How do single moms do it?

To all the moms out there who are doing it alone what do you do when you start to feel guilty about your child not having the father in their life? I know everybody's circumstances are different there's many different reasons why father isn't in the child's life. But when the dad is fully capable of being in their child's life, I'm talking financially stable good job nice car and well off.. AND THEY CHOOSE TO LET THEIR CHILD GROW UP WITHOUT THEM.. how the fuck do you explain that to your kid. It hurts even worse when you yourself grew up without a father so you know the pain first hand, what it feels like.
I'm working on forgiveness but this is going to be a tough one!
We were together for going on 11 years .. all he wanted was a kid specifically a boy and guess what 3 years prior to us splitting up I gave him a son. He made decent money and I just knew he was going to be the best father because it's all he ever talked about. How could he just forget about his son? Go from being with him everyday to now hardly speaking to him over the phone. The phone calls are slowly starting to stop and he has an exercised any of his visitation rights.. how do I explain this to my son I feel so guilty as a mom. I want nothing more for my son to have his dad! I told my ex, the one thing I want more than a family of my own is to have stability for my family so they never have to go without us. My worst nightmare came true, and I thought I did everything right.

What did my son do to deserve this type of behavior from his dad? Why is my child going to grow up without a dad? Why did my worst fear come true? How do I explain to my son why is dad aint around? How do I continue to live with the broken heart. My heart breaks for my son. What is any kid have to go through this kind of stuff! I thought I did everything right I thought we were going to be okay! How do I get over this guilt or at least get through it?

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Therapy. Similar situation with my son's dad. I felt like I did something wrong and still do when I see the pain my son is experiencing. Just have to do your best as a mom and know that it is on the dad not you. You are showing up for your son every day and can't control the actions of his father. Just give your son all the love and support he needs and reassure him that he didn't do anything wrong. Let him feel his feelings and get him therapy young to help him process the hurt and pain.
It is hard to see our kids in pain and be a single mom! 💜

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Never feel like guilty!
Your single-handedly raising a mini version of yourself.
The way I look at it is that everything my son has now and will ever have is and will be from me. his mum. If he chose to turn his back away from you that’s his loss. You didn’t give him a son you made yourself a best friend for life and that’s all what matters.
Until he starts asking questions that he fully understands and is able to have a grown conversation about it don’t let it trouble you. You will know when the time is right to sit down and have the talk and explain your way.
In the mean time create memories, laughs, enjoy it while you have the opportunity to they don’t stay little forever 💙

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When they were really small and used to cry and beg me to find him I just used to hug them and explain that I don’t know where to look. He decided when they were 9 and 11 he wanted to know them again everyone told me not to let him but I wasn’t carrying that blame when he tells them later in life I stopped him seeing them so I told him it has to be permanent. It lasted 4 months then he blocked us on the phones and never came back. I’ll never forget the way they cried, 1 has ASD and ended up in hosp over suicidal acts. Social services put a protection order in them from him! They hate him now. At 16 and 14 my youngest found him on Facebook and asked why he left again he said he had to change his number for work 😂 she told him what she thought of him. My theory worked don’t be the one stopping the contact to later be blamed and hated, let them see who his is and decide for themselves. I done my best for them he was the first man to break their hearts.

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thank you so much I did never really thought about getting my son therapy but I feel like when he's old enough I'm definitely going to do this now

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@Jessica, you're very welcome! They start kids young in therapy because it's play therapy for kids and they teach them about emotions and how they feel in their body and how to express them in a healthy way. This is all done through playing games and doing crafts, so I don't think they are ever too young but you will know when he is ready. Make sure to do self-care for yourself as well.

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Help!!!

Am I wrong if I secide to stop doing baths etc for my little ones. We have a 3 and 1 year old. I do all the baths wake up in ams cooking etc. I dont want them to be dirty but it's like I need a break and Im tired of doing it all by myself. He will come up and help after they are out the tub every now and then and that pisses me off. Im taking care of 2 littles one by myself makes no sense. I asked him to give them baths tonight he said I worked all day what did you do...ive had the children all day. We went to church he didn't go. We all know how little ones are.. but what should I do bcus it feels like I'm going crazy

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30

Heartbreak

After years of trying, months of back and fourth on the fate of our marriage, indecision, fights. The whole enchilada my husband and I are separating, divorcing. Whatever. I'm so goddamn heart broken. I feel like it's a death and I'm in mourning. We have a 3 year old son and currently and for the foreseeable we are going to coparent and live together. This makes things harder because neither one of us can really move on but it's how it is. He understands and he's trying to heal too. But I can't understand why now that things are over he can be kind. He's been more amazing in the last week since I ended things than ever. Why couldn't he do that when we were together for years I begged for change, we saw a counselor I tried everything and he just wouldn't. Now he seems to turn a switch and be able to just do it all. But it's too late. My heart aches. My body aches. Love sucks.

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Partner works incredibly long hours, how much do they help out?

I'm struggling. Have been for a while. I've had one break from parenting my daughter, that was for 3 hours in December when I left her with her dad.

She's 14 months old and I'm just tired. I've done every night by myself. He's out of bed at 4am and doesn't get home until 7-9pm. He drives for work, very physically tiring.
On the weekends he was doing 6 days, one weekend day off, but now has both off.

He doesn't sit on the floor and play with her, he doesn't read to her because he says she doesn't have the patience.
He will pick her up and hold her whilst he's cooking.

Recently I've been "snappy" with him.
He got back from the mechanic last weekend, she was getting onto the sofa and he put his headphones on and started to watch Netflix on his phone.
The same day I told him I was going to run her bath and to watch her whilst she was still eating, he fell asleep on the sofa.

Today he went to football after going shopping, so was out 1-3 and then from 4-8.
He got back and I was snappy.

"I don't get why you're so snappy with me"

I said - Probably because I haven't had a break since December.

"Do you think I don't know you haven't had a break. I haven't had a break", "I just won't go to work, I'll sit at home all day".

Then "do you think I like not having a connection to my child"... But that's on him? He never sits to play with her. He "doesn't see the point". He's stated that this age is boring to him.

Since she's been born, he has been to a friend's once a month. Football - He stopped going for 7months, but has been the last two weekends.

Are these not breaks?

He does do the washing/washing up/cooking/vacuuming when I haven't had a chance to; but I'm the one in charge of feeding her, naps/bedtime, teeth brushing, hair brushing, baths, dressing her, making sure she has the right shoes, appointments etc. Everything falls on me.

If your partner works ridiculously long hours, how much do they look after your child? Do you ever get a break?

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Am I wrong ?

My daughter’s 1st birthday was Thursday and nobody wished her a happy birthday from her dads family but his mom watched his story. Should I put my foot down and set boundaries for them to accept accountability or should I just let them stay on that side for as long as they want and not worry about it?

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Tv good or bad

My 4 month old loves TV shows especially dancing fruits and baby TV is this a good thing or a bad thing at this age?

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Hi mummas! I need help with potty training?

My daughter is 4 years old, she will be turning 5 this November. I’ve tried everything I can think of, to help her and encourage her. I’ve tried bribing, I’ve tried sticker charts, I’ve tried buying her underwear of her choice— nothing. She’s suspected autistic. She will not try. She will sit on the potty at nursery for a few minutes and that’s it! At home, nothing. Any help would be greatly appreciated 🎀✨

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