How many of us are single parents

[Jadensmum]

A simple one!

 

Just wondering.......I went on a parent course recently and 5 out of 8 of us were single parents with a child with ASD.

 

Sorry if it's been done before!

 

Denisex

[Jadensmum]

Forgot to say... I am! Ever since J was born

[bevalee]

Me too, every since R was born.

[nikki2307]

Um..T's dad left when I was pregnant. His stepdad left last week after 4 years. Hope I'm a better mum than partner!

[mossgrove]

Um..T's dad left when I was pregnant. His stepdad left last week after 4 years. Hope I'm a better mum than partner!

Sorry to hear about your separation.

 

<'> <'>

 

Sadly caring for a child with Autism can put a strain on relationships. Please don't think you are to blame!

 

Simon

[barefoot wend]

nikki

 

Don't blame yourself for a relationship failure. It just ended, that's all. You're a good Mum and you've been a good partner. And, I'm certain, you will be a good partner again.

[Tylers-mum]

I voted Yes. Have been single since I was 4mth pregnant with T.

[mandyque]

I'm single, have been for coming up 3 years

[Mother in Need]

Single for over two years now, after a 13 year marriage.

[Malika]

Hi

 

I voted no because I have lived with my partner for 1 1/2 year now after being on my own for 5 years. For the better for all concerned

 

Hi nikki did u get my PM?

[rainbow queen]

im a single mum-[although my son hasnt been dx as yet but has global development delay and lots of probs which im certain is as]. i would say ive been single to parent to both my boys since they were born-although father was around a bit[he was no good],and i left him because he was abusive to me,so all in all ive done all the hard work on me own

[virtualvisual]

I'm married to my second hubby but he drives a lorry so he's away from Monday to Friday every week, I'm not sure if that eases the stress of having kids with difficulties or whther it increases the pressure on me. Prior to that I was married for 10 years to my childrens birth father but left when his abuse got too much, he ended up with schizophrenia and lost any link to reality so I suppose I have been acting like a single parent since my children were born.

[Lynden]

Ditto virtualvisual. I am happily married (so far LOL), but on my own with the kids during the week as hubby stays in London Mon-Fri. Hopefully that wont be too long term as it is hard work on your own and I take my hat off to those of you who do it full time - you must be amazing parents.

 

Lynne

[MelowMeldrew]

Don't want to start any riot, but I'm totally of the view a child needs a father and mother. I also want a LOT more males in education and at the carer/support end too. I've had fair expeieince of being ignored because I am a man, while at school and other meetings, there does seem a feminisation of the support and care industry, that I would prefer had more balance in it. Three schools my son attended hadn't a male in it. the SS had none either. There did seem some prevailing view only women can raise children, and know what children need, I think that is rubbish frankly, I've proven my point, why did I have to ?

 

Statistics in schools seem to show, that lack of a male role model has resulted in the many issues we face in schools today. I know some males do not care, I would object to be labelled the same way. I went for a vasectomy, and being deaf asked for some communicatioon help to follow, they had no males to assist, and I couldn't insist on one, so my privacy did not count, a lady consulting her medical officers insisted and got a female support. Where was the balance there ?

 

Men who declare they love their children are deemed 'dodgy', men who don't declare they care are called heartless, some you cannot win. It is automatically assumed a woman is perfect as a parent, and a man as some passing stranger in the night, while their children get multiple choice as to who they want for a dad. I'm old fashioned I know, my school never saw a WOMAN in it. I think in a school a male child will tend to respect a male adult more. I had two good parents and they stayed together, they cared for 7 children, I cared for them until they died, the state refused to offer me any financial support because "Men couldn't be carers" ! so what was I doing for 12 years ? Some of today's parents can't seem to manage one child properly, yet still get priority over a mere male.

 

It's too easy to not stay the course these days. Doing a Britney (Getting married for 46 hours and then divorcing), seems to be the tone of things, I'm not in favour of any of that, and somewhat concerned on children being faced with a never-ending stream of 'uncles', I just cannot understand it. I'll get it in the neck I expect !

[bid]

I've certainly noticed that during assessments, the majority of professionals always address everything to me, while they ignore Jester.

 

But, he is 'taken more seriously' if he goes on his own about an issue...

