Hi Den
It sounds like you have had a rough ride. It will and does get easier as time passes, unfortunately we dont have the fast foward button do we, gosh that would have been good.
Stay strong 
Hi im Vikki i am 26 and have been a single mum for just over 7 years, my oldest son is 7 and is on the austism spectrum and my youngest son is 5 and copies everything his brother does, Best thing about being a single mum to me is that when my boys achieve something i can sit back and take all the credit for them and i dont have to share all the good things that having children brings, the worse thing about being a single mum tho is not having the break i need to recharge my batteries and not having the help and support i need to keep my sanity.
Hi Vikkilouise
Hope you are well. You have found a nice site here lots of nice people to chat to. Sounds like you have you hands full hope you get the break you deserve soon.
I have a little 2 year old girl who is everything to me now.
Hello vikkilouise
Good to have you aboard. Please do join in the chat. There is lots of info and support on the site.
Have you had dealings with The Family Fund? They can give annual grants to families with children with special needs. It may be that you could get a grant towards a family break this year.
How do your sons like school?
Hi! I'm new and my name is JUDITH. .... please welcome me.... lol.....
Hello jud88hanne
You are welcome. How old are your children and how long have you been a single parent?
Hello jud88hanne
A big welcome to you , hope you are well and things are o.k.
Hi, I'm shaz and recently seperated from my husband of 6 years after finding out he has been having an affair. I am the proud mother of a wonderful 2 year old little boy who is my life.
hello shazd26
Welcome to One Space and hope that you will find your way around the boards and jump in to any of the threads that appeal to you.
Your little son will keeo you busy at the age of two, I remember it well. It must have been a terrible shock for you to find out about your husband's affair. Do you have some local support to help you through this? There is a lot of support here for you on this friendly site
Hi Louise,
Thankfully I do have my parents just 30 mins away in the car (My dad does the driving). My little monkey really does keep me busy and as this has all just happened in the last month he is not fully understanding why his daddy is not staying at home and sleeping with mummy. It was a very big shock finding out about the affair and he was just so matter of fact about it... "Well there is no point in denying it as it is there infront of you" - I got a message on Facebook telling me about it. 
Oh dear shazd26, that sounds awful re the Facebook message. Glad you have your parents close by.
Does your boy see his dad?
Louise,
Monkey does see his dad at the moment. I am trying to be the better person by letting this go on. It is not his fault his dad is a prat. I am not sure how much longer I can let it go on as monkey finds it hard when he wakes up sometimes and he is at his grannys with his dad and then he is at home with me... Poor little bugger does not know whether he is coming or going... At least he is doing well at nursery.
Hi shazd26
It can take a while for the children to settle into a routine, but it is surprising how quickly they do.
While I may be on fb, it seems it has a lot to answer for!
Glad your son's doing ok at nursery.
I am sure that it is better for your little boy that he DOES see his dad, however difficult and annoying that may be for you.
I understand it can be confusing though: perhaps a story book would help? Here is a really good one for little ones, see what you think
hi my names clare i live in the wset midlands im a stay at home single mom of girl aged 5 an also twins one of each aged four,who keep me on my toes,:D
Hello clarebelle
I have been chatting to you on the other thread. You will always find a welcome here. You are a busy mum with three little ones to see to. Are your twins at school yet or just your older daughter?
Hi Den. Welcome along. Sorry you're going through a rough time at the moment. I'm sure you know that you've done the right thing by not letting your man back in, but it's also a rollercoaster time for you. It's great though that the children don't seem to be affected at school by this, and of course they'll ask you questions about why their daddy can't come and live with you all. I guess all you can tell them is that you and Daddy love them both very much, and turn it into an exciting thing by saying how lucky they are that they'll be having two homes now instead of one. Take care, look forward to chatting.
Hi Vikki, welcome along. I have an 8 year old son, and have been on my own since the pregnancy. Sperm doner has no involvement at all. You're right about taking all the credit, and also about not having a break. Do you have family or friends that are supportive? What are you up to this weekend? I'm staying put, it's too cold out there, lol.
Hi Judith. Welcome along to One Space. It really is a lovely site, so friendly and supportive. How many children do you have? Have you been a single parent for long? Look forward to chatting. Take care.
