Cant cope with how exhausting it is

[ltsAboutDamnTime]

How do other lone parents deal with the exhaustion of it all? Thats one of the things that make me so miserable and really make me dislike being a lone parent how exhausting it is. I am always tired, i’m never not tired, im struggling to function on how tired I am. There is nothing medically wrong with me before it’s suggested. I cant enjoy my kids because I’m too tired all the time, even they say mum you are always tired. I have no energy for them and struggle to take them out because of it. I am tired when I wake up i want to go back to bed. Is anyone else thats a lone parent permanently exhausted?!

What is it that makes you so exhausted if it’s not low iron or something? Is it the number and age of the kids?

I am a lone parent so they are with me 24/7 being the only parent and the only one responsible for everything I guess? Nothing wrong medically.

The way you described it sounds quite extreme though, not being able to do normal daily activities without being that exhausted and not being able to enjoy your kids at all etc isn’t quite normal. Could you be depressed?

How old are they OP?
Do you work?

I am a lone parent (DH passed away unexpectedly when kids were 4 and 6). My family live abroad so no help there, in laws have never had the kids, or even offered. I wasn’t tired physically but the psychological toll was high. Being the one to make all the decisions, be responsible for everything, no one to share the ups and downs. I remember racing from one end of the playing fields to the other during sports day so both kids felt I watched, juggling competing activities- can’t be on two places at once!
I did pull in favours. I just had to ask for help on occasion. And I paid for activity camps in the summer and many half terms (they did enjoy them). Parenting is hard even with two fully engaged adults, on your own it can feel a constant drain.
Any chance of getting a break? Family that could have them for a weekend here or there? How old are your kids? Once they can take care of themselves in terms of dressing, bathing and on the weekend morning getting breakfast so you don’t have to do all the caring it does ease up. I wish you well.

I don’t really have any helpful advice but I do feel completely burnt out from it as well. I feel guilty because instead of enjoying my children like I used to when my husband was around, I end up being really snappy with them all the time.

I have learnt to accept help when it is offered but I am not very good at asking for it. Do you have any single mum friends? I try to surround myself with people as much as possible which does help. When I’m very low I send voicenotes to a single mum friend that I have she’s the only one who really understands. Please vent away on this thread I am happy to listen!

Thank you, im glad that someone gets it, I unfortunately do not have any able to help so unfortunately that isnt an option

It’s no wonder you are exhausted if you have no support. It’s not even just the amount of physical tasks you have to complete but also the mental load as well.
Do you have time to feed yourself properly? That was one thing I really struggled with when I first found myself alone with two kids. I definitely have more energy now I’m feeding myself properly. It took me a while to find a routine that worked for me though. I find eating at the same time as them works for me even though it is like feeding time at the zoo..if I wait for them to be in bed I tend to just eat a bowl of cereal.
Do you work? Just thinking you could take some annual leave days just for yourself to rest.

So sorry for your loss 💐well done for powering through x I am in a similar position my husband died last year I have two kids now 2 and 6. It’s absolutely relentless. It feels like I haven’t had time to grieve. I’m pleased to hear that things do ease up because sometimes I feel like this phase will last forever.