 

Bid

 

MM: I agree with you that ideally children do need two parents, but very often people have little choice if a partner decides to walk out on them

[MelowMeldrew]

What stuck in my mind, that when my child was quite small, and me being deaf, I said I wanted him at a nursery daily to ensure he had the maximum access to two way speech (Support staff were very cruel to us, and blamed us for my autistic child being 'quiet', although quiet, was never a term anyone ever applied to me !). I also insisted I, go with him to the day nursery too, which was a SS-run thing, because I wanted my son to see, I hadn't parked him there out of the way because I couldn't hear, it was vital he should never see a pair of ears are better than his parent.

 

They agreed, and I went and played with my son at the games etc and inter-acted with the staff, when he might say something, had I missed it ? etc, they said I communicated very well with my son and a lot better than many hearing parents did. As I played with my son, I got surrounded by other children who wanted to join in too. I asked the staff there, why, are they all coming to me ? The Nurse said most of the children at this nursery are from single-parent homes and have never really interacted via a father-son relationship, it was so sad.

 

There was no doubt in my mind the children needed it, despite the claims by some mothers they don't need a man, their children did it was very obvious, toward the end sadly I saw jealousy emerging, again so sad. I've no respect for any man that walks out on a child, and not too sure I approve of mothers who prevent them being involved either, surely, children first ? It's quite possible both parents can love their child, even if they don't love each other, so why should the child lose out ?

 

I'm down as someone who doesn't approve of multiple relationships, sorry

[mossgrove]

MM

 

I do understnad you reasoning why two parents are the best thing for a child, but I think you are invoking a sterotype that doesn't exist in many cases.

 

There has been much talk in the media etc. over the last few years bemoaning the number of women who 'choose' to bring up their childen without a man around, but in practice very few women choose that route.

 

Having young children strains relationships. In the case of Autistic children it annot be denied that having an Autistic child puts additional strain on a relationship, and we all know the reasons why.

 

In many cases the man simply leaves to pursue a new relationship without the stresses and strains of bringing up an Autistic child.Society judges men who walk away from their children far less harshly that women who are single parents.

 

Many mothers end up doing is doing their best in the circumstances that they are presented with, which is giving their child the best possible upbringing on their own.

 

I know several mothers of Autistic children, including on this forum who have not been abe to involve the father in this, sometimes because the relationship was abusive, sometimes because the father has walked away, and sometimes because the father is in denial about the childs Autism and it proves impossible to reconcile those differences.

 

If I have learned anything in the time that we have had Autistic children, it is that it is very rarely appropriate to judge someone else over the choices they have made, be that in the field of Autism or elsewhere.

 

Simon

[Jadensmum]

Thankyou Simon for voicing what I wanted to say so much more eloquently than I could

 

When I did this poll I used the word "parent" rather than "mother" as I am well aware that there are single dads out there too!

 

I didn't choose to be a single parent. 3 years ago I had a business and partner (my son's father) Today I have neither. My son's dad can't cope with the the fact that J has Autism and it was easier for him to walk away and start a new life which he has done.

 

In an ideal world, no I wouldn't want to be a single parent. But this is a much better option than the stressful relationship I was in before and j is now in a happy home.

 

There are many different and complex reasons why relationships don't work out. If we lived in such a perfect world then we also wouldn't go through all these difficulties with our children in the first place would we???

 

My mum was a single parent from when I was 6 years old (I am NT by the way!) I don't remember feeling any different to my friends whose parents were together. I did well at school and had a pretty good career afterwards.

 

I was never close to my dad. But I also didn't crave attention from other peoples!! Anyway, I could ramble on forever about this but I'm just going to end up repeating myself!

 

So if anyones confused about my opinion - read Simon's post again!!

 

Denisex

[Malika]

Hi

 

Of course it is much better if children have a relationship with their dad and except few women who try to use their children as black mail which I completly disaproved of, most women have put on with lot of non sense to try to keep up a relationship for the sake of the children and in some cases this does not even work and sadly you have to protect your children before anything else in my case if I had kept any kind of relationship with the father the SS would have taken the kids away from me this was very clear!!

 

However there are father which are better than the mother but most of them just decide they cannot cope with pressure while mother never feel they have that choice they have to cope anyway...and being alone is very rarely a choice as such but just the way things are. I think as well that now judges in court are much more aware and do not let some women black-mailing their partner over the children.

The reason why most people think that mother are better for their children is just because they would hardly ever decide to walk away from them and look after them (may be with difficulties) no matter what.

 

Malika.

[baddad]

wow -

 

One way too complex issue for a Monday night!!

However...

