How do you cope alone with teenagers

[ChocolateSqueezyyogurts]

Im a single mum to two teenage DCs (18 &16) they spend most of their time out with friends or in their rooms on the phone to friends. Oldest has a part time pub job too so is there a few evenings a week. I dont have much family other then my mum and I dont really have any friends. I feel very alone alot of the time and I try to be around as much as I can for them. I recently started dating and I feel terrible guilt for being out of the house quite a bit recently. I will spend a few evenings a week at his house. I suppose my question is really am I being unreasonable to my kids by doing this. With my ex Dh I was pretty much tied to the house and im suddenly out living a life of my own, but I feel so guilty for not being around for the kids 24/7.

Definitely don’t feel guilty for not being there 24/7.

I do think a few evenings a week is a lot when one is 16, though.

Just to clarify, i dont mean out overnight i just mean a few hours in the evening.

Oh apologies yes in that case I’d say you’re grand

Isn't the benefit of them being this age that you can have independence too?

Mine are 13 and 11 and I am beginning to feel redundant!

I've just got one teenager (15) & I often find it all quite depressing. I often wish I lived in a big shared house with other single mums. I also don't have many friends, and am not dating so it's not like I have invitations galore. Some evenings we do hang out & chat/watch tv, other evenings, he's on phone playing games w/mates all evening. I'm very much an all in or all out type of person, so loved the early years and I'm looking forward to travelling when he leaves (if my health holds up) but this in-between stage is horrible! But back to your question- it's not a problem going out, or we'd lose our minds. Having said that, I went out one night to return home to neighbour chaos because he was noisy.

mine are 16&17 and spend all the times in their rooms aside from meal times. Honestly, so long as you are in to have a catch up when they get in/at dinner time, go for it. I’m not single but dp and I are beginning to just think “sod it” and go out!