“It’s a sort of bereavement, when the life you used to know just goes,” says Andy, a father of three, of the time after his marriage ended. “Throughout, my main focus was the children. They really needed me and I needed to be there for them in any way I could.”
Modern fatherhood includes men like Andy, one of around 186,000 dads in the UK bringing up his children on his own . Around 8 per cent of the UK’s 2 million single parents are dads. Statistically, single dads are more likely to be widowed than single mums (12 per cent of single fathers are widowed, compared with five per cent of single mothers ), but many find themselves parenting alone after marriage and relationship breakdown. Regardless of their route into single parenthood, single dads surveyed by Gingerbread tell us they are very unlikely to know other dads in their situation, and can find parenting alone even more of a challenge as a result.
Indeed, although one in four families with dependent children is headed by a single parent, balancing working life with the demands of caring for children alone can still be an uphill struggle. Andy, who works part-time in a secondary school, describes the efficiency he needs to ensure life runs smoothly for the family. “You always have to think: what can I achieve at this moment in time? What is the most important thing for me to do right now?”
In a society still not used to seeing men as main carers, single dads often find it even more difficult to combine work and single parenthood. “I don’t think employers expect a man to be on his own with a child, let alone a baby,” says Eddie, a 50 year old father of one, who became a single dad following his wife’s death when his son was just five months old. “Nobody seemed interested in giving me a job so I had to try a different route.”
For Eddie, that route was self-employment, the only working option he could see that would give him the flexibility to be there for his son. Others, like Andy, take on fierce competition and lower pay to secure a part-time job. Some choose trying to balance higher salaries gained in full-time, yet usually inflexible, work with rocketing childcare costs. And there are those forced into a cycle of short-term jobs and out-of-work benefits to keep their families afloat.
But single dads also tell us of the huge pride they have in themselves and their children, and their real sense of achievement in bringing them up successfully. “You learn things you never imagined”, says Gareth, a widowed single parent to Max, nine, and Polly, five. “You find these immense resources of strength and character you never knew you had.”
At Gingerbread, the national charity for single parents, we’re campaigning to break down the barriers to finding, keeping and progressing in employment, and we’re challenging the government and employers to Make it work for single parents. And when it works for mums and dads raising their children alone, it will work for anyone who wants to combine work with family life.
This Father’s Day at Gingerbread we’re celebrating the brilliant job being done by the UK’s single dads in a special video shining a light on the skills they have to offer, gained from what can be an intensely difficult job.
“It’s probably been the biggest challenge of my life”, says Andy of his time so far as a single dad. “But I desperately love my children and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Posted by andy / June 19th, 2013
Some single Dads are on their own because of their partners bereavement, whilst other single Dads are cast adrift by a society which sees Mums as the carers of our children. This is very sad because Dads are very good at being fathers to their own children. It’s only right for the whole family that he should continue parenting along with his partner, post-separation. It’s only what the children would expect. Kind regards.
