I'm a single mum to a nine year old girl. It's just me and her and the animals in the house, she's with me full time but goes to her dads every second weekend. We have a close relationship but I'd say the last year I've noticed her pull back from me a little, not as open for a kiss and cuddle, finds me embarrassing, would rather be with her friends etc.
Tonight we had arranged to get a take away and watch a film, I am up early for work tomorrow morning, then I will finish and take her to gymnastics in the afternoon, we are then going bowling at night just the two of us.
I spend as much time as possible with her but recently life has been really hectic, I'm in a placement as in the middle of completing a masters in social work so in placement Monday to Friday 9-5, then work as a youth worker 5.45 - 8.30 three of those nights and then do delivering on a Saturday morning. I'm really knackered recently.
Anyway daughter is used to me being her 'playmate' when she's not with her friends. She's not very content or good entertaining herself and since she's an only I've always felt guilty so always played with her.
Tonight we were watching a film, she got to choose the takeaway because how well she done learning her burns poem and auditioning to do it in front of the whole school even though she was really nervous. Ate our food, like a quarter through the film she gets bored, asks if she can look at something on my phone.
She then shows me on my phone that she wants a certain hoody that costs £25. I said well you can save up your pocket money, it will take you 5 weeks. She has an almighty tantrum, screaming at me, asking me why why why? I send her to her room to calm down where she screams, 'I hate my life, I wish I was never born, I hate my family, I hate everyone'. She calms down, I tell her to come down, we talk about it and she is calm but very emotional, continues to sob.
She then asks if we can play a board game. I am so fed up of our board games, we need some new ones and tonight I really just could not be bothered. So I said, I'm really tired I don't really want to play a board game tonight. She moaned she was bored, there's nothing to do here. I gave her multiple options of things to do on her own and reminded her we are going bowling tomorrow. She just looked all sad.
She then went upstairs and ran herself a bath and is now chilling in that. I felt so guilty I then shouted up that we can play a game of uno once she is out.
I feel like an awful mum tonight and think should I just have bought her the hoody? She has savings but she spends her money Willy Billy and really appreciates things very little. Also the savings are more for when she gets older towards a first car, or house deposit.
AIBU to think I handled this situation badly? I should have agreed to play a game I just feel awful tonight but am so knackered too.