Anyone else?

[SeriouslyFedUPPP]

Anyone else never had a single night away from their children? I have to admit im jealous of people with regular support.

do you have no famly willing?

Yes and no. We have always known we would have no help due to age and distance away from us. Now and again when I meet someone whose parents do a huge amount of childcare I realise how material the gap is, but mostly I don’t notice what I don’t have. Was chatting with some mums today and it came up that we have never had a night away from the kids - oldest 13 youngest 8 - and they were aghast, but again it’s quite normal for us. We’ve individually had time away - though not really in the past few years q

my kids are 12 and 15.. I can count on one hand how many time my kids have stayed away from
me.. and I wouldn’t have it any other way..I don’t need my kids to stay away I’m happy to have my kids at home with me.. jealousy is the thief of joy. But my kids were very easy babies, ate and slept well so this may have played a part in it.

Sorry this is lone parents board

Thats.. nice?

No otherwise I would have?

sorry silly question how old is your child?

I can take or leave a night off.

BUT I WOULD SELL MY FUCKING SOUL TO HAVE A MORNING OFF. STOP WAKING UP SO FUCKING EARLY!

sorry. Er, love them really.

do you have them is school?

These questions are somewhat non sequiturs!

I have been a single parent for 8 yrs. Never had a night away. I have 4 dc and 3 have SEND/complex needs.

Their dad sees them about 3 times a year & never had them over night or all at the same time (his choice).

I rarely see family. My parents are in their 80s, Dementia etc.

For me, life won't get easier when they grow up so I don't think about going away or having time off.

is this a joke post?

No night away for over a year for me. Before that they were quite rare - as a couple we’d probably only had about 4 nights in 10 years. Some more individually. Since he died I’ve not gone away but dd had 4 nights at a school residential. Dd doesn’t cope too well with sleepovers and I don’t have anyone to have her really.

No, I’ve just no idea what school has to do with my loud lament about my bloody kids waking me up so early - I’m sure there was some logic to the question but no idea what! Anyway sorry @SeriouslyFedUPPP . Like I say I’m not fussed about nights off but I’d lil for the resulting lie in the following day.

Sorry im
not asking couples, this is lone parents sorry if that’s rude but im asking single parents as per the board otherwise I would have posted in chat or parenting

Well in order to get a morning off you’d need a night off surely lol? Otherwise you’d still be disturbed

Quite!

sorry i have only seen were this was posted

Sorry for your loss @NerdyBird

It is very easily forgotten that not all lone parents are such because of relationships breaking down.

Sorry, the reason I aimed this specifically at lone parents is because I do think it’s different when you’re parenting completely on your own. Couples still have the option of one parent taking over while the other gets a bit of time to themselves, and even if you’re both exhausted, you’ve got another adult there to share the load with and actually talk to. As a lone parent, there’s no one to tag in when you’ve had enough you’re the one doing the bedtime, dealing with everything and then sitting there on your own afterwards. Couples still spend the evening together and have someone to talk to in the evenings, rather than sitting on their own every night.
I genuinely admire people who are happy spending 24/7 with their kids, I really do, but that could never be me. I love my kids, but I desperately want a break sometimes just for my own sanity.

My ex didn't once get up in the night for baby ds, didn't once change a smelly nappy. While I gave birth, he morphed in 1950s man. 🙄We left him when ds was 2.

From that moment, he didn't have ds overnight until ds was fully toilet trained, could dress himself and use a knife & fork accurately.

Then he had him a couple of nights between xmas and new year, and one week in the summer, so maybe 9 or 10 nghts per year. I did the other 355 nights/year, including while I underwent chemo & radiotherapy.

My mum died years before and other family were not local. I remained single for the duration of ds' childhood

On the bright side I think my ds, now 18, is a kinder, happier, more confident, secure & competent young man as a result. 🙂

It’s tough being a single parent and you’re right having no one to share the ‘burden’ of what can feel like the daily grind can be hard. How many children do you have, still young? I have been there but I am at the other side now with two adult children and one teenage. I am extremely lucky in that I have help with the teenager with her dad, and my family. But it hasn’t always been like that. At one point I had a teenager, a pre teen and a terrible twos - on my own with no breaks at all. It was hard! Really hard! If you don’t have anyone to help then sleepovers at friends depending on how many you have and how old are a potential to just relax for the evening?

That wouldn’t be possible for them to all be at sleep Overs at the same time but thanks for the suggestion anyway.

It does get easier…I know it might not feel like it will and I know it can feel relentless but keep going and I promise when your children are older you will look back with such pride. You should be proud now if you’re doing it alone but honestly…keep at it. Youve got this! 🥰

Mine are older 😀 it’s been 10 years since I had a night to myself I just wondered how many others, as most single parents seem to get eow so it seems less usual. I’d say it gets harder as when they were little I probably wouldn’t have wanted to spend the night wouldn’t them.