to be on the verge of a breakdown after 3 days of single-parenting...

[Odysseus]

DH has been working long shifts for the last 3 days and as such, has not seen DS at all. I am KNACKERED.

I would like to take my hat off to single parents who do this day in day out. UTTER RESPECT.

Pass me the wine.

COMPLETELY AGREE!! - I take my hat off too.

Agree with you. DP is away Sunday night through to Thursday night and I'm always very pleased to see him late on Thursday.

It is exhausting but I can't moan as my mum had it far worse than me. I don't know how my mum ever did it - she was a single parent with three children under 10 and a full time job.

That's nice. Although, being a SP myself, I think it's actually less stressful once you've accepted that it's 100% all down to you. There's no alternative and no fall-back so you just have to get on with it regardless. Whereas for the two-parent set-up you're probably feeling that - as well as tiring - it's all slightly unfair on top because you usually have someone else to share the work.

As well as raising child us SPs also do all the housework, all the DIY, all the gardening etc., etc. But again, if there's no-one else around, you can't really blame them if the job doesn't get done :)

I've just done something like 15 days of single parenting (DP working 7am-9pm) and it was a bloody nightmare! On day 15 I hadn't showered for about 3 days and the house was beyond filthy. And poor DS definitely didn't have a zen calm mummy who played with and nurtured him

Seriously, I have no idea how single parent cope. I am in awe of their amazingness.

My DH is in Berlin tonight so I'll join you in that wine.

Having said that he gets home to fed, watered, bathed and buffed children, due to his long hours, so practically single anyway - however, the fact that he walks through the door at half 7 and is an extra pair of hands if there is anything left to be done is a Good Thing.

Poor sod usually ends up doing the dishwasher but he's still alive.

UTTER RESPECT here too. Not only to single parents but also to all the childminders who look after mindees during the day and then after their own kids when they get back from school!
Our childminder has 3 kids of her own and I am in awe of her. I wonder where she gets the energy from!

Aw what a lovely thing to say - I was a single mum with three kids under 5, my eldest is now 13 and I have worked full time for 4 years - I agree with chil1234 totally and I am awful at letting anyone else help now too!!

sorry, but that's not "single parenting". You've had company in the evening, someone else bringing in a wage, etc etc

Thanks for he compliments and I'm sure it has been knackering for you, but please don't compare your partner working long shifts or being away for a few days to being 100% responsible for a child, house, work etc 100% of the time. It's not the same at all.

I'm sorry, I did all the tasks involved in parenting for the last three days. DH has done nothing but sit and watch tv when he gets in, and eaten the meals I've cooked. Not much in the way of company. More like an extra child actually. So that constitutes three days of single parenting to me. No, not a life time of it, just 3 days. And I'm acknowledging I'm cr*p at it, and acknowledging how amazing people that do it full time are.

But there's always one!!

lol yes there's always one who points out that the shock of not being able to cope with your own life on your own for a few hours and thinking that constitutes effectively being a single parent is ridiculous!

Oh, I meant one with a rather large crinkle cut situated slightly above and to the side of the collar bone that means that snideness rules, and compliments can't be taken!

Oh God, wish me luck then because I'm just about to embark on single parenting 5 days a week, every week because DP & I will be working 100 miles apart.

I was working on the basis that it must be possible because so many people manage.

And anyway, in two years he's only done about 10 smelly nappies and never once got up to DS in the night so I'm not sure what difference it will make. At least I'll have less cooking to do.

not being snide, and there's certainly no chip on my shoulder! Apologies if it came across that way. I just hate when people who have to deal with this for a few hours/days compares it to single parenthood when clearly it couldn't be further from it!

It's not the same. At all. That's all I'm saying.

Kathyjelly - you won't be "single parenting" either.

I have the upmost respect as well. My husband works away a lot and I dread it. He is going to be away from 1st December right up to xmas eve night and I am not looking forward to it.

i agree cordon

we do not need praise as sp and we are not freaks tat we need telling oh i don't know how you do it etc
patronise somebody else
divorce can happen to anyone

feck off i'm typing 1 handed

Poor op - she posts a nice thread from her exhausted state - which actually pays full regard to the difficulties of single parents and people feel obliged to come and grump at her. I think that's a bit pathetic tbh. Is there some sort of competition going on I'm not aware of - the winner is the one who has it hardest and only they may moan?

lurker - the woman is weak

Eh?

Ahhh, whatever, I retract my post - all single parents are bitter martyrs!! Better??

Don't be in awe -lots of LPs don't manage very well. Cos they're human.

Northern, please point out to me where in this thread I have moaned. I don't have it hard. I've got nothing to moan about. I just don't see why women who struggle to cope with their life without the the help of their partner temporarily feel the need to compare it to single parenthood. It is not the same at all

well said, Northernlurker

Ah jeez, am single parent and felt this was a "kudos to you" post. I'm sure OP knows full well that she's not actually on her own, but she got a taste of what it's like and she wanted to acknowledge that she has a better understanding of how difficult it can be. Bet she wishes she hadn't bothered now!