In the real world us single parents don’t always have enough money. Tabloids may tantalize you with oddly angled photographs and juicy articles on single parents having trips abroad, mega size tvs and every mod con going all paid by their benefits cheque each week. But realistically how they manage to do this I really don’t know.
As a single parent for over 14 years, I have never been able to provide my children with the best of everything. they have never gone without clothes, food or love but I have never had extravagant shopping trips or anything like it. I haven’t either been able to take my two on holiday. There Dad being in a better-paid job has taken them skiing a few times and they also went on school trips. But that has been the limit.
This year it changed…only slightly. We purchased a tent. I went with my other half a few weeks ago and loved it. Loved it so much that we booked another few days away again for last week. This time my youngest came too. Not bad going, at 16 the poor chap had his first break away with his Mum and it was in a tent. Just in case you’re wondering why just my youngest went, I did ask my daughter if she wanted to come camping too. Apparently, it’s not her thing.
The weather was generous with the sunshine, BBQ’s were eaten and lots of laughter had. I learned there is something rather special about sitting on damp grass sharing a puffy blanket and talking about nothing. We didn’t need expensive meals, big swimming pools or expensive scenery. We had time, walks and the best time this summer proving that money isn’t always everything.
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