Hi shazd26. Welcome along. Despite what your ex has done, it is better that your two year old son continues to see him. Must be extremely hard for him to understand at such a young age. Good that he's doing well at nursery. How are you doing? Glad you have family you can also rely on. What are you doing this weekend, anything exciting?
Hi Clarebelle. Welcome along. You must have had your hands full when they were younger, and I'm sure they keep you running around even now! Look forward to 'chatting'. Take care
Hello my name is Jules2, I have been separated from my husband for just over a year and a half. I have three lovely children a girl of 6, a boy of 4 and another girl of 2 so life is busy and we're getting on ok.
Hi Jules2
Welcome along! What sort of a weekend are you having? Please do join in the other threads. Do the children see their dad?
hi im new to this site and really not sure what to expect ? anyway im jay single dad of two girls 10 and 14 been on my own for too long now its been years . i really miss having an adult chat at end of day and someone to cuddle at night . take care jay 
Welcome Jay,
This is a fantastic site and you will find loads of support and people to chat to. I am a recently single mum of a boy aged 2 and even in the week that I have been on here have found it a great help.
shaz
Hi jay
It is good to see you here.
My youngest is 12 this month - and I've no idea where the time goes to!
Looking forward to getting to know you.
Hi Jay
Its a great site with lots of very friendly people
How long have you been a single dad?
I have 5 children altogether although 2 are grown up and have left home.
Hope you do enjoy posting and getting to know your way around on here
Hi jaymod. Like others have said, it's a lovely site, extremely friendly and very supportive. Do the girls still see their Mum? Do you have family or friends to help out at all? Look forward to 'chatting'. Hope you're able to have a look around, and join in with whichever topic takes your interest, or even start one of your own. Take care.
Hazeleyes, 4:48 am???? my goodness i was just getting up to start getting monkey ready for nursery and myself for work....
Hi jaymod
A big welcome to One Space, hope you will soon feel at home and join in getting support and information, with some friendly chat added in!
thank you everybody for your kind welcome i feel welcome already cool !!! . hazeleyes no my girls dont see there mum she past away when my youngest was 6 mnth old and she is 10 now oldest is 14 so they have grown up without a mum really when they was babys it did not bother them but as they got older they really miss not having a woman in there lifes ( so do i ) and i really think they have miss out not having one as there is only so much i can cover with them ie oldest has just started her periods and it was so hard for both of us i mean i did not have a clue what to say or do and she really did not wont to cover this with her dad so things like that and at school they find it hard as all mates ete have got mums but hay i try to give them so much love to make up for it . sorry i have bored you all now sorry !!! once more thank you for your kind welcome take care jay
Jaymod,
I am sorry to hear about the girls mum. It must have been hard for you.
You do not bore us - it is good to talk - so i am told and i feel better once i have off loaded the way i am feeling. I am sure people will have sympathy for you having to go through all of this.
Keep off loading and the good kind people on here will always respond. That is what I have found anyway.
Hi jaymod. So sorry to hear about your girl's Mum. Must have been incredibly difficult for you, bringing them up as well as dealing with your own grief. Is there no one either on your side of the family, or your partner's family, to help with the girls at all? I have started to think about getting books for my 8 year old son, something to explain about changes to his body etc, for when he is ready. Is this something you could perhaps get in for the girls, or perhaps research the internet?
Hope you're having a good day.
Hello jaymod,
I am so sorry to hear about your bereavement, life cannot have been easy with so much to deal with.
Yes a dad bringing up girls does have its challenges (as does a mum bringing up boys) There are a couple of articles that might help, one is about when the other parent is no longer around (click here) and the other about dads and daughters (click here) For anyone else there is also one about mums and sons here
Anyway I was glad to see you in Chat section, Jaymod, as that is where we can usually discuss things is greater detail
Hi,
Just these last couple weeks split with kids father. Looking for support to help get through the really difficult first 6 months of getting used to things and not missing him terribly and just staying strong...
I have a son who is almost 3. and a daughter who is almost 1 and a half.
Been with their dad for 6 years.. but it's always been difficult. and as he says.. we've reached the end of the road.
