Well the co-parenting lasted several months, but if I’m honest Charlie’s father has only seen him once since Halloween so for a fair few months I have been solo parenting again. That, with the news that this lockdown means Charlie’s father has decided that he does not want contact with Charlie until we are out of it! Please do not message me regarding the rules for separated parents, Charlie’s father has refused to acknowledge them and thinks it’s in his (not Charlie’s) best interests that he doesn’t contact him. To be honest the contact is sketchy at best and there is no other contact methods in between. No calls, facetimes or texts other than the weekend contact arrangements as Charlie’s father has him on a Saturday while I work.

I am a critical key worker, and I work in a contact centre with vulnerable children who are in foster placements having contacts with their biological families. I love my job, I love supporting a charity that put children first and provide a much needed space for children to have positive engaging contact and ensure they have secure attachments associated with their birth families. I will be devastated to give up this job if the childcare arrangements fall through.

I am very fortunate that right now I am able to continue working from home, and that gives me great pleasure as it means my job is secure. However, I have just applied for another role within the charity working as a mentor to support children at risk of child criminal exploitation. I’m absolutely thrilled with this and can’t wait to get trained up and started, after years of studying criminology and social politics it is definitely something that I feel I can use my skills for.

Solo parenting isn’t only about lack of contact, it’s all the other stuff too. All the meetings, assessments, reviews that I have to attend alone. All the medical appointments, dental, hospital and therapy appointments I have to attend alone. All the bedtime routines and personal care I have to do, alone. Which is fine, Charlie is my child and I love him to death and I will 1000% always advocate and care for him - but damn I would love a bit of support and help at times! It’s only right when there is a 2nd parent, there is no need to be a solo parent.

That’s enough of this heavy business for now.

Georgina x