Anyone else feeling like this?

[anon990]

Not looking for pity. Just wondering if others feel the same. I’m a single parent in Ireland my son is 3. I work Monday-Friday. I live at home with my parents as I can’t find a place to rent and I can’t own as it’s too expensive. Although I am saving I have no idea kind of what to do in life? I’ve very little friends. Life is the same everyday get up at 6am leave the house at 7.30am and not home until 7.30pm , make dinner and do it all over again. I have a gym membership but rarely have someone to pick up my child so I can go after work. Just feeling very low these days. My child’s father lives abroad and I’ve no relationship with his family so it’s just me and my son all the time. I do alot for my parents but they often find things to get mad at me for, silly things like I gave my child a bag of sweets and they’ll say why did you do that what about his teeth etc it just annoys me. I just feel lonely I think and the dating apps aren’t working out even if I did have a date I’d struggle to keep meeting them cos no childcare so I don’t know why I even bother go on them. I’m 26. Anyone else have a similar life and what do ye do to feel happy?

I live with my mum, when we first moved in I had to make it clear that I was the parent and I would parent the way I wanted to. So I joked lighheartedly that 'it's just as well I'm mummy then, so i get to decide when you have sweets!' Etc. Drawing that line in yhe sand, and if you've made a decision then you carry on with it despite whst your parents say. Obviously with it being their home you have to respect the bigger decisions, but parenting is your job.
Dating- not much out there to miss. I've looked a little bit one date later abd I am done. Realised I don't have the time or energy for the work a relationship needs. I'm actually happy just being with my kids.
The grind is hard. Think of things, hobbies you can do at home. Working out using YouTube videos, or paying an online subscription fee, so you do it in the evenings when little one is asleep. Fine other hobbies too. Friends I've made a few through my kids, which has been lovely when they started school and one is from nursery. They emailed the nursery who forwarded the email to me, been friends now for 4 years. So if your child has a close friend it might be worth a shot. Same when they start school!