 

As a single dad since ben was six months old I've spent 7and a half years trying in vain to support his estranged mother in maintaining some sort of relationship with him. Sadly, this has not been possible, purely and simply because she can't cope emotionally with any sort of relationship outside of Christmas and birthday presents... I don't judge her for that: it's just the way it is...

What really has been difficult for me is the social (and legal systems) responses to a single father, that have made it almost impossible for me to 'protect' my son from the emotional harm of repeated rejections, and that have to a certain degree forced his mother to compound those rejections by forcing her into a 'victim' role to justify the choices she made... By extension, any acceptance of her role as 'victim' carries with it an underlying implication that i am some sort of abuser...

 

Another dimension: Single dad walks into the nursery class (or portage, if it's special needs!). Almost invariably he'll be incredibly popular with most of the kids - who don't see as much as 'dads' as they do 'mums', and within the context of the GROUP they'll be popular with the other parents too. However, any attempt at socialising outside of the group will be incredibly complicated. First there's the 'nudge nudge wink wink factor' (be honest, ladies, if a single mum starts talking to you do you think "I wonder if she's a lesbian after my body?", while the single dad's conversation will be viewed with at least some degree of caution), the 'fear of gossip factor', the 'husband who finds it hard to accept the friendship is platonic' factor, and the (sorry ladies, but i'm just being honest!) 'I'm desperate to find a new father for my kids and any single man will do nicely, thankyou' factor to contend with.

 

Fact is, men can be right ********, but I've also seen many MANY women who have nailed their ex-partners knackers to the wall over things like access for no good reason whatsoever. I've seen good men crying their eyes out over their kids, while their wives have relished every moment...

Sometimes men who don't see their kids make that choice for the RIGHT reasons...

 

Now, getting back to the original question (sort of):

I think kids will benefit greatly from having two good, loving parents around. I think that can happen even where the parents no longer share the same home.

I think one good parent can do a better job than two cr*p ones, or even one good one and a cr*p one undermining the good one's good work (?!)

I think kids are brilliant, and it's our jobs as the adults to act like grown ups and help them realise that.

L&P

Dadonasoapbox

[nikki2307]

Thanks, guys, for your support.

 

Well, this is one topic that's a hottie. On the whole, I think we all agree that, where possible, 2 loving parents (together or not) are the ideal. My children's dad left before he knew T was autistic (T was a mere foetus at the time) and my antenatal stress was tentatively put forward as a possible 'cause' of T's ASD. I did, admittedly, go to pieces when my husband left.

 

Frankly, I'll never know and don't really want to. It's irrelevent. My ex and I have an amicable relationship, I get on fine with his girlfriend and they both treat the boys well, and they now have a baby of their own. He travels 120 mile round trip 3 weekends out of 4 to pick up the boys then the same to drop them back off. Logistical problems notwithstanding, it works for all of us. And I agree with Malika that parents who emotionally blackmail their exes over the children are t*ssers.

 

The boys' stepdad was emotionally abusive. But with the kids he was wonderful. He left of his own accord and I'm now much happier and a better mum. The time I was devoting to angst and desperation is now given to the kids and myself.

 

For us, it's working. The boys have a dad and I'm in no rush at all to have a new partner. In an ideal world, I'd have a loving, emotionally articulate Sean Bean lookalike as a partner But for the moment, we're having a blast on our own. And I don't feel that the boys are missing out.

[Lemony]

Yep i`m a single parent...and very happy that way too.

[Emma_74]

hi,

i have been a single parent in the past to my 2 oldest boys, i tried to keep their dad involve in there lives but its hard

i then meet and married my husband ( wasn't married before ) and had 2 more boys the oldest one of these 2 has ASD,ADHD and dyspraxia, i have found it alot easier to cope with now my husbands around because i have someone to take a little of the pressure off of me for a while.

 

However i have to say that before our son was dx he was very tough on him , he just thought he was being naughty and it was a real battle ground.

[lbj]

Single (widowed). I've nothing but respect for people making the best of a bad job if their partner upped and left and equally I've nothing but respect for people who mutually realised that things weren't working between them and separated by consent. A child is best off in a family with two parents who are happy together but is better off with just one parent than with two who continue to co-habit as their erstwhile relationship turns bitter and corrosive.

 

janine

[lisac]

well yea, ive never met a male equivalent as good as me

[ian stuart-hamilton]

Having young children strains relationships. In the case of Autistic children it annot be denied that having an Autistic child puts additional strain on a relationship, and we all know the reasons why.

