Liz Knowles, 39
We met through a couple of Facebook groups. A few months later, Hayley posted that she’d split up with her partner of 10 years and she and her son were looking for somewhere to live. I’d been on my own with my six-year-old daughter for one and a half years, and I had a spare bedroom. Money was tight, I found life quite stressful, and when my daughter was in bed at night I felt a bit lonely.
Mutual friends thought we’d be well suited. Hayley’s son is a year older than my daughter, so we got the kids together and they got on really well. We were both slightly apprehensive, but everything went smoothly.
We share the chores and have a similar approach to parenting. It can feel overwhelming on your own, but Hayley is so calm that it’s worked out beautifully.
Hayley Dunn, 42
After we met on Facebook, we met by chance at a gig and started talking: what were the chances of that? Liz is a lovely, nurturing person and I knew there wouldn’t be any drama when we moved in.
The kids love having someone to play with and we just get on with everything together. I was very lonely when I split up with my partner and found the thought of living alone daunting, so this has been a wonderful halfway house. It won’t be for ever, as my son and I share a room, but it’s given me confidence. I can now see myself living in a flat with my son and enjoying it.
This has been a lifeline for me. A couple of friends have done the same thing, having seen how well it has worked for us.
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