Posted by Paul Apreda / August 20th, 2013
Thanks Andy for sharing your experiences. We tend to see very few widowed fathers as our charity supports dads – as well as mums and grandparents – who are facing exclusion from the lives of their children. I appreciate your acknowledgement of the main issue here even though it is not your own. We see parents who are facing allegations of abuse or simply flat refusal to allow them to see their own children. The injustices that are routinely shared at our meetings are appalling – yet the story still persists that fathers don’t face prejudice and discrimination when they’re fighting to play a positive role in their children’s lives. We’d love to work with big charities like Gingerbread to find ways to improve collaborative parenting following divorce or separation because we know that this would be a powerful force to improve the lives of children in Wales. Maybe this could be the start? Paul
Posted by kym / April 18th, 2014
Hi im a widow im 39 i have been for this october 6 years with 4 kids its hard to meet people
Posted by Elisha / June 24th, 2014
I’m a single 19 year old dad of 16 months, to my 2 year 4 month year old daughter. I also seem to be looking towards self employment as I had to leave college half way through my course. So with nothing but a few gcse’s to my name I can’t seem to find a job anywhere with the right hours and amount of pay to work. Just as Eddie, looking for something which I can gain income and grow as a business in time. Thanks for sharing
Posted by Jhowell / July 3rd, 2014
My problem with Greg’s aruemgnt is that it seems to be reducing parenting down to the physical labor of feeding, clothing, and cleaning. Presumably, as long as sufficient labor capability exists in the house, the problem is solved. By that mesure, children raised entirely by robots should be as well-adjusted as any others. I’m finding that a bit far-fetched.I would argue that single motherhood and single fatherhood are not compaable under the present circumstances, for a variety of reasons. Of course, the largest one is that in our current culture, there is no social stigma associated with not having a father or not knowing who one’s father is. Compare that to the case for adopted children, who do not know who either of their biological parents are. And there is no stigma associated with a household which has no father in it. I am a big believer that, in order to be well-adjusted in regards to how they relate to the oppsite sex, children need to have role models of both sexes. Now, there are different ways of accomplishing that goal, but that’s beside the point I want to make. I don’t have the stats in front of me night now, but a significant number of single mothers were themselves raised in single-mother households. Being that the welfare state has been in place for about 60 years now, this can extend back through three or four generations. A boy may find himself being raised in a family that is otherwise single-sex. This is very unlikely to happen in a father-only household. I would guess that the number of single-parent fathers who were themselves raised in a motherless household is minscule, probably not enough to study.Futher, the child of a single father still has plenty of exposure to female role models. They have female relatives. Some fathers hire caretakers, who are nearly all female. School teachers are mostly female. Compare this with the opposite situation. It’s quite possible that a child in a single-mother household will never meet an adult male realtive, due to the multi-generational chain of single mothering. In public schools, the child is unlikely to have a male teacher. Welfare and child-protective employees are mostly women too. It’s entirely possible that the child’s only “male role models” will be in the form of street gangs.So no, I don’t think that there is any such thing as gender-neutral “single parenting”. And I don’t think that studying father-only households will tell you anything about single-mother households. The two are simply not comparable.
Posted by Mohamed / October 24th, 2014
The only relief I felt after two years+ now is that I am not alone any more!
I ‘ve been raising four kids on my own now! three of them are twins!
It’s like a very hot summer all the time if you know what I mean, I ‘ll keep digging may be I ‘d come across a success story some where.
Posted by Adam Watts / November 26th, 2014
My wife died on 26th February 2013. She was 46 and we had 5 beautiful boys. At the time of her death, they were aged 10, 9, 7, 5 and 2. I work from home and we were in the middle of a major house extension. I’ve not had many days off since she died and it’s only about now that I can see a light at the end of the tunnel in so far as getting the house finished, which enables me to give myself some quality grieving time which, up to now, has been bottled inside me.
Posted by Steve / February 4th, 2016
I’m soon to become a single Dad of my 2 year old boy. His mother wants to go back to China (encourgaed by her mother) and leave my son and I.
To be honest I’m petrified and doubting my own ability to cope.
Interesting idea about single mothers raising future single mothers. My wife’s mother abandoned my wife when she was young. Now my wife is abandoning her child.
These circles need to be broken.
Posted by Anna Hovris / May 18th, 2016
Hello all,
I am a trainee Counselling Psychologist and I am conducting a study that aims to hear directly how lone fathers who have full time custody of their children following divorce or separation make sense of their experience, how their experience has shaped their relationship with their children and the resources they use to address any potential difficulties they may or may not have. In light of the limited available literature on lone fatherhood, it is hoped that the information provided will raise key considerations in better understanding what it means to be a lone father and the emotional processes involved such that their needs can be addressed. I am getting in contact to see whether or not you are interested in taking part in this study. If you are, please do not hesitate to contact me on anh0645@my.londonmet.ac.uk for more information. I am looking forward to hearing from you.
