Username: Dreamrise
Real name: Lori
Number of children: 1 - 14yr old girl (and 1 on the way)
Seperated since: July 1996 (when 16 weeks pregnant with number 1. Got pregnant with number 2 via IVF with donor sperm)
Care arrangements: Fulltime sole custody. 14yr old has never met her father and obviously bub number 2 will only have that option when he/she is 18 and can meet the donor.
Biggest Challenge: Being open to the possibility of a proper relationship... I'm so used to being a single mum it's become part of my identity that I am very proud of and whilst I'm not sure I want it to be any different sometimes I worry about being too stuck in my ways and maybe a partner at some stage in the future might be nice!
General comments: My 14yr old is amazing and whilst she wasn't planned I wouldn't change a thing. Bub number 2 took four years in the making after lots of soul searching about how another child might impact on my relationship with my daughter. Finally just before she turned 10 I decided we were both ready - never expected it to take this long to concieve but I'm now almost 11 weeks pregnant and my daughter is being a great help when I'm feeling really sick or tired etc. Hopefully she and bub will become friends when they are both adults as I know they won't have a traditional sibling relationship given the huge age difference.
I have worked and studied throughout my daughter's life and tried to give her a really positive role model that being a parent doesn't mean giving up your dreams. We now live on our own beautiful farm which she loves (though the morgage payments are a constant source of stress when work dries up or interest rates increase).