Made to feel guilty

[Meme29]

Hi

I met my daughters father when I was 18 and he was 26 so he was ready to settle down so at 19 I gave birth to my daughter and became a housewife. We broke up 3 years ago due to his infidelity and my daughter now goes to him and his parents Friday night to Sunday.

I’ve recently started to go out again and trying to date again but a few of my friends are making me feel guilty and saying that I should just focus on my daughter

yes I work 5 days a week 8-5 but I come straight home to cook dinner and do homework with her and spend time together, I would love to have time at the weekend with her but an arrangement has been put in place.

I just hate this guilty feeling and now feel that I should just stay at home although I’m 29 now and would like to see some of the world and let lose again but the guilt is awful.

has anyone ever felt this? I just feel like I am being judged

Does she go to his every weekend?

Yes, she doesn’t see him threw out the week

That's a highly unusual setup. You barely have any time with her.

It's not something a court would order. Did you suggest it or were you pressured into it?

I was persuaded into it, it used to be every second weekend but he kept showing up on days that weren’t his and phoning constantly to speak to her then he got a solicitor involved and I couldn’t really afford to pay one to go back and forth and to courts

He shouldn't have her every weekend. You don't need a solicitor to go to court. You fill in a form and pay a fee. Not sure how much it is now. Probably around £200. Then you will probably have to pay to attend a mediation MIAM. No court would grant him every weekend. If she's 11 now though you've left it a bit late as her opinion might be sought. Why didn't you fight against it? Was the relationship abusive?