The daily grind: Get kids up. Breakfast - who's having what. Remind kids of before school routine. Make the beds. Lunch boxes. Remind kids of their activities/responsibilities. Make sure they brush teeth, hair and wash face. School run. Washing. Cleaning. Cooking. Shop for food (no luxury items).

Pay the bills. Budget. Take the bins out. Recycle. Dishes (lots of single mums live without dishwashers). Go to work/school (sometimes both in one day). Pick kids up from wherever - if you are lucky enough to find affordable care for your kids. School bags out of the car. Go into cold dark empty house. No dinner yet - start thinking. Kids tired and hungry. Pets are at your feet. Bills/mail to sort. Unpack school bags. Help kids with homework while dinner is cooking.

Dinner with kids. Bath/shower kids. Organise kids into PJs - settle them down for quiet time. It's not quality time, it's stressful because you want to sit down and relax for a minute too. Bring washing in/out some times at 9-10pm. Arrange clothes on horse overnight so kids have clean uniform for next day. Kids to bed (finally). Tidy up kitchen. Start your own homework.

Ongoing responsibilities. Car maintenance - oil, water, brake fluid. Home maintenance. Changing light globes. Fixing heaters/hot water service. Cleaning gutters to stop the roof from leaking. Chop/stack the firewood. Technical things - computers, DVD players, TV, antennas. Garden maintenance. Walk the dog. Mow the grass. Weed the garden. Take the bins out.

Remember we are the tooth fairy, Easter bunny and Santa - putting trampolines, swing sets, bikes together at midnight.

Emotional side. Helplessness. Worry for children. Give your kids what other kids have. Social networks, exclusion, bullying. Safety, health, education. Loneliness - no one to bounce off. Being alone with your thoughts. Wanting an emotional connection with another adult. Dealing with anger of the situation. Make all the decisions without support of another adult.

Sibling rivalry - point out what's fair. Disciplinarian. On the receiving end of the kids' behaviour. Deal with school issues. Pressure to have and provide. Pressure reporting to Centrelink. Living on crap money and always chasing your tail. Always behind and having to catch up. No choices. Not having a life. Humiliation of having to ask for help. What happens if I die? Who will take care of the children?

Introduction of astronomical fees recently implemented by the current government has transformed educational opportunity into a financial risk, shattering the dream of a better future for single mothers and their families.

We need skills not bills. Together we can say NO to high fees and HECS debts at TAFE!

— Posted by Rhyll Montgomery, TAFE student