• Alison Brewerton is a single mom who had been working near London when she and her ex split. • Her parents would drive 1.5 hours each way to take care of their granddaughter so Alison could work. • Alison moved in with her parents to both save money and relieve the pressure of childcare scheduling.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with 45-year-old Alison Brewerton, Founder of Mama Strength Pilates. It has been edited for length and clarity.

In 2016, I found out I was pregnant. At the time, I was near London with my boyfriend in an apartment I had bought in my name.

Life felt perfect. I thought I'd be getting married and living a happily settled life with my little family of three.

A year after my daughter was born, the dynamic between her dad and me started to shi

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