Did you ever lose a friendship due to your circumstances being so diffident?

[Gahhhhereheisagain]

Just that really.
I have a friend who I love dearly. We were roughly in the same situation when we had our children ten years ago.
I'm single parent and she's not working due to circumstances beyond her control. Her DC isn't able to attend school and she has a second child who is 2.
My DC goes to school, after school club and holiday clubs. They are exhausted at the weekend. Her DC really looks forward to seeing children at the weekend and is up at 4am every day so they ideally want to hang out from 10am. Due to the early start they usually head home around 2pm.
Saturday is the only day Im able to meet and my DC either wants to stay in or see their school friends. I obviously miss my friend but I can't always put my needs first and make DC see my friend and their DCs.

I'm also out of the house from 7.30 until 7.30 each day and my house is a bombshell. Saturdays are my only day to clean and my DC helps and we stay in our pyjamas and play games.
I can't say to my friend 'I'm likely to never get to see you much' but it's the honest answer. She can't come over on the night due to her DC's needs and we're both honest that we are too exhausted most evenings.
It seems sad and I do really miss her but I feel like I'm constantly letting her down or declining invites due to my own lack of time. I think she thinks I'm cutting back on my contact but it's just so bloody difficult when we can never make the same time or day and I feel like I say 'no' or apologise in nearly every text I send.

If she’s a good friend then it’s absolutely worth trying to bridge the gap and maintain the friendship. It’s not much of a life for you to live otherwise, working all week and then cleaning and ferrying DC about at the weekend. If your DC is 10 then they’re old enough to understand that mum needs a social life and to see her own friend sometimes too and perhaps once a month they just need to suck it up and not stay at home / see their own friends so that you can see yours. Be honest with your friend about the logistical difficulties around meeting, and that you can’t commit to weekly visits; but perhaps one a month - so that you aren’t always rejecting invitations and she doesn’t think you’re trying to cut her out.