to be fed up with being a working lone parent?

[KidderminsterKate]

I feel so isolated and frustrated. Have no social life to speak of and finances are tight. Desperately need a haircut and cannot see any time in the next 3 months when I will be child free and not supposed to be working so I can book and go.

Half term hols have been a nighmare to arrange child care for so I'm thinking summer ones are going to be hell and hideously expensive.

If I didnt have a mortgage I'd give it all up!

I agree with drop the dog-walker and get an au pair, you need another pair of hands around the place. Perhaps just do either the netball/football or the swimming for a while, I've dropped swimming for my two at the mo as I am also on my own all week and I simply can't work and drive to lots of after-school clubs at 3 in the afternoon. In an ideal world, the children would be able to do all this, but I've had to drop my ideal and go with what I can mangage on my own, for me, one day of ballet on Sat is it, and the rest of the week they are picked up by family or go to after-school club.

You have to look after yourself as well, it's so easy to be run ragged. So, that means eating regularly, taking the odd vitamins, putting children to bed by 8 or whenever and getting a couple of hours to yourself. It is tiring, though, and I can see why stopping work is tempting, however, in the long run you are absolutely doing the right thing. But don't be SuperMum, if you have to drop a few afterschool clubs, or eat sandwiches a couple of evenings a week (if they have school dinners) then so be it.

I know! Well message me whenever :)

No time to post properly but hats off to you, am exhausted just reading what you do in a week. Your children must be really proud of you.

Nothing to add but I wanted to reassure you that you are doing a marvellous job and that your kids will love you no matter what you have to do to make your workload workable.

If you do get an au pair, make sure you make it clear that part of her (his?) job description is to do some light cleaning as well as walking the dog and looking after DCs. Be specific on her contract. For example, unpacking the dishwasher and laundry once a day. Vaccuuming once a week. It will make your job a lot easier if she can pick up bits of housework.