Anyone else relate!?

[SparklesAndUnicorns]

I’m a single parent to 2 wonderful children, their dad sees them every few months not regularly and not often and I don’t get any other support, my dad still works full time and my siblings are all still in education or working full time themselves. The children’s dads side of the family aren’t interested in them at all. The only time I get to have some ‘me time’ is if I pay a babysitter so I can get out of my house alone. Am I a horrible person for looking at my other friends who are single parents who get so much help and support and feeling upset by it? Their parents will take their kids at the drop of a hat and their children’s dads play big roles in their lives. I’m just so exhausted from working and being mummy and that’s it. I don’t want to go out partying or anything and I adore my children but I don’t get a second to breathe. I work full time so it’s just school run, work and kids. I feel so beaten down right now by it all, not to mention I’m probably going to be single forever because I can’t leave my house alone haha 😂
Anyone else feel this way? I know it’s not just a single parent problem and married couples who don’t get support find it overwhelming also. Would just love to hear from others in a similar boat please!

That sounds really difficult.

I'm not single but have no family around to help. Husband's parents aren't with us anymore. My parents live abroad which I'm quite bitter about!

I don't know what to say when people just assume that you've got lots of family around. Saying stuff like... oh you know what it's like when all the kids grandparents want to see them at Xmas. Inside I'm like no I don't know what it's like and if I did I wouldn't be complaining about it!! On the outside I'm like yeah and give an awkward smile. Haha.

I'm wishing away my life until my youngest is a bit more independent. He's one. My eldest is 4 and has just started school so that makes it a little easier.

I've tried putting money away each week into a babysitting pot and just try to see babysitting costs as just another bill. Otherwise time alone will never get prioritised.

Have you got friends that you can start to offer to babysit for so that they can return the favour?

@Chubbycatt I can totally relate to that, both my kids are in primary school but I feel bad when I say I can't wait until they're teenagers and can be left home alone so I can just pop to the shops on my own haha
The babysitting pot sounds amazing! Most of my friends who have kids are single parents themselves so I feel bad asking them to have extras when they're looking after their own kids by themselves anyway.
It's hard work isn't it

That's why you should offer first so you don't feel bad about them returning the favour! ;)
It doesn't have to be an official offer just drop it into conversation. They'd probs love you to do it and visa versa.

Yeah it is difficult.

I get irrational mum guilt for my kids not having more people in their lives to love them. But what can I do, it's out of my hands.