*How do you do it?*

[CKJ]

It's definitely hard. I am up at 6, DD at before school care 7.30. Work from 8.30-5. Get her at 6. Home to do dinner, home work, pack lunches etc. Then I sit down and start uni work. Bed about 11-12. Start again the next day. Especially had being pg too!

I do however have a weekend to myself when she goes to her fathers, so that's when I catch up on everything. Also on my weekends with her we do something one day but relax the other (which includes snuggling on the lounge so I can have a nanna nap)

As mums we just power through. Do what we have to!

[Nai]

Don't feel guilty for wanting a break! I need a break and I have dp so it's not a single mum thing. Everyone needs time to themselves to recharge. It's just that in your current situation you aren't getting any down time at all

[Gigi]

getting up at 4.30am
only getting home at 9pm two days per week (when the afternoon shifts are on)

OMG

is this even humanly possible?

you are very motivated, work very hard, clean like a demon, seem very organised, so it's hard to think of suggestions to streamline your day, cos i bet you're already doing them.

Many single working mums outsource stuff that they no longer have time to do. You are used to doing it all yourself i know.

Don't feel guilty for wanting a break, you are human. Unless you have rest, you won't function at work, let alone home.

SOme single mums have their kids 24/7. Some share custody. Some kids have regular weekend access.

i think you seriously need an alternative to ex babysitting. Now as an extra. And maybe later, when he leaves you in the lurch (backs out of babysitting, or withdraws it as a way to punish you), as a fall back position, so you can keep your job.

can't think of much else, given how unreliable and unresponsible your ex is. Ideally, he would have them consistently, one whole day and night per week at least. I hope he gets to that point for everyon'es sakes, but for now, you can't bank on that. ANd to hold down a job, you need babysitting that IS reliable.

best of luck hon, you are up against it.

i didn't put down the suggestion of you going part time at work, not sure you can do that in your Grad program. But it would take pressure off, if that were possible.