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Lone parents

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I'm so lazy.....

59 replies

MamaDuckling · 17/03/2018 22:40

I'm a lone parent to two small DC (2 and 4), and between them and work (ft), I'm just becoming so blimmin lazy of an evening.... I literally get them into bed, make myself a microwave meal, sit on the sofa watching tv/Mumsnet, and then crawl into bed around 11 (maybe having a second wind around 10pm frantically tosying or sticking some laundry on).

I just feel like I've become a lazy flabby unmotivated slob.... DH is around but currently working overseas- we see him about once every six weeks so for the purpose of this I'm calling myself a LP.

I don't really see much of my friends, my parents support me in the week but I'm becoming a bit of a lonely spinster. What do others do to stay active/exercise? I can't really ask my folks for more help or babysitting.

OP posts:
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purplelass · 23/03/2018 14:13

If you have a dh who is providing financial support and is at the end of a phone, then you are not a lone parent. You have no flippin' idea.

Maybe this came across as harsh to you, but when you really are a lone parent with no-one to provide emotional or financial help it's a bit of a slap in the face to read your post to be honest.

I used to have the same 'laziness' thing as you but when I got out the wii fit and it showed me how overweight I was gutted, so I now spend at least 1/2 hour every evening exercising, and find it gives me the energy to get more done round the house too - give it a go :)

Fuller2018 · 23/03/2018 21:01

I agree with PP that you are not a lone parent, and this was probably not the right place to post for support. Yes you have periods of time where your DH is unavailable and you are parenting on your own, but this is not the same as being a continual lone parent indefinitely.

You would probably find more support posting in the general parenting section.

PrettyLittIeThing · 23/03/2018 21:32

Or the relationships board...

lakeshoreliving · 23/03/2018 22:02

She didn't want relationship advice but advice from people who are used to being lone parents and could help give her strategies to manage her evenings when she has no other adult support. I get that she has transgressed the unspoken rules of sub board that she is on but honestly!

Fuller2018 · 23/03/2018 22:07

OP's opening words are 'I'm a lone parent'

She's not a lone parent.

PrettyLittIeThing · 23/03/2018 22:09

I'm sure there are lots of other women in the ops situation on the relationships board so I'm sure she would have got answers to her questions. The ops not the only one with a partner (husband) that works away just people whose partner do wouldn't normally class themselves as a lone parent, so she will find others in the same boat. I think it's rather insensitive posting on here.

Fuller2018 · 23/03/2018 22:13

I think it's rather insensitive posting on here

Agreed

NoSwsForYou · 23/03/2018 22:20

What about a slow cooker OP? I understand what you mean about not having the energy to cook for yourself at the end of the day, but if you stuck something in the slow cooker when you’re feeding your DC breakfast then you could have something ready for when you’re home?

Everywhereilookaround · 24/03/2018 08:49

The original post did get my heckles up because your not a lone parent. I don't mean to be harsh, just hard not to feel bit irked by that first comment, but I do think you should be allowed to post here for support, we are none of us exactly the same. Being on your own with kids is hard, whatever that looks like.

theres this thing out there at the moment that people with partners feel entitled to say they know 'just' what it feels like to be a lone parent (because husband works shifts, or is away for a week) and I guess that first comment about being a lone parent with a partner kind of triggered that for me...and brings up that wider issue we (well I do) have to face so often. It's something I hear friends saying often. Everytime I hear it I want to cry.

As a lone parent i don't 3 days off every 6 weeks, or have a stable male role model for DS to connect with, I don't have someone to talk to on the phone when I can't afford the bills and I don't know what to do, because I'm alone, and noone gives a toss whether I loose the house, or live or die. I was so I'll for a year on own with D's i got so I'll i had to write a will and try n work out who DS would go to if I died. I'm facing loosing my home right now, I have nowhere go and noone to hold my hand and tell me it will be ok, and i have to look my son in the face and reassure him when I'm terrified inside,, everyday I feel like I've failed him. I hate being a lone parent. It's the worst experience of my life and it's taken huge toll on my health, at least 10years shortened, i can't cope with the emotional and financial burden, (but I get up every day fighting to) my DS will grow up with more disadvantage. He has additional needs as well, so even more isolated. I work as well in a stressful place.

That's why when my friends who have partners say they understand, it chips away another bit of tolerance I have left (I'm running on low).

Equally tho I don't understand their troubles. Having a partner who works away must be hard emotionally, it's probably not what you signed up to either. You must miss your partner very much, and it is tough having to do all the hands on care with the kids, be the only one there to handle a 3 hour tantrum, not be free to pop outside at night. It's hard. I get that.

In terms of feeling lazy, just don't worry about it.

Be lazy. It's ok.

I gave up trying to keep up with 2 parent families a long time ago. (The ones that go to squash, or tennis, or who can leave their non-disabled child in IKEA play area while they have a leisurely shop)
Don't worry about not being perfect, at ours the clothes only get ironed when they absolutely need to be,, my clothes are old, and there's toys everywhere.

I don't worry because you can't do everything. Trying only stresses you out. DS is fed, loved, warm and happy.
Take shortcuts at home and show your kids love. One day they will grow up and you will have plenty of time to do the other stuff then.

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