How can I make life more interesting?

[coffeecoffeemorecoffee]

I feel so fed up with this shit. Everyday is the same and I feel like I'm wasting my life away. I have two lovely children aged 4 and 20 months, their dad left because he's an incompetent lazy arsehole who would rather have all his time/money to himself than support the family he helped create. I won't lie, I'm bitter about that part.

I have no career, I'm 28 soon and I can't believe this is it. Since falling pregnant with my first my entire life has gone on hold. Yes I've worked but never more than part time because of childcare, I can't progress because to progress you ideally need to be working full time. I went back to work 6 months ago doing something new, something I enjoyed and that paid well but had to leave because the working hours weren't manageable. I'm looking for work but I am so restricted because of childcare. How am I meant to start a career? I'm 28 and I'm scared of how much time I'm wasting doing nothing.

Every evening without fail all I do is watch tv and then go to bed. I'm bored of the tv now, bored of staring at the screen every single evening, day in, day out. I need something for me, something more than the mundane everyday stuff followed by tv followed by bed and repeat.

I love my kids more than anything but I am so restricted I can't do anything, I feel like my life is on hold while time is passing by at an alarming rate, meanwhile their dad is living the high life seeing them 2 afternoons a week. Just doesn't seem fair.

What can I do to make me feel like my life is about more than just my children?

Where are you based OP?

Studying options very by region, there are options but need more info to advise (lone parent currently working, doing a post grad in research at the same time, it is doable!)

No advice unfortunately but following as I'm in a similar situation. 29, 4 kids, not working at the moment as my eldest is disabled and I am a carer for her. Ex doesn't see the kids but is off enjoying life and I just feel like every day is the same.

Oh should've said currently working in a tertiary institution so know the system!

Where are you based? (Both OP and PP?) And when are your next open days at colleges?

What would you like to do in an ideal world? Is childcare your main barrier?

What im saying is just out your objectives and your barriers and we'll think of a way round these

Find something you love to do - a hobby, sports, arts, crafts, languages, reading, an instrument etc. Then just throw yourself at it and aim to be as good as you possibly can at that one thing and watch yourself improve week by week. I think growing your skills and eventually becoming a master at something is great for killing boredom and feeling like your life has more purpose.

Aim to spend a minimum of 15 minutes per day for your new obsession. Some days you'll want to spend a lot longer, other days when you are tired just do the 15 minutes.

I'm also a single parent and it's difficult and expensive to socialise. My hobbies have saved me from leading a very dull life. TV is very boring.

I'm in East Midlands. I have tried to start a career, when my first was 9 months I did an access course at college and got accepted to do the social work degree, i decided to defer for a year, during which time I fell pregnant again. Baby was only 6 weeks when I started uni so it just wasn't manageable and I had to leave. So all that hard work was for nothing.

I'd really like to be a midwife but I've already had an advanced learner loan for the access course, they won't fund another.

I have hobbies, I love sewing and making clothes so will probably try and do a bit of that. I'm lacking adult interaction, I have friends but don't see them much, I want to speak to other adults and do things with other adults. Today for example I've had a 5 minute face to face conversation with my mum and a 2 minute handover from the nursery staff this afternoon. It's no wonder my mind is going numb. I just want to be doing something more fulfilling.

What kind of work would you like to do? Some adult learning colleges have crèches but as a pp said, it depends where you are.
Otherwise, there are lots of free courses online in loads of different subjects. Check out open university and coursera.

What are you interested in? I found that at that age, I could take my kids to some places I wanted to go to. Throw in some snacks and maybe a playground, and they were happy.

Meet up with friends and their kids so you have someone to chat to.

Is there no way you could resurrect the social work?

I did lots of FutureLearn courses when I was feeling brain dead. It really helped

Toddler groups? Go to netmums meet a mum page and see if there are any meet ups or any messages from people you’d like to meet up with. I made some good friends from there.

Right OP, I get your situation, it's bloody hard and I get it. I'm a bid writer for FE / HE institutions. I'm also a single parent.

Set up meetings with your local FE (further education) institution. Ask for the guidance/funding dpt as mature learner.

Put to them what you want to do. What you have done. Etc. They can advise based on your answers.

However - one of your major stumbling blocks is initial childcare just for these meetings. Ask to speak both to the above and to the nursery - you need an hour to discuss options. My nursery would give you that. Not all will but worth asking. Good luck.

I need to find out if there is any funding available and I need to find a job! Just feel so disappointed in myself