How to stand on your own two feet as a single parent?

LegacyUser

I'm 22 and a single mother to a nearly 2 year old girl.
I'm finding single parenthood an absolute nightmare!
Since I've had my daughter I have:
Lost my boyfreind, lost all my friends, have had to give up my hobbies and all my hopes and dreams for the future. I struggled and finished college at least!

At the moment I'm living with my bossy, overbaring parents who think they have the right to tell me how to raise my daughter and have no respect for me as a parent.
I have no job as I can't afford childcare and I'm on lone parents allowence. It's a misrible, depressing exsistance, sitting home all day every day (we live in the middle of nowhere) with nobody to talk to on top of all the stresses of parenting a toddler! (I have her all the time.)

I never thought my life would end up this way. I really want to stand on my own two feet! I don't want to be on social welfare, I want to work, I want to move into my own place, I want to make new friends to socialise with, I want to feel human again! I just don't even know where to start. I have everything going against me and I feel so alone. I need to make a big change for my own sanity.

Has anyone already overcome any of these struggles? How did you do it? I would love to hear your stories!
Any advice from non single parents is welcome as well!
Somebody please tell me it's possible!

planetX

Start by giving yourself a break - you're doing the best you can right now. Parenting a two year old is tough going, but it will get easier as she gets older. You list a lot of changes you want, but it's too much all at once. Start small, you'll get there gradually.
And don't forget to enjoy your baby while it lasts - blink and they grow up...

Roselm

Hey,
Check out this link. http://www.cuidiu-ict.ie/fulcrum.html?ep=32
Hopefully they might have something in your area as they might be able to offer some support if you are feeling down at the moment. You would have a reason to get out of the house to meet other mums and maybe get involved in some activities with your little one.
I haven't looked at the full website but maybe something like this could be a starting point.

Best of luck


http://www.cuidiu-ict.ie/fulcrum.html?ep=32

"Cuidiú Café" are coffee mornings run for those who may be finding parenting difficult, feeling a bit blue or with postnatal depression. Come and share your experience with other Mums in confidence. Held once a month for more details see the Dublin South East Branch pages www.cuidiudse.ie and the Dublin South West Branch pages www.cuidiudsw.ie

So essentially we are a mutual self help organisation. We aim to empower parents to help and support each other and provide a network of friendship. As for the actual meetings available to parents, they are many and varied, depending on your branch and your kids' ages.

Most of the bigger branches offer the following:

Mother and baby support meetings and playgroups
Breastfeeding support meetings
Bumps and Babes meetings
Speaker nights / Evening discussion meetings
Social outings for kids
Support meetings for parents of school going kids
Branch Library
Social outings for parents

The smaller branches will be able to offer a selection of these services. Check with your local branch for more details.

Offy

I did and I did it with three kids. Its not an easy road but your on it now. The full story is to personnal for an internet forum, pm me if you like.

LegacyUser

Hi op here. Thanks for your replies!

Roselm, that looks great but sadly there is nothing in my area.
I really think I have to do something soon to change the way things are. I'm going mad here!
I've been this way for two years now, so I'd like to make a start at having a more independant and fufilling life.
At the moment I just feel like I'm simply surviving but not living. I don't want to wake up some day years down the line and realise that my life has passed me by and that I didn't ever do anything for myself.
It's so depressing being stuck in this situation!