I am lucky he is a good father. He will see the kids regularly and look after them overnight. Kids are a bit confused but.. doing really well.. Think it helps that everyone's actually being a lot nicer to everyone more often now instead of living in the middle of stress. They stay at nana's with him at the moment like a mum mentioned above, in a similar situation.
And yeah, fast forward the next 6 months please. That'd be great.
s'nice to have my freedom back again but am really missing adult conversation!!!
JaneHope ;)
Hello JaneHope
Yes it would be great to have a remote control that would fast forward when we wanted it (and rewind the nice bits, and press the MUTE button when the kids are playing up!)
Anyway you are welcome at One Space, there is a mine of information and support here, come and have a look around or join us in Chat.
i totally agree that the children will feel better that things are calm and everyone being kinder to each other.
Have a look at our article Making New Friends about finding grown=up company as well!
Hi Im Vicky,
I have one daughter who is 13 and a son who is 10.
I have been a single mum for just over two years.... my husband left on Christmas Eve 2008 after annoucing to the children he had another house and girlfriend while I was picking up the takeaway, he let me eat before he broke the news to me in front of the children.
This has left particularly my daughter with big issues - its like separation anxiety for teenagers - Im getting to the end of my theither and dont know what to do, please help
Welcome Vicky,
Unfortunately I am unable to give you any advice as I am a single mum of a 2 year old boy (Monkey) who really does not understand what is going on. I know the others will be on soon to welcome you and hopefully give you some advice.
Hi vickyw. Welcome along No time is a good time, but to announce he is leaving on Christmas Eve, and telling the children before you, well I'm stumped for words here!! The way in which it was handled, I'm not surprised your daughter is having a hard time. What sort of issues are you talking here? Do the children still see your ex on a regular basis?
Please keep posting, as you will get lots of support. Its such a friendly group. Others will be along at some point. Hope you manage to have a look at the other threads. Already seen you across in the 'chat' section. Take care
Hi Vicky and JaneHope
Looking forward to getting to know you.
Hi vickyw71
You are very welcome here, it is a very friendly site as I am sure you have already noticed
I am sorry to hear about the very clumsy way the news was shared with your children. Your daughter may well feel very insecure as a result. You need to give her a massive amount of reassurance (I am sure you do this already) but I would also suggest she talks things through with someone outside the family. I don't know if there is a counselling service at school but Relate offers a special service for young people affected by their parents' separation, click on it and have a look
Hope you will stay with us as well!
Hi I'm fmb,single mum of a nearly 3 year old daughter, the dad didnt want to know and I have never seen him since.So it's been the 2 of us ever since,I dont have any close family, my father lives abroad.I have close friends but I'm the odd one out. Single and no job.Their all married with kid's and jobs.I want to work and bring my daughter up on my own but dont know how I can do it, and if I can.I used to be a senior care assistant and care trainer I have an NVQ 3 in care,and would love to do it again.I know the wages were not great but when I did this job I was not a single mum,so it was easy, I know there is suppose to be support for single mums but I think I must walk around with my eye's shut or I'm not asking the right questions as I cant find any.I just don't know where to start or how, all of the single mum's I meet have close family and some can still rely on ex partners, It's me and only me. My daughter start's nursery in september for 2 & half day's, this will be the first time we have been apart,which already has me worried. I'm sorry for rambling on. You can just ignore this.
Hi fmb
Welcome to one space, no one will ignore you on here It is a really great site with lots of support and good advice.
I can empathise with you being just you and only you to care for your daughter, I have 5 children altogether, 2 grown, 2 teen girls and a son of 9, we have no one but us here in this house to rely on which as you say can make things more difficult when considering returning to work. I myself have to sign on every fortnight now and to be honest it is all rather depressing, there is no childcare for my son at all here, once they are over 8 years it all goes.
Your daughter will love nursery, you will no doubt be like most of us and find it difficult but you will soon find it becomes part of your routine, maybe that would be a time for you to try and find something that "might" fit around your daughter within the care sector, you are certainly well quailified.