Warm regards
Anna
Posted by Sal / May 21st, 2016
Same here, I am about to become a single dad in a few months due to the mother’s situation(she is with someone else). I feel very prepare but I have to admit that I am a little concern on how to care about a newborn baby. Anyway, I have heard that many guys have done it alone so I am sure I will do fine and after reading your guy’s stories, it motivates me more.
Posted by callum / August 21st, 2016
My x partner had my son and left him in the hospital,she did not want him.social services got involved and I have been informed six months after he was born,I am 53,they are looking at putting him in my care,I feel this is the right thing to do,anyone else had this? Would be greatful of any encouragement.
Posted by Brandon / October 4th, 2016
I am now a single father to my 2 year old daughter.. due to her mother becoming addicted to meth 🙁 i lost my house got laid off at the company i work for and my ex stole my car…. i feel lost and sad for my daughter
Posted by Craig / October 15th, 2016
I have very recently become a single dad of 5 girls I am looking for suggestions for any jobs.
Posted by Lee Waddell / November 9th, 2016
Your story is wonderful. I’m a single parent and have custody of my 15-year-old son. Mother was emotionally abusive to Jakob and her new boyfriend beat her. She kept letting him back into her life and of course our son was exposed to her bad decisions. After a lengthy court battle, the court saw the life my ex-wife was making and decided in my favor. She has gone on with here life and she has no contact with our son. I get an e mail from her once every month, she pay’s my child support. My son has done well in going on with his new life. I do my very best to keep a safe and loving home environment. At this time I’ve decided to stay single to concentrate on my son and our live’s. I know what you mean about being so proud of raising children as the single father. Jakob gives me a hug and says’s he loves me every morning as he heads out to school. Thank you for your story.
Posted by Lee Waddell / November 9th, 2016
Being proud of raising a son as a single father.
Posted by colin mullen / December 2nd, 2016
hi. names colin.
I became a single dad to my son kyle, in 2003. when kyle was born ,i found it very hard at first. giving up work, well practically everything rearly but as time goes on. you learn to deal with things as they come, yes it was hard but you seem to just get on with wate needs to be done. I did and yes theres not a lot of help out there for single dads, the norm is single moms
Posted by Chris / May 29th, 2017
Im a single dad to beautiful 7 year old.Ive been sole carer since my daughter was just over 1 before that i was the main carer as well.Its been the hardest yet most rewarding thing ever to happen to me.Its scary sometimes and the isolation is often difficult to cope with but seeing my daughter laugh and grow into a lovely human is fantastic and makes all else pale into insignificance.Its daunting but so worth it.
Posted by Ron / August 7th, 2017
For the fathers to become single dads…….
I have been a single daddy for about a year now. It’s the scariest thing I have ever been through. Especially since I have a gorgeous little girl. It is a terrifying experience to say the least.
You are not perfect
You will not know what to do in all situations.
You will make mistakes.
You will fail at some things.
The key to it all is never ever let the outside world tell you how to raise your child. Ask for help from relatives. Google is a life line. I know that sounds ridiculous but it does help sometimes. Don’t be afraid to take your child to the doctors, even for something that ends up being so small. Pain and sickness can be extremely scary for a single parent. ( moms and dads )
Never blame your child for the situation.
Always hold them, hug them and kiss them. Whenever you can.
And tell them 1000 plus times per day how much you love them.
Never be afraid to cry, never be afraid to show love and compassion.
Always be proud for doing the absolute best you can.
Posted by Ken / April 24th, 2018
I have 2 kids that I care for every other week following marital breakdown. My wife found another man, who now more or less lives with her, in the former family home, and they have our kids the week I don’t. I know I have separation anxiety, and at the same time trying to balance being a good dad with full time work is so stressful. It’s isolating too, as mutual friends take sides and, invariably, women stick with the woman, no matter how much wrong they did, and men friends don’t want to upset their own women so go along with them. If you don’t have a strong network of support, it can be a killer! I need to know single men bringing up kids, like me, have the acknowledgement and respect in society that we deserve. The emotional turmoil is horrendous!
