Hello!

[dragonflyflew]

Hi, I'm new to this group, didn't know it was here!
I'm a single mum to two kids, I work and have disabilities. No family nearby. Only support I get is from exh. It's hard sometimes.
I chose to get divorced, we split five years ago for the right reasons but I'm lonely and struggling with pressure and mental and physical health
I have a mortgage and feel under so much pressure.
I don't have any friends in a similar situation to me, hoping I can find people to share with on here.

I’m a single mum of one. I work ft as well. My ex comes over once a week so I get time off on a Sunday but otherwise I’m on my own. It can get a bit lonely.

On exercise, when Ds was tiny, I couldn’t go anywhere in the evenings because he’d be in bed and it started to feel like house arrest. I was desperate & had to do something. So I started to run on the pavement outside my house. With a window open in case the smoke alarm went off or ds was crying. God knows what the neighbours thought.
Up four gate posts, down 8 gateposts, back, quick wheeze, then do it again.
Thankfully ds is older now and life is easier. I’m still relatively sane.

I'm a single mum of 2 ( but widowed so no ex on the scene, and parentless). I really relate to the loneliness and the pressure of responsibility you describe. Loneliness because it is very very very hard to have any kind of respite/ social life if you can't afford a baby sitter and have no partner. I have used up all the goodwill and favours from friends to cover essential things like parents evenings, hospital appointments, or sickness. I can't ask for babysitting for going out too!
The responsibility is hard - making decisions alone, celebrating good times alone, worrying about money alone etc etc.
You just have to do your best. Even when it all goes tits up, if you can say to yourself I Did My Best... then you can't beat yourself up about it.

Don’t underestimate how kind people can be. I understand the not wanting to ask for favours but when it really matters, people will help.
I got proper flu last winter & couldn’t stand. Ds 9 went next door, asked the neighbours to help. They went to the chemist for me, and arranged for ds to go to school with one of the other mums. They didn’t have to help but they were happy to.

Oh wow guys, thank you for your replies. I forgot I'd posted this while in a flu and depression haze.
Seniorschoolmum you running outside your window is an hilarious image!

JulianOfNorwich I'm sorry to hear that you're widowed. That must be very very hard to deal with, grief and loss on top of single parenting.
I must remember in the scheme of things I'm lucky their dad's around. I'd be screwed if he weren't!