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Feeling lost and overwhelmed...what happened?

CMF
Blue Voices Member
Blue Voices Member

Wow, this was meant to be 'my' year. A new year, a fresh start, a year to focus on what i want to do and where i am headed but i have hit a brick wall and can't break through. Single mum 3 kids. My little one has more kinder sessions so i have 3 days with about 4 hours free. With kids at school/kinder, this was my plan and how i wanted to spend my time i was excited/positive up until last weeks:

Do a few odd jobs around the house, fix a few things, big clean up;

Join a gym, do yoga for relaxation, walk every day - take care of me

Do an online course or some short courses so i can think of going back to work next year when she starts school. I could do something i really enjoy, a new career.

Maybe do some casual work or start a little business from a hobby

How i feel now:

Don't know where to start,anxious, guilty for not doing anything with my free time yet

How will i juggle 2 teenagers and a preppie and work all on my own next year?

If i work next year who will look after the little one on school holidays? I don't want to use school holiday programs when she is in grade prep. The thought makes me sick.

Maybe i should sell the house, just get rid of the mortgage and rent and be free ( i have this thought every month around pmt time) but where would i go and would i be renting forever? I feel overwhelmed with mortgage and bills, just like everyone i guess. Am i running away from responsibility, am i lazy?

I feel i have to be doing something all the time, feel guilty if i take time out (i was fine first week of kinder, this started second week I feel guilty not working, Scared I'll get in trouble for not doing anything yet and for having free time. The course i wanted is too expensive but i can look at other options.

I feel like a lazy mum, bad example to set for my children.

I'm anxious and depressed. i look at others with their families and how they are happy and going out and going away because they can afford to.

Am i crazy for being like this? Am i a lazy person? I had it all planned out, what happened, why have i now fallen like this? I saw a positive future, upgrade my skills, get out there and be something now i cant see it anymore.

I've lost my direction. People have said to give myself time to adjust to having some free time and to take a break and then rethink what i want to do but i'm panicking, like i'm wasting my time and i cant get going. I don't deserve anything i have.

Thanks for reading

cmf x

5,482 Replies 5,482

CMF
Blue Voices Member
Blue Voices Member
I'm just useless.

velvetfaerie
Community Member

No way are you useless.... Dory’s post and the things you are going through are going to be used to help my man creature.... he’s a single dad. Literally zero time for himself at the moment.

I better get ready to tafe

Moonstruck
Community Member

My darling CMF....in answer to your last question "have I been conditioned/manipulated to feel this way?"

(i.e. selfish)....YES! (and you know who by, so I won't tell you)...he is a toxic person in your life..(just sayin") x

Hi CMF

Ive read a dozen or more of the latest posts here. I like to focus on what pokes out as being obvious in terms of where I can help out and other members here are doing the same.

1. Your ex and his family are taking up space in your mind. Visitation when set by a court should be 90% adhered to.

2. You can make decisions with your children without exploding. It has just the same effect and by calmly replying "no, If you forget we agreed I'd pick you up then you pay the consequences ". Yelling fuels resentment.

3. The weighing scale of how much you do for your kids compared to their father. As children they havent got the capacity to comprehend that and consider your position as doing more than your fair share.

4. Single parents essentially place the majority of their lives "on hold" until their kids are independent. Until then, a long time in your case CMF you have to tolerate this soap opera with little miss's father and others. The only way you can move forward is to mentally block out these irritants.

That leads me to what has worked for me when other people like my ex did things or said things that basically placed a wasp in the house.

Search Topic: depression, diversion and variety

It seems you are like me, you have these things causing you stress. When that happens, like if people are proved untruthful I respond...I need resolution. Divert your mind with busy activities. Someone once said to me "get a life Tony, then you'll be spending the least time thinking abour HER."

It worked. I took up my model airplanes. As soon as I dropped off my kids (followed by a sarcadtic comment from her) I went home. I had a ritual. In the 30 minutes it took to get home that was enough worry. When I locked my car that was the indication that her in my mind had concluded. Then onto my models.

This went on for 14 years. 11 years of emotional abuse while married. 14 years of emotional abuse 1 minute a fortnight when I collected the kids.

When my youngest got to 18yo I sent my ex a note "dont ever contact me again under any circumstances " she hasnt, that was 6 years ago

So there is a level of contact that we have to endure with our ex about our kids. Other than that we can choose to fill our minds with intetests, diversion tactics to release us into an interesting time.

Dwelling is torture. Declaring you are useless is waving a white flag. That flag should be cheerful bright yellow printed on it "Im a good mum and you'll never beat me"

Tony WK

Hope your having a better day CM💐

BballJ
Community Member

Hi CMF,

You are so far from useless, it isn't funny. You are so much better than you give yourself credit for.

Hope you had a better day today.

My best,

Jay

Guest_128
Community Member

CM, miss you.

Sorry if I have hurt you being upfront, it's just cause I care very much for you.

Dory😪

BballJ
Community Member

Hi CMF,

I am with Dory_, we miss you. Hope you're doing ok.

My best,

Jay

CMF
Blue Voices Member
Blue Voices Member
I'm ok. Dory you didn't hurt me at all. I'm ok.

BballJ
Community Member

Hi CMF,

Wow it was nice to see your name pop up in my threads. I am glad to read you are ok, whenever you want to talk. We are here and waiting for you.

My best,

Jay