When you get into one of those moods - where the kids are driving you mad...

[SingleMumAndProud]

I very rarely do and I am generally a patient Mum. I am on my own with no local family or friends.

I am just in a mood where everything is doig my head in and I just feel snappy with the kids and TBH I don't want to be around them. It is very occasional and usually only for a few hours but its horrible. Nothing gets done, its not fair on the kids and I hate it too. I think its a lack on energy to some extent.

I just need to snap out of it! I have put the girls to bed and going to have a cuppa and some lunch. And have put a music channel on. I am really hoping the girls sleep for a while, so when they wake up, I am ready to put them in the buggy and go out.

Am I the only one? If not - any tips for snapping out of it? On the whole I am a really fun Mum who does things with the kids everyday, spends a lot of time playing with them etc. But I guess this is caused from never having a break.

I get exactly the same. I love my DCs more than anything but sometimes I am just not in the mood to be their mother. Not for long, but only when I haven't had a break.

Tthink of it this way. Any job you do 24/7 with no time off ever would drive you mad. It doesn't make you a bad mother. In fact you sound like a good mother who recognises this and takes measures to step back.

Its a shame you have no local help. Any kind of playscheme/creche you can find will be money well spent even if its just 2 hours a week. I found this helped me. Most people get evenings and weekends off their jobs, mothers don't. Be kind to yourself and keep going.

DD1 is starting a creche next week, while I take DD2 swimming (as she currently clings to me for dear life and has no confidence in the water).

Eventually I want to get them both going there while I have a swim or go to an excerise class or just sit and read a paper even! BUT I know that if I dropped DD2 off now she would just scream blue murder till they came and got me! She is in a phase of just not leaving my side (which doesn't help!). Hope in a few months when she is walking etc she will gain confidence which is what happened with DD1.

I agree with NestaFiesta.

We all have off days so try not to beat yourself up about it. If it continues and becomes every day then it may be worth speaking to your HV or GP but for the time being it sounds as though you have everything under control and its just normal occasional grumpiness and impatience, which we all get at some point or another.

Lack of support is very difficult when you are on your own - I've been there too so I understand.

Are you ever able to get out and about on your own, even if just for an hour or two to do something YOU want to do for yourself - haircut, gym, shopping, coffee etc...whatever interests YOU?

It is so easy to neglect your own needs as a single parent and it really is worthwhile trying to get some time away from the children to try and spoil yourself with something you like to do.

When my children are not around I do some leisurely shopping, have a coffee and visit the library - always by myself so I can collect my own thoughts. It really helps.