who once left hard core porn open on his laptop where 7 yr old daughter could have seen it..mmm
Wardrobe is now mine, he had just cleared it woop woop.
Future holidays will no longer be ruined by miserable prat...bring it on!
We can get another dog if we want!