Toughest or most Suprising challenges of being a lone mother

[FlyingHigh55]

Hello All,

Looking for some advice and your experiences. My partner and I have a 5 year old son and have been living together ( not married) for 7 years.

What has been the hardest bit of being a single mom for you? I am in a relationship that's just hanging on and wondering if I should leave or not.

Just wandered across this post and feel such a sense of camaraderie with all the posters. I have 2 children whom I solo parent most of the time except for a few weeks over the long school hols when they visit their father overseas. The sheer relentlessness of it all. Constantly on my feet from early morning and then rinse repeat. Never being able to have some time off without jumping through hoops for childcare or waiting till my mother (lives overseas) visit.
Also, not having other single parents around me either at school or in the neighborhood means my children expect they will be able to do all the things that families with 2 functional parents do, and me trying to live up to this expectation. I face decision fatigue all the time.

HRT has made some difference in that I sleep better now. I wish I had time to have a relationship - life is passing me by and all I do is work or take care of the kids.