Single Parent Spotlight: Rita Wilson
The aim of these interviews is to show how AMAZING us working single parents are. I want to highlight how hard, but also how rewarding being a working single parent is, and to hear how other people in my position handle the tougher times, in the hopes I learn how to be the best parent I can be!
I’m sick of seeing the bad press single parents get in the media, because some single parents have taken the choice to live off benefits, or even worse, have children in order to get benefits. We all seem to get tarred with the same negative brush!
My twelfth interviewee is 30-year-old Rita Wilson, a marketing communication executive from Gloucestershire, who has a 14-month-old son.
How old was your son when you became a single parent, and how did this come about?
6 months old, my ex left us for another woman.
What things have you
found hardest as a single parent?
found hardest as a single parent?
Not having other
parent to share the milestones or funny, happy moment with or let me have a lie
in once in a while. Not being able to go to the gym in the evenings.
parent to share the milestones or funny, happy moment with or let me have a lie
in once in a while. Not being able to go to the gym in the evenings.
What are the benefits
to parenting alone, in your opinion?
to parenting alone, in your opinion?
Get to parent
in my own style.
in my own style.
Have you faced any
negative judgements/stereotypes for being a single parent? If so can you share
with us what happened and how it made you feel?
negative judgements/stereotypes for being a single parent? If so can you share
with us what happened and how it made you feel?
When I was looking
to rent a house a few agents talked to me differently or assumed I was on
benefits as soon as they found out I was a single parent. It made me feel
embarrassed and a little ashamed.
to rent a house a few agents talked to me differently or assumed I was on
benefits as soon as they found out I was a single parent. It made me feel
embarrassed and a little ashamed.
What sort of
relationship do you have with your ex, and how easy/difficult is it to maintain
for your child?
relationship do you have with your ex, and how easy/difficult is it to maintain
for your child?
Quite a hostile relationship as
I felt I had to put conditions in place for him seeing our son as he has a history
of drug abuse and several girlfriends since. He has not responded well to this. I’ve tried to remain diplomatic but not easy.
I felt I had to put conditions in place for him seeing our son as he has a history
of drug abuse and several girlfriends since. He has not responded well to this. I’ve tried to remain diplomatic but not easy.
How much contact does the father have?
Meant to be twice a week,
but he often cancels or forgets.
but he often cancels or forgets.
How does your
child cope with contact?
child cope with contact?
I think my son is too
young to be affected by inconsistent contact at the moment. However after
contact with his father he is very clingy with me and his sleep is not great.
young to be affected by inconsistent contact at the moment. However after
contact with his father he is very clingy with me and his sleep is not great.
Does he pay
maintenance? If so, how did you come to an agreement on the amount?
maintenance? If so, how did you come to an agreement on the amount?
Yes, we used the government calculator to figure out amount.
What’s your job, and
how many hours do you work per week?
how many hours do you work per week?
I work as a
Marketing Communication Exec- 20 hours a week.
Marketing Communication Exec- 20 hours a week.
Who looks after your
child/ren when you’re working? How do you feel about the current childcare
arrangements?
child/ren when you’re working? How do you feel about the current childcare
arrangements?
My little boy goes to nursery twice a
week and my mum looks after him every other Wednesday. I think I’d struggle
financially if my mum didn’t help out with childcare.
week and my mum looks after him every other Wednesday. I think I’d struggle
financially if my mum didn’t help out with childcare.
How old was your son when you first went back to work? How easy was it to adjust back into
work?
work?
He was 9 months old when I went back to work. I felt ready to return to work and
my employer made it very easy with keep in touch days.
my employer made it very easy with keep in touch days.
Have you ever felt
guilt by working? If so, why?
guilt by working? If so, why?
If my little boy has
a cold I feel guilty leaving him at nursery.
a cold I feel guilty leaving him at nursery.
What’s your view on
Child /Working Tax Credits, and the cost of childcare?
Child /Working Tax Credits, and the cost of childcare?
Childcare costs are far too expensive, if I didn’t receive working tax credits
there is no way I could afford to work.
there is no way I could afford to work.
What is your
work/home/social life like? Have you managed to find a good balance? If so, how?
work/home/social life like? Have you managed to find a good balance? If so, how?
I make sure I have something planned for my days off
work with my little boy, that way when at work I can look forward to that. I am fortunate that I have a great group of friends who always make weekend
plans to include my little boy.
work with my little boy, that way when at work I can look forward to that. I am fortunate that I have a great group of friends who always make weekend
plans to include my little boy.
Are you dating again?
If so, how long did it take before you were ready to date again?
If so, how long did it take before you were ready to date again?
Not yet, only just feel ready again as I have trust
issues from the way my ex treated me.
issues from the way my ex treated me.
What would your top 3
tips be to a newbie single parent?
tips be to a newbie single parent?
1.Sort out all the ‘boring’ financial and benefit stuff
first and make sure you know what you are entitled to.
first and make sure you know what you are entitled to.
2. If you and ex do not get on then have a ‘business-like’
relationship so feelings do not get in the way.
relationship so feelings do not get in the way.
3. Join a FB support group for times when you need to
rant. It really helps to share your experiences and hear others.
rant. It really helps to share your experiences and hear others.
If you want to take part in Single Parent Spotlight or know someone that might, please contact me.Interviews are done via email and can be kept anonymous if preferred.
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7 Comments
Maya Russell
16th November 2014 at 9:37 am
Good top tips.Interesting reason.
prwilson
17th November 2014 at 2:06 am
Great stuff.
naddia_c
21st November 2014 at 10:31 pm
I think to be a single parent is hard work just in case if you don't have money.If your child is little is very hard to leave him and go to work,he depend very much of his parent.
Erica Price
22nd November 2014 at 7:07 am
I always admire single parents and it annoys me how many parents (mostly fathers) leave when the child is so small and don't do proper contact. Love the tips – very practical.
Sarah JG
22nd November 2014 at 6:53 pm
Interesting read, good stuff!! great tips too
Shannon
22nd November 2014 at 11:22 pm
I have so much respect for single parents – it must be so much work! These posts are great for sharing advice and hopefully removing some of the stigma – I'm sorry you get so much bad press. 🙁
Unknown
15th December 2014 at 9:56 pm
This was fascinating! Really great to read x