 

It's true of a lot (possibly all) of atypical conditions in children, not just ASD. A student of mine did an interesting study on parents of children with Williams syndrome in which he demonstrated that the more severe the disabilities the child has, the greater the chance that the parents will be divorced/separated.

[bid]

It's true of a lot (possibly all) of atypical conditions in children, not just ASD. A student of mine did an interesting study on parents of children with Williams syndrome in which he demonstrated that the more severe the disabilities the child has, the greater the chance that the parents will be divorced/separated.

 

 

Absolutely agree, Ian...and I think it's also true for parents with a child with severe medical problems too

 

Bid

[sonj186]

im married but my hubbie does 4 months off the year feb-june in the US and its very difficult coping with everything! i take my hat off to any single parents who is coping with a child with any condition , i dont think i could manage i barely manage the 4 months

[aliwoo]

Don't want to start any riot, but I'm totally of the view a child needs a father and mother. I also want a LOT more males in education and at the carer/support end too. I've had fair expeieince of being ignored because I am a man, while at school and other meetings, there does seem a feminisation of the support and care industry, that I would prefer had more balance in it. Three schools my son attended hadn't a male in it. the SS had none either. There did seem some prevailing view only women can raise children, and know what children need, I think that is rubbish frankly, I've proven my point, why did I have to ?

 

Statistics in schools seem to show, that lack of a male role model has resulted in the many issues we face in schools today. I know some males do not care, I would object to be labelled the same way. I went for a vasectomy, and being deaf asked for some communicatioon help to follow, they had no males to assist, and I couldn't insist on one, so my privacy did not count, a lady consulting her medical officers insisted and got a female support. Where was the balance there ?

 

Men who declare they love their children are deemed 'dodgy', men who don't declare they care are called heartless, some you cannot win. It is automatically assumed a woman is perfect as a parent, and a man as some passing stranger in the night, while their children get multiple choice as to who they want for a dad. I'm old fashioned I know, my school never saw a WOMAN in it. I think in a school a male child will tend to respect a male adult more. I had two good parents and they stayed together, they cared for 7 children, I cared for them until they died, the state refused to offer me any financial support because "Men couldn't be carers" ! so what was I doing for 12 years ? Some of today's parents can't seem to manage one child properly, yet still get priority over a mere male.

 

It's too easy to not stay the course these days. Doing a Britney (Getting married for 46 hours and then divorcing), seems to be the tone of things, I'm not in favour of any of that, and somewhat concerned on children being faced with a never-ending stream of 'uncles', I just cannot understand it. I'll get it in the neck I expect !

 

i actually agree with you, although i was a single parent for the first 18months of my eldest son's life...but then his biological dad was an abusive person who i finally mustered the balls to leave when heavily pregnant.

 

in my relationship with my current partner though i would say he is the 'mother' of our little family, he definately seems more 'motherly' than me! lol! he takes the eldest to school and picks him up, he is usually the one that deals with the school...in fact when school ring they usually ask for him now if i pick up the phone LOL. yet he is the only dad who does this from what we can see? anytime we do see another dad on the way to school or back it's with their missus. and i have to say the attitude my OH has gotton from SOME female parents have been...disgusting! he gets stared at, and one woman called him a paedophile once for daring to stop her 2 year old running across the road . he'd be great working with kids though but cos he is a bloke and has stubble and a cap people seem to assume he is a danger! saying that though he does get more 'pats on the back' than he does anything else. there is also only two men working in the junior/infant school my son goes to...the caretaker and a guy with special needs who volunteers sometimes....thats it! i know it's a mainly female thing to like kids enough to work with them (it seems lol) but i tihnk alot of men who would love to work with kids (like my OH) are put off by the view of men who like kids? :/ i have an ex who works in a nursery and he has had some stick from some parents when he first started (he has tattoos, is goth and has piercings..which obviously removed), he now pretty much runs the place and loves his job.

 

mind you it can be hard on women too women are expected to love kids and expected to want kids..if you dont you're going to be the lonely old mad cat lady who smells of wee. if your a stay at home mum you're lazy and watch jezza kyle all day eating hula hoops and if you work you're heartless and shouldn't have kids if you dont want to stay home and look after them...so women cant win either

 

 

 

[pookie170]

What stuck in my mind, that when my child was quite small, and me being deaf, I said I wanted him at a nursery daily to ensure he had the maximum access to two way speech (Support staff were very cruel to us, and blamed us for my autistic child being 'quiet', although quiet, was never a term anyone ever applied to me !). I also insisted I, go with him to the day nursery too, which was a SS-run thing, because I wanted my son to see, I hadn't parked him there out of the way because I couldn't hear, it was vital he should never see a pair of ears are better than his parent.

