Stay at home dad and life's hard

[Aussiecobber]

I don't know how to start or truly explain how I feel. I've been a stay at home father for my 2year old little girl and has been a great experience but for the last 2months I have been looking for work and having zero luck. I'm usually a pretty carefree person but I'm really starting to get down.

I feel worthless and not wanted, all jobs I apply for are just constantly turning me down. I'm 36, have worked retail management for years, warehousing and other managment roles and do not understand why it is so hard.... I've been out of work looking after and raising my little girl for around 10months and can't help but feel this is having an impact. I'm struggling to make ends meet and really fear for the future and the future of my little one....

Anyone faced this before that might have some ideas on how to Cope?

[Summer Rose]

Hi Aussiecobber

Welcome to the bb forums and thank you for sharing your story. Please know that you have arrived at a place of kindness and support.

I'm sorry that you are having such a rough time. Job hunting is stressful and I think it's a common to experience a loss of confidence at times. As a mum who has re-entered the workforce twice, I know how hard it can be.

You might want to revamp your resume and don't hesitate to let your friends and old colleagues know that you are looking for work. There may also be some government programs that could help.

Most importantly please look after your health. You could consider making a double appointment with your GP to talk about how you are feeling.

And finally I want to reassure you that you are important and valued. There's an angel likely fast asleep in your home right now that would agree with me. Never forget that.

You hang in there

[Asremoteasitgets]

Hello and how are you getting on!

Are you also a single dad? What happened to your partner if it’s not too rude to ask?

its a tough gig taking care of a child! I have a 1 year old and as much as I love her and appreciate that I get to and her learn and grow, I get really down about my mental ability slipping and anxiety growing when it comes to adult world. (That’s not my entire story, but that will do for now)

i feel like you are having these hard feelings because of your situation (it’s a tough one)! At uni I have learnt that majority of jobs are acquired through successful networking and it’s so tough to do when you have a child!

Just throwing ideas out there, may not be helpful, but think about your connections. Think about people that enjoy your company or you enjoy theirs. Everyone wants to work with people that can be their friends too. Maybe they will have leads for job openings.

be kind to yourself and don’t get discouraged with rejections, taking on a lot of rejections and failures and brushing them off and trying again historically produces the most successful people!

I wonder if you could start some sort of a business from home?

All the best,

Ksenia