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Lone parents

Use our Single Parent forum to speak to other parents raising a child alone.

It’s the complete loss of freedom

5 replies

overandoveragain26 · 09/08/2026 17:30

Hello

I know some will want to give advice / suggestions and I don’t want to say I’m not open to it, more that I’ve already thought of it.

I love my children but I’ve lost my freedom. Of course you do anyway … but I want to go to a new city. I want to explore and wander and not be constrained by time. I can’t do that and won’t be able to until my children are safely able to be left alone and they are young so that won’t be for probably twelve to fifteen years.

I know it’s not important but I’d love to safely just leave them with their other parent. And it does make me sad.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
countrylifeorcitylife · 09/08/2026 21:31

That is sad. It’s really so so hard when you don’t get a break xx

AngelAngelAngel · 13/08/2026 23:32

I feel exactly the same. Being a lone parent is very different from having an active Co parent. A single parent i know has constant holiday child free, and it does make me jealous, people will say I bet she’s devastated to not be with her kids every day but no she isn’t!! Neither would I be.

KnickerlessParsons · 13/08/2026 23:35

Can’t you leave the kids with someone else for a while? Or take a day off work while they’re in school?

therockingbird · 16/08/2026 13:38

My boys are now 13&15 so the end is in sight.. I felt like this 10 years ago. At the time my Husband (now ex) was as travelling the world with his job whilst I was raising our two young boys. I’d sidelined my own career to raise our children - unbeknownst to me he was really living his best life. I totally get it, life is slipping by and we are left raising the kids. It feels so unfair! But hold onto those dreams, start saving if you’re able - your time will come. I’m planning all sorts of trips in my head 😆 I’m hopeful both will go off to uni.. then I’m gone!

UrbanFan · 16/08/2026 13:44

I was a lone parent from when my daughter was about one. But sometimes I really miss those days. She's in her 40s now with her own children. I did get 'me time' from other mums but generally always rushed back to be with her.

Don't you have a mum network where you can look after each others children from time to time?

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