Please do keep posting, other will be along woth other ideas and suggestions
Hi fmb. You're very welcome here. Like tiredmum has said, no one will ignore you. I'm in the same position as you. I have brought my son, now aged 8, up on my own. I remember clearly his first day at Nursery. Gosh, many years ago, hehe. He actually didn't start until he was 4. Selfish reasons of my own, I kept putting it off, as I couldn't bear the thought of it. As it turned out, he more or less told me to go, and it was me crying all the way home 
Again, like tiredmum has already said, it does become part of a routine. Perhaps once your little girl starts school, then maybe think about going back to work. There is a link on here somewhere, which I will try to find for you. If not, then Louise, one of the moderators will be along later tonight, or tomorrow.
Please keep posting, and rant away all you like. We're all here to listen to you. Take care.
Hello fmb, you are very welcome here.
You're so right, there is not enough support for single parents and it makes such a difference if the other parent is involved or if you have family support.
Do you have a Sure Start in your area? Even if you don't then there may be an opportunity to meet other parents through your local Children's Centre.
Your little one will love nursery; hazeleyes is right, it is the parents it is hardest for 
I would also encourage you to try our online course, Ways into Work. It is a four session course, each session takes about an hour and WOW it really can focus your mind on what you want and what is important to you, I was really surprised at some of the things I learned, so do give it a go as a first step to thinking about the future.
Hope you stay with us, come over and join us in ,Chat where there is always a friendly welcome
Hi fmb.
Hope you are well . nice to see you on here. I have a little dd of 2 years old who when she is with other kids done not want to know me so it is amazing how they just get on with things when they are having fun.
Wayne,
Monkey is the same - he goes running into nursery and not a backward glance to me. At first i found this really hard but now I am glad as it is the only stable thing he has in his life at the moment with the turmoil that is going on at home....
Sorry FMB, Welcome to this fantastic site. I hope you find all the support and advice that I have had. I promise you nobody will ignore you. They are so good on here..
Hi, I would like to say thank you for sounding so friendly and welcoming me, I now feel there is someone out there who will understand me. I love my friends to bits but cant talk openly about how I feel.Being a single mum on benefit's makes me feel I'm the stereo typical mum.Which I'm not, I had worked all my life. I divorced after 12 years he was very controlling. I moved abroad to be close to my dad,I worked out there for 18 months but then come home,I had been seeing someone while I was there but found out I was pregnant.It was a shock as I was on the pill and never planned on having any.He ran a mile I have never seen him since. I had my little girl and my life is hers and I would not change it, I would change one thing my confidence.It disapeared when I had her, I didnt know the first thing about children sounds strange for a women to say but I had never even spent time around them.Considering how confident I used to be.Yes I do have a sure start near me but find it so difficult to speak to anyone there,I'm 42 now and feel like I'm the oldest first time mum and should know better.When I'm with my friends I feel I cant say anything about not having enough money or I cant afford to do the things they want due to lack of funds, I feel guilty because it's there tax that pay's my benefit.I have one friend who will notice if I have something new and say get you miss money bag's when I have spent something on myself, which I might add is usually from a charity shop.I can just manage on my money and my daughter is never without anything.She has the new things not me. Thank you for letting me rant but I have never been able to before.
There is sometimes a strange jealousy around from other people when you dare to get anything new. As income is so limited, it surely means you have had to go without something to get the thing for your daughter.
There are lots of Mums who are more mature, so do get yourself down to the Children's Centre and see what events are on, some do things associated with learning, and there are dropins and info about local services and things you can get help with. It would be great if you could meet a couple of other mums in your situation. One of the things about being a parent (especially a single parent) is you are all in it together...and don't forget that YOU may be able to offer a younger single mum a lot of reassurance and the benfit of your life experience!!!
Thankyou for the welcome.
I just feel so let down by him. He has gambling problems which is leading to me and my kids being evicted from our home. He has had several affairs, the last 2 with women who were 10 years younger than me, which has left me with very little self esteem. The final nail in the coffin was on 30th dec when he came home drunk and headbutted me in the middle of an argument. I am so confused at the moment. I am unable to just turn off my feelings for him, but I know now that I wont take him back. The children miss him terribly. They cant understand why me and daddy cant be best friends again so that he can come home. They are both in school and so far i dont think it is affecting them there. Their teachers are aware of the situation and have said they will keep an eye on them. I wish I had a fast forward button so I could be a few months ahead to a time where we where settled elsewhere and moving on with our lives