do your folks help you out a lot? If not, how do you manage?

[Flight]

Mine have been there all the way, since ds1 was born. But it is at a cost. It's started to dawn on me that my mother is not as helpful as she could be, in that yes she does practical things but it's accompanied by a lot of criticism, undermining and so on, and it's making me so angry that I find myself taking it out on the children, or using self-harm to get rid of the anger enough to maintain a pleasant relationship with her.
I'm getting some great advice and support on other threads about all this, but my question is, how do you manage being a single mother/parent without close family?

I think I have to get away from my parents but am worried about dealing with things like appointments (I'm getting some therapy) and if one of us is ill (particularly me) and we can't get out for milk - or worse, if I am too ill to look after the children. (It doesn't happen very often but has been known, and she has always stepped in to help.)

Any experience would be useful, thanks .

My dad is dead and my mum is an alcoholic in a home, i have two sisters but we are not close so I have always coped on my own.

Practical-wise I have done everything for DS since he was born (he's 2+7) but luckily i have never been really ill. Only asked a friend to babysit once, although DS does now go to nursery 2 mornings a week which is a huge help. DS's dad lives in another country and comes over sporadically, although he's about as much use as a chocolate teapot.

I have some great friends though to offload on but other than that i've just had to get on with it.

The bonus is that you dont have anyone else interfering and when DS grows up to be a gorgeous, intelligent, rich, happy, successful man then I get to take all the credit!!!!!

If you need to cope you will be able to, sometimes its easier to be stronger when you are on your own and have the space to be yourself.

I almost feel guilty for having such a close and supportive family.

My parents are fantastic and although I only go out once every 2 or 3 months I'd feel bad asking for more babysitting as they do so many other things for me and DD.

My eldest sister lives in the next town and we share childcare to enable us both to work p/t. As my DD is at hers 4 days a week - twice with each of us (I look after her kids at her house and she has mine there too when I work)she also feeds her lunch and dinner and feeds me when I've had the boys. I have offered her some money for food but she won't take it!

My other sister recently had me and DD to stay for a few days when she had some time off work (she lives about an hour away). I had been having a bad few weeks and she came and picked us up.

Hats off to all of you doing this without that support. I really can't grumble! My dad sometimes allows her to get away with murder but in a doting grandad kind of way! And my mum is a primary school Head teacher so I can rely on her to rein him in and I know she won't take any nonsense!

If I could lend you a relative I would!!

I think you should all be incredibly proud but def ask for/accept help whenever possible.