Does anyone else feel as overwhelmed as I do, Everything feels like its closing in on me . I know being a mom is not easy but damn who would have expected it to be this hard. Don't get me wrong I love being a parent and I love my children but I wish their father would step up and take responsibility for his children. Is it hard to come see them on a regular basis or pick up the phone and call them just to say hi. I do the cooking ,cleaning, homework, baths ,school event, and every other daily ritual. He does nothing, and gets away with it. I asked him for some money four days ago and i still didn't get it. When is it going to be my turn to relax stress free. Or just breath without having to break up a fight or take a relaxing bath or watch a television show to its entirety.Please let me know how you do it. Sorry I just needed to vent ... Thanxz for listening..

I'm right there right now. It's hard to post an inspiring post. I feel completely overwhelmed and having a pity party for myself.

I certainly had wished I had a supportive father of my sons whom can share some of these teen years with. Sometimes they don't hear one parent, but there isn't so much of an argument when you have two parents insisting on a change.

I quit asking my EX for money to help with the boys a long time ago. I just present him with a modification or an adjustment to his CS for lack of reimbursement. That way I skip all the BS I don't really have time to listen and invest any wishful thinking.

I need a vacation

I think for most of us, the time to "breathe" is the time we spend, even if its 5 minutes, by ourselves. A friend suggested that if you are going to lose it, before you lose it, tell your children that you are taking a 5 minute time out. Set an egg timer or whatever and take 5 minutes just sitting somewhere. Not reading, not watching tv, just sitting in silence. Try some deep breathing or yoga stretching or something. I know these are little and temporary fixes.

I dont have much to go on with wanting someone else to step in, because I dont have anyone else to step in, and quite frankly, that's fine with me. Do little things for yourself to keep your sanity. Posting here is a good idea

YES! Overwhelmed...overworked...undercompensated!
I don't really have any advise. I'm going through the same thing. It sucks. All I can offer is one of these...

I feel the same way. I have a two year old and, although I am off work for the summer, I put him into a daycare program three days a week. He LOVES playing with the other kids and doesn't want to go home when I pick him up, and I love having a little time to myself to read a book or .... ummm... take a shower ;D. A lot of the daycares around here have hourly rates and for me it is worth the $30 -- basically the same as a pedicure. There is also a drop in childcare center here that is free for people who meet the income requirements.

I can tell you that taking those few hours each week to myself has made all of the difference in the patience I have with my son as well as my general stress level.

Keep your head up.

So Shortyof4, has your exhausted feeling left you or subsided a little?