Single Parent Support Group Interview

It is great to meet someone who shares our ethos of supporting single parents to become informed, empowered and connected. The majority of our team here at Single Parent Action Network (SPAN) are or have been single parents and completely understand the reality of parenting alone and have worked tirelessly for the last 25 years on the ground supporting local single parents, in Parliament making changes to policies and also here online too and are always pleased to hear of others who are as passionate as we are.

We interviewed Nicola Booth who set up a Single Parent Support Group page on Facebook and then later created a website to offer the support that her members needed.

How do you juggle being a single mum with your career?
To be honest I just keep busy and focus on making life better for my daughter, so I focus all my free time on the support group to make sure other single parents have the support they need, I am studying to be a nail technician and I also work part time. I would rather be busy.

What do you think is the most important thing that we can teach our children?
I think it is important that our children are happy, independent and stand their ground on what they believe in.

What’s your favourite activity you do with your daughter?
To be honest I just love being with her, whether we are playing, or cuddled up watching a film, spending time with her is precious.

What’s your biggest parenting concern at the moment?
I think we all have a lot of these, single parents feel we are failing all the time but all I want is my daughter to be happy and at the moment the focus is to get her ready to start school later this year.

What would you say has been your greatest achievement?
My greatest achievement has to be raising my daughter alone whilst juggling everyday life, study, work and my support group.

What’s been your biggest mistake?
I am not sure I believe in ‘mistakes’ per say, I think things happen for a reason and I certainly would not be where I am now if I things hadn’t happened as they have but I know one of my downfalls is I am far too negative and never believe in myself enough, don’t think I can do things that I certainly can do, not trusting my decisions to be the correct ones.

What is the hardest thing you have found being a single parent?
Juggling all the day to day things, money, housework, jobs, parenting etc, it’s hard work but worth it. Its hard to be positive sometimes when people are always telling you how to do this, you should be doing that, the terrible stigma that comes with being a single parent, but we are all doing a fantastic job for our children and should be very proud!

What’s your proudest parenting moment? 
My proudest moment was yesterday actually, I was walking home with my little one from nursery when she said to me "mummy why arent you a normal mummy?" I said "what do you mean, why dont you think im a normal mummy?" and she said "because your a superhero!"

What have you learnt about yourself since you and your ex separated?
I am much stronger than I ever thought I was.

Would you like more children?
Yes I would love more children, this is defiantly something I would like for the future.

If you were on an island and could only bring 3 things, what would you bring?
My kindle so I can read and keep my mind occupied, not sure if this is allowed but id take a friend for company, support, laughs and finally I would take my daughter as she is all I will ever need

Who inspires you? Why?
Every single parent inspires me as it is amazing what we can do when we put our minds too it and how much strength we can get from one another and out children to keep pushing forward.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?
In 5 years time I would love my support group to really have taken off and on its way or at charity status, I want to offer as many single parents the support, guidance and friendship that they need. I would love to think I would have met someone, settled down and had another baby, as long as my daughter and I are happy in 5 years time what else do we need!

We wish you the best of luck Nicola! SPAN was started by a small group of single parents who used to meet weekly, they had a dream of creating a charity that empowered single parents and that dream came into fruition and exceeded all their expectations and we are still going strong 25 years later, see SPAN's history. You can do it!