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Original poster

Bleak view of motherhood

27 replies

GettingUntrapped · 09/07/2020 10:20

Perhaps I'm depressed. I'm a single parent with nine and 14-year old boys.
I'm struggling to see what's in it for me. At times, it feels like motherhood is a type of mental and psychological slavery, along with domestic drudgery.
Mothers are strongly socialised to self sacrifice, and despite all the effort, will always get blamed by society when things go wrong. On top of that, our children blame us for any perceived hardship, if their lives aren't perfect.
I'm doing my best, but feel like it's a totally shit deal.
In fact, it sometimes feels terrifying, like I am in a kind of bondage or prison and can't get out.
I'm sure I would benefit from therapy.
Can anyone relate?

OP posts:
Lettera · 09/07/2020 10:47

Flowers Untrapped

Being a single parent is very tough and can often feel like an exhausting and thankless job. You need all the help and support you can get. If you think you may be depressed see your GP.

Sending you much love and strength.

Justhadathought · 09/07/2020 10:33

Being a single parent is tough. Very tough. Being a poor single parent doubly so. I was a young single parent, struggling to survive and excluded from much that would have made life more bearable and fun, because I had no money: no telephone: no washing machine: a coin meter for electricity: choices between food and taking a bus ( I'd always walk -often right across the city to visit friends): no holidays: no restaurant lunches with friends; essential items bought from a catalogue...and yes, it often felt like I was in prison.

Being in a partnership with someone who wants children, and having a reasonably comfortable lifestyle, makes a whole world of difference. Parenthood/motherhood is demanding enough, even at the best of times.

My children have grown up now, and I have a granddaughter, and I cannot imagine not having had children. You develop resources you never knew you had.....and you do appreciate that there are joys and pleasures in motherhood too.

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