To think that going out with the "girls" isn't the B all and end all and that maybe these people need to grow up and stop dumping their kids on people so that they can go out and get drunk!

[Suzi78]

Just that really. I have shall we say aquaintences on Facebook who I've known from various places, work, college, school etc and their posts are full of nights out, holidays, lunches etc and this is all they seem to care about. There are four women in particular, three of whom are single parents (if you can call it that) and the other is married. There Facebook feeds are all about how they can't wait to dump the kids on their fathers at the weekend as they can't wait to go clubbing, to parties, concerts etc etc, but are dreading their hangovers the next day!

Now I know that everyone is entitled to a bit of me time and shouldn't be begrudged a night out but with these women it's every single week! Three of them don't even work so I don't know how they afford to go out every week as well as buying a new outfit, getting their hair done weekly, manicures etc.
As far a I'm concerned (before anyone suggests it, and I know that they will) I'm not jealous, I'm relitively happy with my life and could chose to go out every weekend if I wanted to as I have enough friends who socialise in different circles and I'm always invited to go out, but I work all week, my children go to after school club so weekends are for family time. Now I know that people do things differently and whilst that's all good I don't know how these women can just dump their kids every week not spend any time with them and spend their money on goog out when their kids need things first. I know I'll probably get flamed for saying this but I dot care, I think it's disgrace, a parent is supposed to put her kids before everything (within reason) and clearly these women don't give a damn and would rather spend their time getting drunk on nights out than with their child and spend money on flashy clothes and haircuts rather than on their children, AIBU to think this is kind of sad?

Anyway what's for tea tonight? , now OP has foot stamped

I'm making pizza for me dh and ds, a night in front of Strictly, the Rugby [come on England]and a bucket of gin.

I live it large

Off to the pictures and then coming back to King Prawn Linguini and a bottle of Pinot Grigio. I trump you StillClassy mwhhahhhahhahhah

I wouldnt want to go out every week either. I hate going out partying.

Therefore everyone that does, is A Bad Person

Some work colleagues of mine are a bit like this. Recently split from husbands and when they don't have the kids go out pubbing/clubbing, etc.

Not my idea of fun but they look like they're having fun which is the main thing. I would imagine on child free weekends they want some adult company. Heck they may even want to try to pull!

I think what you're looking for is a certificate to say you are a superior parent to all others.
Or maybe a lovely trophy. Am I right?
You seem to be desperately trying to convince everyone of your first class parenting skills .
No one cares though tbh

Doctor Who, Cava, veggie pasta and ironing here

Big, always good to know I was not alone in being dumped on my Grandparents. My mother wasn't out drinking either, she spent her time with her pals at home. I say pals, I mean blokes. And not always the 'available' kind. At least she wasn't out on the town getting pissed though, that's the important thing.

Call the cops

Some people didn't do it all before they had kids though

That's very true. I have a friend who had children and married very young.

Suzi78 you don't come across as needing a night out or whatever else anyone's said about you. Personally if anyone feels the need to be escaping from their the kids on a weekly basis just to go on the lash every week is a bit. There's some families working all hours God sends just to keep a roof over there heads that would love to be able to spend time with their kids.

Yeah but can these women spell OP? Thats the big question.

What laffy, you're going out! to have fun and not be in the house?

Prawn Linguini sounds lovely, what are you going to see?

I'm not sure why these people are your acquaintances on Facebook, OP, as it doesn't sound as though you have much in common with them. If their idea of a good time and good parenting does not fit with yours, then it would be better to Facebook defriend them so that you don't have to be upset by their antics, than to revel in your disapproval.

A bit sad. That was meant to say

Is it too early to crack open the wine? I'm just off to make a stir fry, I'll be back in a bit to enjoy this thread. Don't do anything exciting whilst I'm gone OP.

Wot'evs OP dumb twat

I'm still in shock here. I did a roast for dinner tonight. Supposed to be enough meat for 14 people (according to Sainsburys). Three of us. Yup. Nothing left. I know we are real carnivores but even I'M surprised impressed with the amount we've just got through.

Cider and Strictly/Rugby here tonight

Open that wine Obs.

I have a gin on the go, making potato skins and am listening to the rugby on 5live.

