Hi everyone. My name is Mike and I live in Chicago. I am the primary custodial parent of an unbelievable 2 year old. I have been reading some of your posts and decided to register. I work a fulltime career during the day while my little man attends daycare. He sees his mother every other Saturday. It works good this way but I feel I dont have enough time to myself and I cherish all the moments spent with him. I feel like I have to do everything alone. This is not the life I expected for us, nor the one I wanted as this is how my sister and I grew up. I hope to find some new friends here and maybe some good advice. Thanks, Mike

Mike: I understand exactly what you're saying. When you marry and have children that is the life you always dream about and its hard when you are disappoointed it didn't work out that way. I am still trying to figure out how to have that free time for me-- being a full time worker and full time mom. Good Luck in meeting new friends. I hear this is a good place to start.

Thanks for the reply. I am not sure that I will ever have as much "me" time but a little would be nice. None of my friends have children and they do not understand that I am not able to fly out of the house to lend a helping hand or go out with them constantly. I feel as if I need a whole new group of friends that are in the stage of life that My Son and I are in. And these are people that I grew up with that give me such a hard time.

Sad but true: people without kids just have no conception that your kids come first, last and always.

Then again, there are some parents that just up and go on vacation for days or weeks leaving their children with family members or babysitters. Strangley enough, I am alittle jealous of parents that can do that. I would probably go insane not talking or seeing my daughter. I know when i work late or overnight, one night without her in my house kills me. Luckily the courts don't allow Dad overnight visits.

It seems we are on the same extreme. My ex only sees our son one night a week and I feel at times it is still too much for her to handle. I do not leave him with sitters and my family lives an hour away so it is hard for me to get them to help out. Not to mention, they have tons of stuff to deal with on their own. So....I try to find stuff for Sean and I to do together where we both can have fun. BTW I haven't been on a real vacation in about five years. That sucks.

Hi there - this thread is old but I just joined and thought I'd say hi. I'm in the same boat.. I have a 1 1/2 year old daughter. Though our divorce is still being hashed out we've been separated for a year this month and living apart. He has my daugher for 8 hours every Sunday so I know how you feel. Our kids are close in age and I can't but think that as they get a little older and we get more experience as single working parents that it will get easier. I just wanted to tell you that you're not alone.