 

They agreed, and I went and played with my son at the games etc and inter-acted with the staff, when he might say something, had I missed it ? etc, they said I communicated very well with my son and a lot better than many hearing parents did. As I played with my son, I got surrounded by other children who wanted to join in too. I asked the staff there, why, are they all coming to me ? The Nurse said most of the children at this nursery are from single-parent homes and have never really interacted via a father-son relationship, it was so sad.

 

There was no doubt in my mind the children needed it, despite the claims by some mothers they don't need a man, their children did it was very obvious, toward the end sadly I saw jealousy emerging, again so sad. I've no respect for any man that walks out on a child, and not too sure I approve of mothers who prevent them being involved either, surely, children first ? It's quite possible both parents can love their child, even if they don't love each other, so why should the child lose out ?

 

I'm down as someone who doesn't approve of multiple relationships, sorry

 

I agree completely that children need positive role models in their lives, both male and female, but I have got to say that I don't agree that it's a lack of a father that can be seen as the primary source of many of the problem behaviours on the increase in our schools today. I would say that this is down to the attitude of the parent/parents towards respect and discipline. If a parent or parents lead a chaotic lifestyle, with little regard for themselves, others and the law, then its very likely their children will too. But I don't think the problems schools are facing can be laid solely at the feet of kids not having a good male role model.

I agree too, that it's not right for kids to be used as a pawn when their parents' relationship breaks down- of course it's not right or fair when a child is denied access (or a parent is denied access) without good reason like abuse. Of course this causes problems for the child and invariably, this is expressed in their behaviour.

In an ideal world, everyone would have a loving and supportive partner and as parents, would work together to present a united front. Both parents would be at home with the child and everything would be hunky-dory.

It just doesn't work that way all the time. I know that I carry guilt that I haven't been able to give this to my sons, but I also know that they would have suffered far more had their father and I stayed together.

I'm glad that my ex and I are usually able to keep things amicable....the kids see him regularly, and on the few occasions where this has broken down, it's been his choice to withhold contact, not mine. I've had to pick up the pieces when this happens and it angers me that the boys should suffer so, but I do my best to keep access going for them.

I have to say that just because I'm not with my sons' Dad, I don't actually subject them to a string of uncles. Yes, I know SOME women/men might do this, but I think you'll find that the vast majority of single parents have more of a conscience than to do this to their children. Yes, I have a 'new' partner, but he's been with us for almost 4 years now and they still don't call him uncle. Phil will suffice, thank you. I also realise that the uncle comment was not meant personally, but it has to be borne in mind that many of us are single parents and it doesn't make us any better or worse at it than anyone else. And I have the greatest respect for my partner who very much treats the boys like his own, and devotes as much of his time to parenting as any biological Dad in the home would do. In honesty, any man who didn't would get extremely short shrift from me and my lads.

 

It enrages me too, that single dads don't seem to be treated in an equal way to single mothers sometimes, and even more unfair is the attitude that is sometimes turned upon men who want to work with children. It would be fab if more men were employed in this sector-in fact, our LA recently spent a great deal on a recruitment drive in order to encourage just that, and its been quietly successful. Sadly, I think many men are wary of working with children due to fear of accusations of vile things......its completely unfair. (The after school club my youngest attends is actually led by a young man, and he's fantastic with the kids!)

I think Badders put it succinctly and well;

I think kids will benefit greatly from having two good, loving parents around. I think that can happen even where the parents no longer share the same home.

I think one good parent can do a better job than two cr*p ones, or even one good one and a cr*p one undermining the good one's good work (?!)

I think kids are brilliant, and it's our jobs as the adults to act like grown ups and help them realise that.

 

 

Amen to that!

 

Esther x

 

[bikemad]

I was a single mum.....it was either that or me n my lad get beaten to a pulp daily so imo being a single mum won hands down!!!!!

 

I have a partner now but we dont live together n tbh he leaves ds mostly to me.

[bid]

On the subject of men working with children/young people: I work at a residential special school, and we have a lot of male staff, the majority of whom are in their late teens/early twenties...and I have to say I have always been blown away by the care and compassion shown by these young men

 

There are two men on the night team I lead too, one my age and the other in his mid-twenties...both of whom are absolutely fantastic, real models of professional best practice and fantastic with the young people in our care.

