I hear this type of comment a lot from women & it usually annoys me. Usually it's something like "I understand how hard it is for you as a single parent because my husband worked all the time when I was younger".

I've seen both sides of the coin - six months of being partnered with a baby who's dad was a shift worker & six months of being a single parent. They seriously do not compare.

Yes it's tough having a partner who works a lot or works shifts or works away, or is just plain useless, but ultimately they do still come home to you, contribute financially towards the household, give you moral support and are able to help when you are sick.

Hopefully none of you lovely ladies will ever get to find out how hard it is.