Just me and my young children

[AmyJahabee]

my world is just me and my young children.. I have no one for regular conversation or ask for help if I needed..
right now we have move house and I have no one to help fix the bed or wardrobe.. I can’t afford to pay for everything and I don’t know how to use some of these complicated diy tools.. just want things to change.. be nice to have a partner for companion and support

Talk to us x

How old are the children? Could you join local toddler groups? They’re usually free or cost a pound or two. I’ve met loads of nice people there.

Have you got Facebook? There are normally local groups, who you can ask for help, for DIY and gifting things. You can post anonymously on some of them.

As an immediate help, YouTube tutorials are great.

Kids are 5 and 6.. I go to work but after work ( my days off) and once kids are in bed I feel so lonely.. kids dad is absent, I’m 100% doing everything I have no family here just me

I also second the FB groups for your local area, explain your situation and people might recommend someone who could do it for free or cheap for you. Have you spoken to any neighbours? I know if we had a new neighbour and got chatting my DH would be happy to help out

Right now we been sleeping on mattress as again no one to help fix things

How old are your DC op? It’s only me and my DD (no family) but I do have good friends. Don’t have friends that you can re connect with? Depending on your DV age, I have also added a couple of new friends, 1 from the school and 1 from swimming.

Or if you want a partner, what about OLD? Although, you might not have any childcare I guess.

Also op, I’ve put many things up while my DD is in bed! Yes you have to be a bit quiet but I used to shut the door to my bedroom & put stuff up in there.

Ask on Facebook if there's a local mens shed as a volunteer there may be able to help.

Or is there a way that you could do a basic DIY course to learn how to do it yourself? Hire a local teen babysitter?

Alternatively, YouTube videos...

I have painted the house by myself and getting to a point I currently don’t have much spare money left and energy.. really exhausted moving home with zero help

There's loads of free paint on local sites and furniture, all sorts.
Do you network on local sites?

You've done really well. Have a rest and a pampering session tomorrow night. Try and find some online friendship groups. Can you not watch TV if you're sharing a mattress?

I don’t have TV

Plenty of men can't do DIY either.

Have you tried Youtube OP?

YouTube. Because of YouTube I've installed a dishwasher, a garbage disposal, a toilet, a sink, a porch light, and an air filter in my car.

I know you said your family is not near, but how far are they? Do you have someone who could visit for a weekend to help?

You tube is great for diy iv done allsorts using it

Why does company have to mean family? Build a network by making friends.

You can find a handyman online to fix your furniture.

Here's one site I've used.

https://www.mybuilder.com/

Do you have any single parent friends? My network is a life saver, we all help each other out

Friends can give you companionship and support and you can learn DIY yourself. There's means and ways to move furniture around on your own.

You don't want a partner because your feeling lonely. You'll end up accepting bad behaviour ect. You don't want someone wjos3 going to fill a gap, you want someone whose going to add to your life.

Find your local community group, there's so much always going on at places like that

Your children are still quite young, do you check Gingerbread for what support there’s in your area?

I moved quite a few times on my own with DD, since she was about 8. You get used to it, there’s no other option. I was quite shy and never used any fb groups but if it were today I would have checked for support and people or organisations helping with furnishings instead of paying for everything new myself (because I don’t drive so I also can’t pick up heavy stuff from Marketplace and such).

Like everyone said, YouTube is your best friend - it has every tutorial you could possibly ever need. I painted my flat, changed the flooring, lampshades, built all my flat packs. I had a few cries out of sheer exhaustion too.

Get yourself some tools, ikea has a little kit that’s been very useful over the years. Unfortunately I only got mine after my last move, so I built my beds by hand 💀 the little power tool makes it 10x easier, trust me.