To ask single SEN parents just how isolated they feel?

[Sweetcaroline2021]

Single SEN parents, how isolated are you from communities? Can you join in local activities/exercises/clubs etc? Can you go out to supermarkets or visit a hair salon?

It was horrific for years. I can do a few things now my child with SN is 16 and fairly sensible at home alone. But I still have to work and plan around her. I had a busy couple of days in the summer which culminated in her smashing some things up in the house.
I've had one evening out since the pandemic 🤔, I've learnt the hard way that she needs me around a lot.

It was utterly horrific when they were younger especially as I live in a rural area and have no family. I've been almost suicidal with exhaustion.

People have no clue. I've had a married woman on here with a good support network tell me it was as difficult for her being a working mum of an able bodied neurotypical child. The ignorance beggars belief.

💐 I am not a parent of a child with SEN but I work with parents who live alone with SEN and I absolutely witness the sheer hard work and lack of a social life they face. I’ve seen it first hand. So tough and so isolating.

extremely in person but i have online support groups
I'm a 24/7 lone parent-carer as sons have quite a few diagnoses and some rare
i have no family help or professionals involved
we also home educate so i have zero break

i never used to be ,dad was also 24/7 until winter 2020 we lived a very full happy life, out all day to various places and met umpteen people, on cheap caravan holidays exploring that surroundings

i don't drive either so cant go far ,im also rural Wales
i tried but got so far but had to give up as it was too much mentally and due to the ADHD instructions wasn't "sticking"

where i live is magical though as im in a few houses on a edge of a forest, i have 3 separate forests all around, streams, forest walks etc
its very beautiful and peaceful but very poor public transport
until 2020 it was never a issue

i get everything i need delivered as i cant even pop up the local shop let alone in to town

my sons though have loads of online friends from all countries its just me as friends i did have drifted away

i used to have loads of friends in the disability world(used to attend a group) and via home ed groups as we were out daily

but after my ex left us overnight in 2020
(we were together 22 years ,both our only sexual and romantic relationship) to take up with a friend
he went our for McDonalds and didn't come back then found out he's moved in with friend to be a dad to her 9 kids all by different men and not 1 involved
as you expect i went it to extreme shock as it came out of nowhere, we were even tying for another baby so it wasn't a dying relationship

then i fought social services for 2 and half years for a FII case(batshit corrupt social worker, i did get her fired and a non molestation order on her, she was that bad)

all of the above caused a emotional breakdown(different to a nervous breakdown) in 2022 and PTSD then April 23 i had a inattentive ADHD(rare type) diagnoses at 42

boys have rare disabilities and don't sleep and had a new diagnoses for stress, PTSD and trauma caused by SW

so im recovering from all of the above myself, dealing with kids disabilities
trauma caused by SW behaviour
dad leaving
all alone
i don't drink alcohol so cant "unwind"
im "on call" 24-7

I'm not single but have 3 with sen 2 unexpectedly profound, I'm a robot, I don't leave my house unless it's an appointment or for shopping. My partner works up to 7 days a week to cover the salary I had to give up to manage the children at home. I don't actually even have a friend anymore so if I ever found a spare 30 minutes I wouldn't have anywhere to go.