Yes, single parents struggle - but so do many, many couples with a new baby. It's an adjustment either way. You will hear lots of vents in here, but relationship breakdowns suck universally, of course a baby in the picture does make it harder but hopefully that won't last forever.

There are plenty of couples that struggle in the same way a single parent does - financially, special needs children can add stress etc etc etc and imho having a partner doesn't necesarily make it easier. Not all relationships you see are great ones...or even good ones

So here's my (quick) story - I don't think it's all bad!

Single by the time bubs was 5 months (wish it was even sooner in retrospect!), dd was a fairly easy baby. I lived with dad for awhile and moved out when she was 12 months.
I didn't lose too much of a social life, I didn't drink till I was 21 so I wasn't missing out on pubs, DD came to most of the 21sts I went to, I took her pretty much everywhere and at 17 she is (I believe) a very independent girl because of that.

I met a group of other sole parents and we had a great time at each others houses playing cards and having drinks with the kids all asleep in the next room. Babysitting here and there when we needed it.

I worked since dd was about 12 months old, I ran my own business and it went so well I left f/t work and had 2 more babies.

I bought a house 3 years ago, all by my liddle self (well my parents helped me get over the line with the deposit!), I own my car outright.

Looking back myself and my friends had our own struggles but that didn't have much to do with having a partner or not. I did have a large and close group of friends and THAT made all the difference in the world.

I'm struggling a bit financially now, but so are lots of people. It's not all bad - but it is what you make it