A question for lone parents

pupsicola

Do you ever feel overwhelmed by being solely responsible for raising your kids, financially and emotionally. What strategies do you use to help you cope? Could just really do with some words of advice from people who are in the same boat.

balletshoes

I mean absolutely no disrespect to my OH in this post, I love him to bits and miss him lots right now because he is working away - but I'm the one who is raising our daughter. I'm the one she can rely on to be there no matter what, I'm the one who organises our free time, takes her to her clubs, goes to parents evenings, makes sure there is food on the table and clothes on her back.

Don't get me wrong, sometimes she drives me to distraction with her selective hearing and dawdling when we have to get out the door on time, and yes its a huge responsibility - but I see the sensitive, kind, respectful to others child I raised, and it makes me proud - I did that . I would much rather have her and the responsibility that goes with it for the rest of my life, than never have experienced this. I look back at my pre-child days and think "what on earth did I do with all my time and money"???

missmontana

Sometimes I do, but then people comment on what a lovely little lad I have, so it makes it all worth while!

Good points are that he doesn't have anyone to play me off against, so what I say goes. And he doesn't have to deal with the tension people in relationships have so often, arguments etc. Plus he gets all my attention (most of the time!) And I get to experience all the things he does for the first time.

skylight

Days like today I hate. When one of the littlies is being sick but you have to get the others to school and there is no-one else to do it for you - plus the clean-up involved with that and the others still need their hair braiding. Then you get to school barely on time and the teacher makes a rude comment about one of them forgetting their wellies and make sure Mummy remembers tomorrow. But you manage to make it home without killing them!

Or when the ex arrives unannounced for a once in a 3-month 15min visit bringing sweets, making them laugh and he leaves with the kids thinking he is god.

Trying to get the kids to clubs on time, dinner fed, the house tidied, my own studying done and its just ARGH!!!!

I hate being a single Mum sometimes. I have 5 of them with no help (actual or monetary) from the ex. Nor his family, because he doesn't want them to so they don't. My Dad lives in Spain, Mum works full-time (and she helps out as much as she can, but she needs her own chillout zone). Support is thin on the ground.

But you get on with it. Because if you don't, no-one is going to do it for you. Which isn't a great help in support and ideas of how to deal with it!! Sorry for that. But my rant is in solidarity with yours!