Single Parent House Share

[rubes]

Hello,

I currently live in Forest Hill with my 4 year old son and have been thinking about sharing with another single parent family for some time. I?m in no rush and I think the most important thing is taking the time to meet the most compatible family to move in with (by that I mean single mum or single dad and probably one child).

I?d like to stay in Forest Hill (as my son goes to school there) but would possibly move to a surrounding area such as Brockley, Peckham, East Dulwich, Nunhead or Sydenham. The whole point would be to have a happy home life so the kids can play and the parents can share the childcare sometimes so the other has more freedom to go out or take a night class, etc. But also get some company at home, too. I?d say I?m creative, into music and bands (although rarely go to gigs these days!), art and exhibitions, but also don?t turn my nose up at watching the odd bit of crap telly on a Saturday night. I?m 33, I work full-time and I?m pretty sociable. I have my son most of the time apart from Thursday nights and every other weekend.

If house/flat sharing is something you might like to do then message me and we can perhaps arrange to meet for a cup of tea or trip to the park with the kids.

Charlie (as in Charlotte)

[sanity girl]

Bumping as this is something I have been mulling over recently, in light of the current crazy rental prices. I am based in Dulwich and need to stay in the area as my daughter is at school in the village and also because I rely on my parents, who also live locally, for childcare. Has anyone out there actually done this? Would anyone be interested in looking into a possible house share in the Dulwich area (DVIS/Hamlet cachment)? I am a 40 year old single parent with a 7 year old daughter and 3 year old son, working 5 days but around school hours.

[SE22mum]

I know friends who have done this, but not anyone who has moved in with unknowns, as it were. Sounds like an interesting idea.

[hellosailor]

I have a friend who did this (she and her son rented a house with another single mum and her son) and it worked very well. They met up to get to know each other and talk about it a couple of times before introducing their sons to get their opinion too, and all four were into the idea of giving it a go so they did!

[Goodliz]

One of my sister's did this over 20 years ago when she had a very young son. Her and the friend she shared with are still very, very good friends now. Such a good idea. I hope you get it sorted out.

[ClareC]

Sounds like a great idea to me, hope you find an ideal sharer!

[hellosailor]

looks like plenty of people are thinking about it, and there are some good tips on things to think about in these threads, even the ones that aren't London based xx

http://www.gingerbread.org.uk/Forum/messages.aspx?TopicID=3551

http://www.movethat.co.uk/London/Forum/Single_Parents/

http://www.netmums.com/coffeehouse/advice-support-40/single-parents-support-45/954313-single-parent-house-share-all.html

[sanity girl]

Thanks for the links hellosailor - I had already looked on the Gingerbread and Netmums discussions but got the impression that while a lot was discussed not much was actually done. I hadn't seen the movethat site though so thanks for that.