I'll Be Mum And Dad To My Boys

Karon Bell, 47, never meant to end up a single mum but sometimes life can take a very different turn

- Bess Browning & Kim Willis

After hammering tent pegs into the sodden ground, I lug heavy bags, throwaway barbecues and an assortment of cooking equipment out of the car as my sons Felix, 16, and Finley, 11, excitedly chase each other around.

I know what my fellow campers around the site are thinking – where’s the husband or boyfriend to help out?

It’s just like when I’m sitting proudly watching Felix or Finley in their latest school production or when I’ve got my head under the bonnet, fixing the car.

But the fact is, when there’s no father figure around, it’s down to the mum to fill his boots. And that’s exactly what I have been doing for the past 16 years.

I met Felix’s dad Mark, then 38, in the summer of 1998. He was eccentric, artistic and the life and soul of every party.

Despite the fact he was over 10 years older than me, we got on so well and fell in love. Our beautiful boy Felix was born at home in December 2001 and Mark adored him, along with his three other children from a previous marriage. Together, we made the most of the small pleasures in life – trips to the seaside, camping holidays, days at the park, planting a damson tree in the garden, where Mark planned to fix a swing to the branches once it had grown... But our happiness was short-lived. Just a month before Felix’s first birthday, Mark and I went to a friend’s party. Mark was in high spirits and wanted to stay late, so I agreed to go home to Felix, who was being looked after by my parents. ‘I love you,’ I said, as I kissed him and left the party.