To ask how you coped without a support network?

[SharkyandGeorge5]

I have a 4 year old and 2 year old. My parents are useless and my in laws are non existent. I work part time but am the full time parent during my kids' waking hours. My oldest has nursery two days a week. At weekends both of us are at home.
I'm exhausted.
If you didn't have a support network when you needed one how did you cope? Any life hacks/ tricks of the trade I need to know about?

I made my own support network. We moved house, so I made an effort to chat to neighbours, get to know them, invite them in for a cuppa, lend them tools or do favours for them (learnt when to say no too). We joined a local inclusive and welcoming church, bit hit and miss but there are some truly lovely people there. Started some parent support groups, in my case for parents of kids with SEND, but you could do one for single parents maybe, so I had someone in similar situation to chat to.
It has been a long slog but I have a really good network of neighbours, friends and acquaintances who I could chat to or ask for help if needed and I would help them out too.
Definitely worth it as the benefits to the kids of being part of a mixed age community has been huge.