Hello all!
I am a new member, and grateful to have found your site! I have a 2 1/2 yr old daughter and a 3 month old son. I left my now x-husband when I was 4 months pregnant and am finally divorced. He is currently deployed, so in addition to being a single mom most of the time, he's not even here for visitation! We were stationed in FL and I moved home to AZ, to be back home with family, for help and support of course. That hasn't worked out so well! So... I find myself trying to accept that I'm totally in this alone. I do get some occasional help from the outlaws (X-in-laws) which I am very grateful for. I grocery shop, eat, sleep and breathe with two kids. I know everyone here does the same, so I am feeling a big sigh of relief to know that someone might understand this new life of mine. Some days I do great, some I am terrified. Yesterday, I answered the phone to my mother and sounded frazzled (dinner on the stove, 2 yr old fussing-molars, and the baby started to fuss for a bottle) and my mother asked me "How I was going to get a grip on things and figure out a long term solution."
Wow! I was already struggling with the lack of kuddos I get as a single parent, and the jab from my mom hit me pretty hard. I was actually thinking that I was doing a good job of keeping it together, smiling for my daughter, loving the baby and getting them into bed happy, fed and safe every night. AND... the house is even picked up!!!!
So, I realized, I am going to have to seek out some support, and I found this site!!!!
Glad to be here, and looking forward to it!
Michelle

Welcome aboard....and kudos for doing what you do

Welcome! Another Arizonian (is that a word? lol)!

I'm sorry you are having to go through such negativity from family. People just don't get how hard it is to be in a situation like that. My best friend had 3 kids by the age of 21 and then another child about 10 yrs later and she raised them ALL BY HERSELF. I know that if she can do it, ANYONE can = )

Hey Michelle....
I know how you feel. I do have family that watches my kids all the time so I could work. But keep it at that. WORK. If I wanted to do anything else in my life, they would NOT watch my kids. Their idea is that I got myself into the mess, now I get myself out. They are not the best emotional support system at all! They never think what I do is good enough. I am dealing with an ex who quit his job, I get NO child support, I was left with an incredible amount of debt, and lawyer bill up the wazoo on top of paying my monthly mortgage! I work and pay it all myself, with the huge amount of help from my boyfriend. If it wasn't for him I don't know where I'd be right now. But I know what you mean when you could use just a small pat on the back or even someone to just 'understand' you, yet to feel like your own family degrades you or kicks you is a HUGE disappointment. Just remember that they're probably just upset with your situation and they think their words are going to give you more power to move forward. Stay strong and do what you do, which is be a great mom to your two small children. That's ALL that matters. If your kids are happy, then life will be just fine!