October 17, 2017

September Single Mum Family Session

The Wells Family Photography Session

From the first phone call with Sheridan I knew that this session was so well deserved. Sheridan and her 5 – yes 5! – children were just great fun and great people.

Sheridan runs a tight ship and the respect that her kids have for her was plain to see. They were all so well behaved and good to each other, it really stood out to me. The three older kids really took the younger 2 under their wing and everyone had a lot of fun with the shoot.

What Sheridan has done for her family is nothing short of amazing. She definitely has an interesting story – though not mine to tell. I’m so pleased I can give these photos to the Wells family, they truly deserve it.

Read more about what Sheridan has to say on being a single mum and see some of the highlights from their family photography session below.

How long have you been a single mum?

Almost a year

How has being a single mum changed you?

It’s made me so much stronger, I’ve struggled a lot with starting over again with 5 kids and making sure that everyone was emotionally ok but overall the kids are so much happier and relaxed. I suppose my energy has helped now I’m in a great place in my life, but I made the best decision to move out of our family home. I’ve lost friends who choose sides but if anything that was a blessing, the people who have stuck by me are keepers. Over all I’m so blessed.

Is there anything you’d like all non single mums to know about single motherhood?

Yes, that if you and your family are so unhappy make a choice to stay and work hard at your marriage. It also has to be both sides that want to fix things and if your kids are not happy don’t stay for them. I left my home with the kid’s beds and our clothes and I started from scratch with no help. I just put small amounts of money away each week and bought a dinner set knives forks etc, you would be so surprised at how the material things don’t matter anymore. 12 months on we have everything to make our house an awesome family home, single mums can do anything.

What advice can you give to other women who are about to be single mothers?

Make the move, don’t hesitate if you have in your head I’m so unhappy and it becomes toxic to be around the person that you thought you would be with forever, pack a bag and go. I didn’t tell anyone I was leaving until I was gone, it thinned out friends but if they say negative things to you about your choices you’ll find friends who will boost you up .

What is the hardest part?

Being lonely, I adore my kids but one day they are going to grow up and leave and I don’t want to be on my own forever. I’ve taken on man jobs that are not much fun but they have to be done as I don’t want my 13 yr old son to take on everything he needs to still be a kid.

What is the best part?

I’ve got the most amazing 5 kids in my life. We all changed in different ways, it was the best thing to watch these kids relax and smile again from their hearts. And I’ve felt really happy again I’ve lost some weight and I now know nothing can stop me.

How did you find working with Nick and Barley Monks Photography?

This box isn’t big enough, we have a child with special needs who can explode at any second so we were all on edge as to how on earth we could all be together in a photo, well the most amazing man was behind the camera. ( nick ) who made us all relax and enjoy every moment, it was an amazing morning and it was a day we will never forget.