Becoming a shouty mum - hate myself

[justanothermanicm0nday]

The last week or so I've just become shouty mum, I am so stressed out and it's spilling over into everything. I cannot focus, I cannot retain information, I feel I'm constantly juggling and don't have enough time, I'm irritable and short with the kids. I hate how I am being but I cannot seem to snap myself out of it.

I am stressed money wise anyway as single mum and no financial help from father it's always hard, end of term everyone asking for money left right and centre and the stress of how I'll fill the holidays, new school uniform etc.

Time wise I just haven't had a break, the kids dad hasn't seen them in 6 weeks properly apart from taking one out of 4 for a couple of hours here or there. That's causing problems as one has seen him and three others haven't.

Eldest has also been really hard work with a poor attitude and getting into trouble at school so I've had to come down harder on him, it's really hard to be good and bad cop as a single parent and I feel like our relationship is suffering because of it but ag the same time I can't just let him rule the roost!

I just feel very overwhelmed and lost and don't know where to start. Hoping the holidays next week may be a rest for us.

Right, what you need is control over something and the children will behave better with a schedule and routine in place so they know when to expect to do something and when they have free time.

Look at all local venues and see what is going on for free and put it in the calendar.

Then factor in a visit to the library every week to do the reading challenge.

Look into holiday schemes that are running, our local college runs sports ones that are free for certain groups of the community / on certain benefits.

Do you have any bandstand in parks where music is played, theatre / museum / farm open days which are free stick that in the calendar too.

Dig out old loved board games / get from library and craft resources / cardboard boxes. If they are older primary school set them a challenge to make an automaton they just need YouTube, cardboard, scissors and possibly some skewers. Get them papier macheing something which can be a several week long project and costs little.

As for new uniform, do they need new uniform? Approach the school or our local community operate swap shops it is environmentally better as well as better for your pocket.