Found a franchise I like the sound of, what do you think?

honey10

OP, have you considered the Open University to further your career/qualifications etc? They have some great courses, and by the sounds of it, you would qualify for the student loan in full.
It might be worth a look?

BurnleyBob

MoominMama wrote: »

I appreciate your advice

As for dressmaking, I am at a very basic level, I do it just for me and my kids, it doesn't matter if the hems are wonky and a sleeve badly set if it's just for us, I could never charge money for it and I certainly can't do alterations, that is something on a whole different level, my partner's mother does alterations and she is extremely talented and it's taking her a good while to get established. I couldn't compete with her.

I get the feeling there aren't many options left for me really are there? Maybe I just have to resign myself to the fact that at 41 and a lone parent I am in fact completely unemployable.

I rue the day I ever decided to do the 'right thing' and become a stay at home mum, I should have packed my kids off to day care and built myself an amazing career because raising a family on £72 a week Widowed Parents Allowance for the rest of my life doesn't seem like much of a reward for deciding to raise my children myself.

Am surprised that a few of MSE's top sleuths who've contributed to this thread missed that contradiction.

I felt the OP imagined the circumstances described to attack single mothers by using some half-baked self-employment scheme and an inability to learn any skills. There's also plenty of pathos thrown in, presumably to further rile readers.

It was pretty subtle stuff, fair dos, but identifiable before post 31 and the faux pas.

MoominMama

Yes, I have knocked this franchise idea on the head.

As for childminding, I used to do it years ago then it switched over to Ofsted and became an utter nightmare, I was suppose to run the 2 days a week I had my friend's little boy like a proper school with the same amount of paperwork and do child psychology reports on him etc

Problem is I cannot stand other people's children, really cannot stand them, it's on my list of things to do if it ever reaches the point where we have had our utilities cut off and are starving.

I also have a dog so not sure how that will go down.

I'll have a look at the OU courses although I haven't got a single clue what to even start looking at, the only thing I'm good at is art and apparently that's an unrealistic career path.

Do you get free childcare if you do volunteer work? If not I'll have exactly the same problem as to why I can't get a paying job, no-one to look after my children.
Same with going to college, the nearest college is 30 miles away, if the classes start at 9 and I have to get my child to school for 9, how can I be in different places at the same time??

There was a school cleaner job advertised at the local high school but the hours were 3-5:30, I suppose I just have to let my 8 yr old wander the streets until I've finished if I went for that?

Years ago I bought a 'comedy' poster that said "I wanted to change the world but couldn't find a babysitter" with a picture of a 1950s housewife doing the washing up. It's not a funny poster anymore.

MoominMama

BurnleyBob wrote: »

Am surprised that a few of MSE's top sleuths who've contributed to this thread missed that contradiction.

I felt the OP imagined the circumstances described to attack single mothers by using some half-baked self-employment scheme and an inability to learn any skills. There's also plenty of pathos thrown in, presumably to further rile readers.

It was pretty subtle stuff, fair dos, but identifiable before post 31 and the faux pas.

What??? I say 'partner' because at my age 'boyfriend' sounds ridiculous! He lives an hour away and I see him twice a week.
Honestly, I love it when people form their own conclusions about the life of someone they don't know anything about.

And pathos??? Really? I have only stated facts, if you think that's pathos well, maybe you can be widowed with young kids to support and then you can have lots of 'pathos' in your life too.

Faux pas.... please, I AM a lone parent because my children's other parent is DEAD and I live alone!!!!

Anymore questions????

Sorry to tell you 'Bob' but you can stop feeling so smug and pleased with yourself because you've got the whole thing wrong.

I haven't imagined anything, are you a single mother? Do you know what it's like first hand?

I came here looking for genuine advice regarding a genuine situation and I get some bloke on the internet who suddenly thinks he's Columbo working out my psychology and personal life. What a joke.

MoominMama

And if you were an MSE top sleuth yourself you'd know that you cannot live with someone as if you are married whilst claiming Widowed Parent's Allowance and yes, I've sat in the office and been interrogated as to the status of my relationship and if I plan to marry at some point in the future, just one more degrading aspect to my already pathetic situation.

Anyone else want to kick me when I'm down? So far I've been told I'd be out of my depth organising coffee mornings, the only thing I'm good at is unrealistic and now I've basically been called a liar and have posted imagined nonsense just to get everyone riled, because yes, at 41 there's nothing I like better than behaving like a 14 yr old and making up a load of stories and spending my time posting it on forums.

lincroft1710

There is nothing wrong in using the term "boyfriend" when you're 41 years old. "Partner" implies someone with whom you cohabit, so that is why BurnleyBob came to the conclusion he did.

BJV

BurnleyBob wrote: »

Am surprised that a few of MSE's top sleuths who've contributed to this thread missed that contradiction.

I felt the OP imagined the circumstances described to attack single mothers by using some half-baked self-employment scheme and an inability to learn any skills. There's also plenty of pathos thrown in, presumably to further rile readers.

It was pretty subtle stuff, fair dos, but identifiable before post 31 and the faux pas.

Well Bob! Got to say that was just a little harsh.

Yes there can be all sorts of people on here but if you search on the OP you will see that one of here very first posts was after being awarded widower's pension. Then about children then about her trying to get off her bum and do something to better herself.

I am not a loan parent. I hope I never will be! I am lucky I have a job and an ok's lifestyle but not everyone does and when you don't some people try all sorts to make ends meat.

Yes the idea to me sounds a little crazy but desperate people do desperate things. At least the OP had the bottle to ask for advice before going ahead.

MoominMama

lincroft1710 wrote: »

There is nothing wrong in using the term "boyfriend" when you're 41 years old. "Partner" implies someone with whom you cohabit, so that is why BurnleyBob came to the conclusion he did.

No, I personally refuse to use the term boyfriend, it sounds girly and silly.

If I was allowed to actually live like a normal adult human being then he would be my partner, but the Government says I must be treated like a silly schoolgirl and not live with anyone and be interviewed under oath as to my intentions towards anyone I have a romantic relationship with.

Not sure how saying 'partner' made BurnleyBob come to the conclusion I was imaging how crap life is a single parent and was adding pathos to get you all riled.

MoominMama

BJV wrote: »

Well Bob! Got to say that was just a little harsh.

Yes there can be all sorts of people on here but if you search on the OP you will see that one of here very first posts was after being awarded widower's pension. Then about children then about her trying to get off her bum and do something to better herself.

I am not a loan parent. I hope I never will be! I am lucky I have a job and an ok's lifestyle but not everyone does and when you don't some people try all sorts to make ends meat.

Yes the idea to me sounds a little crazy but desperate people do desperate things. At least the OP had the bottle to ask for advice before going ahead.

Thank you

honey10

with the open university, you can do a degree in whatever you want, and you work it around yourself. For example, the course to be a bookkeeper is only one module long (3 months ish) then you are a qualified bookkeeper... you can do creative writing, which may help the blog writing or childrens books. anything you fancied.
You are more than welcome to PM me if you would like to.
I do hope you find your way.