Posted by nico / July 18th, 2018
I’m a single father of 4 kids. ages 7,7 (twins/boy/girl)mother moved state and dont want nothing to do with them its been 4 years since she left. also I have a 2(girl),3(girl). I’m still married to my youngest girls mother that left one day I was working. she took my 2 youngest girls when she left and a week later she let my have them for fathers day. I called her to see when she wanted to get the girls and she told me she wants to get her life on track and for me to keep them for now. I agreed, a week went by to find out she left state for another man she been talking to when we were still together. the struggle it real I work almost 50 hours a week and when she first left I missed a lot of work just in the first 2 months I missed 16 day. about to lose my job. struggling to find someone to help watch 4 kids all day is hard. I am lucky to have family to help until I find a daycare. no I’m not rich, I dont make a lot, it was hard when my family was whole bc there was 7 of us that I took care of. but now my wife left and took her other child and gave her to her father. that really never was there for her. I came in her life right before she was 2 now 7, yes we had 3 7 years. carzy to think but we were making it all work out. she left a week before our 2 year anniversary. I’m still struggle everyday with my anxity and depression. sad part is I’m also an addict but I been clean 2 weeks before my wife left us. everyone thinks I’m going to use again. but really it made it to where I no I cant mess up bc my babies only have me. My twins always been with me and I’m hoping I can keep them all full time. I’m filling for everything and full custody for the girls. just scares me because the mother say she will be back to take them from me and nothing I can do bc she thinks she has 6 months before they get her for abandonment. I’m state favors the mother but I am lucky enough to already have full custody of my twins. so hoping it may help when I go to court for my girls. like I been seeing, I cant really say how it all feels bc my mind is all over. I’m heart broken. and even no it still hurts most of the day. going to we to me was a big change. I have to step up and be the one they see that no matter what happens life must go on. I cant show them that I’m afraid ,I’m lost and everything is overwhelming. theres not enough hours in the day to get things done and I dont know how to change that. I need help in ways to have some stress off. bc if it goes much more it does feel like I’m going carzy somedays. and then it makes me feel like I’m failing my children.
Posted by Andy / June 6th, 2019
im a single dad and have been for the past three and half yrs. I had to leave work to look after my daughter as her mother decided she didnt want to look after her whatsoever…so I have managed it was challenging at first doing nights and days but my biological clock adjusted. The most difficult thing was explaining to job centre I was a single parent..I felt there was a stigma …now my daughter is 3+ and at nursery I have been told by job centre i must now find work which I did manage to do but I would rather get a full time job …child carers are expensive in our area as well as other cost in bills etc ..but personnaly I think single parents as a whole get the raw end of the stick especially when they don’t know which way to turn for advice or help
Posted by Pablo / October 27th, 2019
I’ve been single now for about 5 months because my wife fell back in love with an old partner of hers after 10 years of marriage. We have 2 girls, 6 and 1 and the adjustment has been difficult but inspiring at the same time. I have had to to cope with not only losing the love of my life but balancing work, home duties and raising 2 girls alone. I have a routine now and life is getting better but it is still difficult. To all the men out there dealing with similar circumstances, it gets better.
Posted by Andy / March 29th, 2021
I’ve been a single dad to my daughter since birth as my partner at the time wouldn’t or couldn’t cope ,so I had to leave my job to look after her after struggling with having to go to work and doing night feeds my health started to suffer. Having been on this universal credit barely keeping my finances above water, finding a job is a struggle especially the area I live, even when you do manage to find something employers can’t accommodate the hours you need to work inbetween school hours..child care is too expensive and you just feel under pressure especially when commitments you are forced into by the government system via job centres ,bringing up my daughter wasn’t hard it’s just the undue stress from other parties that’s the problem you just feel your backed into a corner, I think they should look at single parents circumstances rather than being forced on this Dreconian universal credit..to date I’ve applied for hundreds of jobs but still no joy you just feel disheartened, work coach just says get a child minder but costs are high and when you are working to juggle bills. Etc. What happens when your child is Ill if you do manage to get some sort of employment