Single parent with 1 DC aged 7, just me and them at home. DC hasn’t seen ExH for a few weeks, he’s having them for the next two weeks then will go a few weeks without seeing them, it’s not what we agreed but I can’t force him to see them.
DC is very insecure, their teacher, a counsellor and members of my family have noticed. DC talks constantly, from the moment they open their eyes until the moment they go to sleep, if they sleep, some nights they fight sleep to talk to me.
It’s exhausting, but it’s their way of making sure I don’t “forget” them, the more they talk, the less likely I am to forget them. There may also (very likely is) be learning difficulties at play.
I have never forgotten them, not once, not even in those sleep deprived early days, not even when they go to their dads overnight, not when they’re at school, not ever. I’m always thinking about them, planning fun things for us to do together, and organising childcare or activities for when I’m working and can’t look after them.
Today has been exhausting, from the moment they woke up. My request for a few minutes of quiet was met with “But I have to tell you this” or “just this one more thing and then this…”.
I had to be in sight at all times. Tried to get them to play at the park while I sat on a bench but they wouldn’t leave my side so we went home.
They then refused to walk home, so I ended up carrying them, which took over 2 hours – the park is only a quarter of a mile away but they refused to walk, everytime I tried they’d sit on the floor refusing to move, I couldn’t get out of sight as the park is on the same road as our flat.
Then when we got home I walked out my front door and sat on the stairs for some quiet and less than a minute later DC is there talking constantly. If they had nothing new to say they’d retell me something in a different way, I heard the same story 3 times, I wouldn’t mind but I was actually there when this story actually happened.
They have to show me something on the TV or in their game or on the ipad, so I can’t even escape to the kitchen to cook (very small kitchen, table is in the living room).
I am done today. And I’m not working again until Wednesday, I have no idea how I will cope with 4 more days of this constant.
It’s exhausting being someones constant and I hate myself for saying that, but I just want to breathe, I want to sleep uninterrupted by a small person who absolutely must tell me that their feet where too hot or a cat outside sneezed while chasing a bird or their teachers favourite colour is green.
AIBU I know but I'm either working to keep a roof over DCs head or caring for DC, I never seem to get just silence.