I am severely exhausted

@Former-Member

hi he already is in daycare one day a week

and this is what caused his behaviour to worsen his interview stress and anxiety due to not feeling safe he doesn’t quite understand he has challenges that we are working through and I was just told tonight by the maternal child health line she said a referral for somewhere that’s more suitable for him and some respite which should be happening this week hopefully.

I just want to reset so I can be a good mum to my son

Hi @Aggie really feel for you. So sorry that things are so difficult for you, it’s truly not fair sometimes.
Im a single parent too, but am very fortunate to have a lot of family support, but it’s still very hard. There is a lot of mental and emotional weight.
im glad that you use child care, and glad to see that you are looking into some more appropriate care that will suits his needs more, it’s certainly available, but can take some time to fit and get into. My daughter is at school, but I have booked her into vacation care a few days these holidays for my own sake- I don’t work cause of my mental health, but we all need a break for each other, parenting is hard!

will you increase the days of child care once you find some more suitable care? I’d really encourage it and not feel guilty about it either. It will be good for both of you and often with disability child care, it can be used as a form of therapy and intervention too and better prepare them for starting school.

do you have any supports for yourself? A counsellor or psychologist? I’d really encourage you to seek some out if you haven’t done so already. It’s really important.

wishing you the best

Sounds like you've been doing your best @Aggie and that sounds like what a good mum does.

But mum burnout is a serious thing: please try get some supports in place for yourself and rest as best and guiltless as you can in the meantime...

Perhaps you can visit your GP tomorrow?

@Bow

thank you so much for understanding and the validation of somebody understanding what it’s like to raise a child on your own with mental health issues challenging and I’m definitely going to be putting him into more days he needs it I need it and I do you have a mental health team they do you know about my struggles and have organised another psychotherapy for me hopefully starting next week I know things will be better it’s just uncomfortable at the moment thank you so much x

@Kyle1 thank you x

I called the maternal child health line and they put through a letter to my mental health team to they’ve been informed tomorrow and also they’ve put a referral in to have a little bit of help at home while we’re waiting for the waitlist for my sons treatment ‘s

Glad to hear you have a mental health team around you @Aggie it sure makes a huge difference having people around you! And it’s great that they see you are struggling at the moment and are going to increase their support.

I have a great team around me too which I am so grateful for.

I'm wondering: are you able to sleep well enough @Aggie ?

Hi @Aggie

Raising a child with challenges is really hard - I know - my son was diagnosed with ADHD and had other issues - it was a nightmare and I was married - also I had a younger child - so - Mum-Burn-Out - you are on your own with it too which makes it so much harder.

I am glad you are seeking a more suitable daycare situation for your child - some places are better than others - it is not one-size-fits-all - alas - my son loved it - my daughter did not and I rarely took her there - different child - they are all different.

So - though I can't tell exactly what you feel like do I know that checks and balances of raising a child with - aw - I hate the word - I want a better one - a mental disorder - it is so mind-bendingly hard - exhausting and these things do wear us down. You do need a break and I hope you can find something. I have no idea where to look now - it has been a long time since my children were small.

I do hear you though - also - it's okay to vent - we need to let it go sometimes and here - it's understood

All the best and keep in touch

Owlunar

Usually I do sleep pretty well because I’m so tired from being a single mum sometimes we all know mental health can bring those sleepless nights

@Owlunar Thank you so much it was just nice to have somebody understand xx this week I’m concentrating on putting respite in place this week and my son will be going into a childcare that suitable for him and his needs

and parenting is hard. Today was a better day x