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Gold Coast mum, Amy-Lee Mangold, recently shared the struggles of parenthood in a Facebook post that has since gone viral.

Amy-Lee is a single mum raising her 19-month-old son, Theo, and admits that “It’s OK not to be OK”.

Here’s what she had to say…

It’s OK not to be OK.

Today I had a break down.

Being a single mum is tough. Being a single mum to a 19 month old that doesn’t want to sleep is even tougher.

I have next to no support around me. I have my son full time, his dad has nothing to do with us.

Today after I settled my son from his tantrums and popped him in front of the TV, I went to my room and cried.

Oh I cried so much. This isn’t the mum I want to be. I want to be full of smiles and happy all the time, but life has got on top of me.

Normally I don’t tell anyone when I’m struggling this much. But today I did and it made a difference to express how I felt.

Remember to not bottle up how you feel. Talk to someone. Anyone. Message me if you need to.

I live on the Gold Coast so if there is any mummies on the Gold Coast that are doing it tough, let me know and we can catch up and talk and laugh or cry!!

Just remember it is OK to not be OK, being a mummy is tough work.”

“I didn’t expect much reaction at all to be honest, maybe a few comments and some more likes. I know people don’t like to talk about how they feel,” she told Kidspot.

“I couldn’t keep up with the comments but I tried my hardest to write back to other mums who commented if they were doing it tough.

“I was surprised by the private messages I also received of mums who don’t have much support or feel they can’t speak up without feeling like a ‘failure’ – something they are definitely not!”

You can find Amy on Facebook – “It is okay, let’s talk- Amy” 

We have previously shared a similar touching post telling mum’s to just be kind to themselves, ““To the mom hiding in her bathroom, needing peace for just one minute, as the tears roll down her cheeks..” read more here.

Related story – Single Mum dresses up as ‘Dad’ for a Father’s event at school

Read more:

For those of you experiencing feelings of depression, please contact Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636 or PANDA on 1300 726 306 OR Lifeline on 13 11 14.

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  • being a single mum would be hard and it would come with a lot of different type of feelings! guilt, stress etc. do the best that you can though and stay tough!

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  • Being a single mum can be very hard – but the rewards will finally outweigh what you are presently going through. Especially when you get lots of loves and cuddles from your little one.

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  • Being a parent sure can be hard work, the most demanding job in the planet. To do it alone would be so much harder

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  • Good on you for sharing your story, that is really wonderful and inspiring. I truly hope things will work out for you and everything will be ok.

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  • Aw Amy-Lee. I’m so sorry. Sorry that you feel you have no support. I agree that talking, sharing your stories, good and bad, is a great reliever. So many others are going through the same. You’re never alone I hope you can find a mother’s group or a friend nearby.

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  • Do you have access to a Mum’s group or playgroup where they Mums talk while the kids play but you have to keep an eye on your child. Some councils have lists of community groups. How well do you know your neighbours? Maybe you could have coffee together occasionally.

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  • Thank you for sharing Amy ! You’re not alone in your feelings.

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  • great post and so important to share.

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  • Forgot to say Thank You Amy-Lee for sharing how you feel so that Mums know they are not alone in their feelings.

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  • All Mums need that time to talk about how they are feeling and never think of themselves as a failure. Remember that you are special.

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  • Motherhood is one of the hardest yet most rewarding jobs. And a job it is but it’s a 24 hour job that never stops. It’s important for our sanity to get together with like minded mums, mothers group, play group etc.


    • It is one of the hardest jobs for sure and we all need support at various times.

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  • I can relate to this. Even when I was married I had no support from my partner when I had a difficult baby who did not sleep well till he was 5 years old, my husband’s response to me when I asked him to give me some time out was “my mother had 10 children so why can’t you cope with one!
    I eventually divorced him due to him having too many affairs & then an attempt on my life. My kids were 3 & 7 at the time & I had no support at all nearby so I had to do it on my own while trying to heal from the injuries he caused & parenting 2 very confused kids. After 2 years of doing that I eventually moved nearer my parents & altho they helped with babysitting so I could work I still had no emotional support or understanding. There were many times I would lock myself in the bathroom or go sit in the driveway so my kids did not see my tears.
    Over time I learned I did not have to be super mum & stopped taking it to heart so much but it was still hard work being a single Mum, not only that we have to be Mum & Dad at times but the social stigma that is attached to single parenting still exists in the community. s much as I love my children dearly if I had known I would have to do it on my own I would never have had them because it was not just me who suffered from the lack of support but also our children.

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  • I know the feeling! When I had my first little one she used to get wind pain, I had a couple of days where she didn’t stop crying all day long. I didn’t know what to do! And on top of that I had doctors/nurses telling me that she wasn’t gaining enough weight so I thought I was killing her. I was stressed to the max to the point where I struggled to go to sleep because my ears were constantly straining to hear the monitor in case she woke up. It was a terrible time and I didn’t get any support from my mother at all. Unfortunately my husband’s mother lives interstate but even she helped more than my own mum, coming to stay with us for a week to help out and then later sending Scott’s father to help when I was struggling to cope after hubby went back to work. Even then I still had to go and stay with my friend because being home alone during the day feeling unsure of what I was doing was tough. Being a mum is not an easy job and some days it doesn’t feel rewarding at all. But then there are the days when our kid’s smiles could light up the whole room and it feels worth it again.

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  • I just would like to say even if you have a husband/partner you could be struggling and doing things on your own. Motherhood is hard but hopefully rewarding. Prayers and God is the only hope as he is the only one who can answer our needs and comfort us when we cry. Faith, hope and prayers is the answer.one day at a time, tomorrow is better than today.

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  • I’m not saying this is the case here but this is where playgroups and mothers groups can be invaluable. People rely so much on social media now for company and connection but it’s just not the same. Other mums know how you feel and pick up on so many signs that you’re not ok. Even the regular weekly routine is great and at those tough ages it gets the kids out and wears them out, passes time etc. I’d like to mention I’m also a single mum of 3 and I don’t get time out either. I know it’s tough and emotionally taxing but real human contact and getting away from my four walls saved me many times xo


    • Great comment and I agree with you.



      • I also agree with getting out and having contact with other mums. Other mums can be your best form of support. The interaction is on a much more personal level.

    Reply

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