Come on England, for later

I'm keeping an eye on the rugby tonight - if England lose, Wales are through . However, that means Australia wins, bah. Cooking some chinese curry and wondering why the hell I'm cooking since it's my frikkin due date and should be busy doing other things right now! At least there are some interesting threads on here to stop me going crazy (think the neighbours are going to report me if I spend another evening yelling 'get out, get out, for the love of god get out!)

OP, you know what Hun? I agree with you.

Wimmin should spend their time crocheting, looking after the bubz and menz and, every now and then, have some girlie friends round for a glass of Chardonnay and a chat about the latest Lakeland catalogue.

There's a place where you'll fit right in...come and join us on nethuns babe.

DISCLAIMER: Nothing wrong with crocheting or Lakeland

Do I detect the smell of burning martyr?

I'm off out tonight with friends. I'm going to spend an obscene amount of money on dinner. And I shall enjoy every single minute of it. I've been sat on my arse all day doing feck all. DP has been working. As soon as he walks through the door I will be off up the garden path like a rat up a drainpipe .

to all those traumatised by being dumped on their grandparents. You have my sympathy. We were left with ours, it was awful. Force fed our favourite tea, given free reign to watch crappy TV, breakfast in bed. And to make matters worse one set of grandparents both worked for Fry's Chocolate Factory. They took full advantage of the generous staff discount. It was dreadful.

To answer OP's question in the OP

AIBU to think this is kind of sad?

Yes I do. I think its extremely sad that these people are even in your thoughts on a saturday evening. I think its sad youve invested so much of your own energy into getting worked up to the point of posting a thread about them on MN. That is sad. And perhaps indicative of the need for a hobby.

Whatever! That's all i can actually think to say now.

Jeez seriously you don't like what we're saying to you so you come up with whatever and you sound like q pentulant child!

Any way enjoy your evening slagging off single mothers I'm on the way round to my friends with a bottle of wine while she's dumped her two youngest on their dad (their step mum picked them up this morning because her and him are working in Asia next week and can't make access so are having then this weekend so the kids don't miss out) and her oldest has fundraising party in the garden! We're going to see they've got everything they need and know where we are while we watch doctor who with wine chocolate and take away!

I think BlueBlueBelles got it on page 3.

Being a single-parent is often exhausting and to look forward to that 24 hours of respite when the child is with their DF is only natural IMO. It's time for the Mum not listen to demands, give explanations, judge sibling quarrels, keep up with household chores etc.

I am childless, but when my SIL was widowed after me, DN was 6 years old. I worked PT by then so looked after DN 35/52 weekends, school holidays and during the week if SIL needed to work away. We did this until DN was 13 yrs old. On my weekends/mid-week/holiday care, I did the collecting after school and chauffeured him to scouts, chess, football, swimming nights.

SIL was able to build her 'new normal' with friends and boyfriends. DN and I always kept in touch with DM via phone and facebook. She would show pictures of her spa weekends, her girly nights out, her meals with work colleagues. We would send pictures of our walks on a beach with the dog, bedtime reading with DN using DDog as a pillow, pictures of us taking DDog on a steam train and on our narrowboat holidays.

Of course there would be times when SIL would fb me and say "x is being very challenging at the moment - be warned. I can't wait until Friday when you have him for 2 days!" or she would post on TL "DS is off to his Aunty this weekend, hope she's ready for non-stop questions. I can't wait to meet up". I have had times when SIL asked me to have DN for a weekend and then re-negotiated for me to keep him for a week (she had breast cancer, lumpectomy, mastectomy, chemo and radiotherapy after being widowed).

DN's Mum didn't love him any less when he came to stay with me and DDog, she was just passing on the parenting baton to get some respite.

What a load of mysoggynistic hyperbole.
Would you be posting if they were men? I doubt it

oh god, OP, you'd positively be very jealous of hate me....when I dump my children with their father, I am out with friends all over the place, drinking, eating, snogging entirely unsuitable men...I even have whispers sex sometimes and when I get more than a weekend to myself, I have been known to hop on a plane to a hotter climate and do some exploring.

The rest of the time I am working my backside off in a full time job and supporting my darling children. My ex can do what he wants when he doesn't have them so why on earth shouldn't I?

It's time for the Mum ....

Can I apologise to all the single dads on this thread. I shouldn't have assumed in my last post that the single parent was a Mum.