 

Bid

[Tally]

There has been some press recently about the shortage of male primary teachers, with many primary schools having no men on staff at all. One argument was that, with so many children growing up without fathers in the home, it is important for them to have male role models in their lives.

 

My 23-yr-old brother worked in a respite centre, working with severely disabled children. There were two boys with ADHD, and he used to run with them to the park to burn off some energy. A number of times, the police were called by members of the public to report a man chasing boys around the park, but there were never any concerns when a female member of staff undertook the same task. He's now training as a doctor and eventually wants to be a paediatrician. He is fantastic with young children, especially little girls. I think it's sad that men like my brother will face accusations, simply because they like doing things that women would be praised for.

[MurphySG]

Single parent. I'd say that my son's aspergers had a part to play - things were and still are pretty challenging at times.

 

TBH though I would put it mainly down to completely different approaches to parenting and life.

 

My ex needs complete structure and cleanliness (when he is stressed he cleans obsessively and you aren't allowed to do anything unless it is done exactly to his spec and rules... you might say that is quite ASD I couldn't comment!)

 

I am completely the other way - we do have boundaries in my house but they are flexible and built on negotiation. I'm also one of the untidiest people you ever met!

 

As the kids got to late primary/ early secondary, my ex's discipline was sometimes so extreme and irrational I couldn't support him and there was no united front (for example saying that the kids couldn't do any clubs or have any friends to play because 'we' had no time. When at home they were to sit in front of the telly because then they wouldn't mess up the house)

 

By the time we separated, his behaviour had got downright dangerous and I was a nervous wreck. We're much better off apart and the children are much happier.

 

Interestingly, 5 yrs later the 3 girls (non ASD) have ended up choosing to spend most of their time at my house and my 14 yr old son (Aspergers) finally buried the hatchet with his father last October and now spends almost all his time at his house (where his needs are placed over the girls). He says he likes the calm and the structure.

Edited April 10, 2009 by MurphySG

[lynne]

 

 

I am married but my husband spends long hours at work. Sometimes only seeing our son when he is in bed.

He found his diagnosis difficult and accepting his diagnosis has taken several years.

 

Last year my husband was moaning about me not giving our child any independence because I walk him to school and back again. He thought that at the age of 10 years our son should be able to cross non busy roads on his own. Although my son looks when crossing the road he is unable to accurately assess the road situation prior to crossing. It was only on holiday last year that my husband actually watched him look up and down the road than went to cross as a car was approaching. Now he realises that he does not see what we see.

 

My husband is unable to attend any school meeting and speak any special needs language. He just finds it so difficult. Would we still be married if my husband at to spend long periods of time at home - I do not know.

 

 

My male friend is in the opposite position. He was beatened up by his wife and eventually left and raised his daughter on his own. His daughter had deformity with her feet, which meant she had to have several operations and long periods off school. She also had a statement of special needs and had a tutor to teach her at home. He coped well with all the medical interventions, school meetings, working etc. However, his ex wife could not cope with anything and moved away.

 

A child needs 2 loving parents and no abuse or 1 loving parent and a part time parent who is going to back up and work with the full time parent.

If this does not work than one loving, confident parent will instill more discipline and rules than being in a disruptive family.

 

 

Children needs rules and guidance without these children look for other pleasures to gain acceptance. Such as antisocial behaviour, drugs etc You can not blame single parents for causing all the problems in society.

 

 

My brother died at a young age and left his wife with two young children aged 5 and 7 years. Now this mother did not choose to play the role of a single parent it was what she was given.

 

Alot of other parents have choosen to be single parents because the parents are unable to work together or there has been an abusive partner. Life is not easy.

[MelowMeldrew]

At least some light relief in a paper I read today,

 

Men CAN multi-task BETTER than women.

Men ARE better drivers.

Men CAN spot a partner cheating BETTER than a woman can. (Sorry gals your 'intuition' isn't as good as you think !).

Men can diet and stick to it BETTER than a woman. (We know eating too much or the wrong food does the damage, it is because we don't read celebrity fashion magazines that are based on image and not science). We don't want to look like a stick insect either lol....

Men are funnier, they can tell jokes better.

 

Women were better at shopping, (unsurprising as a mere male I never go anyway !).

Women handled illness better (Only because they are better equipped biologically to do so, not because they are 'braver').

Women can repair cars and assemble flat pack furniture better (Suits me the missues can do it from now on).

Women co-operate better as a team at work. Men will scheme to be top dog and do what it takes.

Edited May 26, 2009 by MelowMeldrew