Do you ever get frightened at night being all alone with your dc's?

[spookycharlotte121]

I cant sleep with the light off because I get so frightened being here on my own. Small noises make me jump and I dont always sleep very well because of this.

I worry about if someone were to break in, we would be totally defenceless or if there was a fire, how I would get both children to safety. There is only one way out of the flat and if that were obstructed then we would be in trouble and were on the first floor so no option of hopping out of a window.

I just want to feel safe and no my children are protected but I dont and its not a ncie feeling.

Do any of you have the same issue?

I do sometimes, I was hugely comforted by the dog being in the hall but he is going tomorrow You would get out fine from 1st floor - if you shoved a few duvets and pillows out first (I think about these things alot!) Have you fire alarms and cardon monoxide detectors?

I am never frightened these days which is because I moved back into a town which I find far less scary! I can understand in the beginning if you are though.

I have fire alarms but i dont know about carbon monoxide detectors. I have already worked out that if there were a fire I could get the kids out ok but not myself.... this is how sad I am.... I lay awake at night formulating plans of how to get them out. Dd i would put in her car seat and then tie my dressing gown cord to the handle and lower her down and to get ds out I would take my duvet cover off my bed, put him inside and lower that down.... I need to get out more!!!

I dont want a bf or anything. I like the independance I have being on my own with the kids. We are our own bosses and can go/do what ever we please. I just hate it at night when its dark and your all alone.

I too felt quite nervous when I first became a single parent.

I have a large heavy bright torch, which I keep under my bed. The idea is that if someone broke in I could dazzle them then whack them over the head with it! Not sure if I really could of course, but it gives me some peace of mind.

I have also just bought a fold-up fire escape ladder. It will hook over my window ledge, so we can climb out if necessary. I keep it next to the window. I also have smoke alarms in every room.

I have a sense (probably deluded) that if someone threatened my son, I'd be so furious I'd develop super-human strength to fight them off!

I get scared when they're not there. When I was a single parent and DD went to stay the odd night with my Mum I hated being alone.

I suppose it's a bit similar to RachelG's point. When I'm in the role of protector I feel strong but otherwise I feel like I'm a target sitting there on my own.

I just dont watch crimewatch or anything and I dont mind.
When the dcs arent here I am more worried as I lose my lioness nature without them to protect.
I have 2 truncheons next to my bed, but dont bother locking up at night.
Live in a village and feel safe, truncheons are Just in Case.

Not in the least but then I lived alone for 13 years before having DS. (Well, OK, I have had one or two bad nights when there were mice or if I watched something scary on the telly).
Unless you live somewhere truly awful, the chances of intruders coming to do you damage are pretty small. It's no bad idea to have an escape plan in case of fire, but once you have the plan, try and tell yourself that you are prepared and therefore worrying won't make any difference.

Every night. I have fire extinguishers in almost every room, audible carbon monoxide detectors, a burglar alarm, smoke alarms.

Have a metal bar under the bed and an effing great 4ft candlestick which is very heavy and very sharp.

Still dont feel safe but there's not much more I can do about it!

Shybaby Thats enough to make anyone paranoid.

Sorry!

When mine were little I thought the best way of getting them out if there was a fire was to put them inside a duvet cover and lean as far as I could out of the window so they only fell a few feet. Once they were older I thought they could hang on to the duvet cover while I lowered them.

Spooky you seem to have lots of plans going round in your head, perhaps writing out emergency scenarios and your plan in a notebook might help you to get them out of your head a bit. Nothing wrong with having sensible plans, but not good to worry so much it keeps you awake.

Don't know if you are familiar with risk assessments?? Write list of risks and the actions that would reduce the risks. Might help to put it in perspective.

Yes - I often get a bit scared.

We're ground floor, which is great if there was a fire, although most of the windows are painted shut

but not so good if a loony decides to break in and kill us.

We live next to a rehab house for the mental hospital as well. Ha ha.

I have an axe.

I have never kept weapons by the bed (apart from a coule of nights after a burglary - which did not involve me being there, burglars came while I was out etc).
OK, look on it this way. You are probably all feeling worse because of the relentless propaganda that a woman who is single is somehow Not Right/fair game for attack. can't manage without a Man (so all women really should make sure they find and service one, etc etc). THis is bullshit. Lots of men would be no use at all in the case of fire/violent intruders and might even be more of a liability. But the most important thing to remember is that both house fires and malevolent intruders are rare. It's not that likely to happen to you. DOn;t let it spoil your life.