Probably at the lowest point in my parenting journey

**~clover~** · February 13th, 2012, 10:37 AM

I have to drain my kids savings accounts. To feed them.

X has owed me $100 since christmas. He was working flat out til then, but needed to borrow $100 from me.

I haven't pushed it to get the money back. He hasn't been back to work til now (bull**** excuse, but anyway)

Now I need the money. I warned him on Thursday last week. I bought us a fridge & need that $100 to cover food for the kids. Sure, he would get the money to me on Monday. Not til the afternoon, but with the 3 hour time difference, still time for me to get my shopping done.

Then a message to say he can't. He knows we need food. He knows exactly where I'm at.

Of course I had a go at him. I get a message back telling me if I'd stop partying I'd have money, & that I wanted the single life, I need to deal with it.

What a joke! HE was out partying this weekend. According to facebook woke up not knowing where he was! So I can only imagine where the money went for the kids food

Anyway. I already borrowed money from the kids accounts for petrol to get the fridge. Now I have to borrow the rest just to feed them

I only started them a few months ago. They just got over the $100 mark (Just the 2 older girls) & I have to take it, then somehow pay them back

I feel disgusting.

**Epacris** · February 13th, 2012, 10:40 AM

You are doing the very best you possibly can for them. You are not disgusting, you are strong and a great mother. Please know that.

Sending all my love and strength to you.

**MrsFabuloso** · February 13th, 2012, 10:43 AM

You are doing what you need to hun. Don't feel horrible. It isn't your fault. Your X needs to take the blame too.

**LuluHB** · February 13th, 2012, 10:46 AM

There's nothing disgusting about your behaviour, and nothing to be ashamed of. You're doing a fantastic job looking after your kids solo. My mum was a single mum from very early on in my life and I have nothing but admiration for mums on their own.

**Calluna** · February 13th, 2012, 10:53 AM

you are not disguting. You are doing the best you can with what you have.
That money was for your kids, you spent it ON your kids. Sure, it would have been better if you didn't have to use it, but it it's more important that you feed your girls than have the money sitting in a bank account. And like you said you can pay it back later.

**OceanPrincess** · February 13th, 2012, 10:50 AM

Oh hun, I'm so sorry you are going through all this.

I don't really have any words of wisdom I'm sorry... I just think you should keep in your mind that you are doing this for them. It is temporary and one day you will pay them back. One day.

Read the title of your thread: "Probably at the lowest point". The only way is up.

Hang in there xxxx

**kelebek** · February 13th, 2012, 10:57 AM

I agree with the others you are not disgusting. Having an account of thier own is a bonus not a given. If you need that money then you use it. This does not make you a bad mother, you are doing the best thing by them. My mum was also a single mum and I you are doing everything you can to keep your head above water. They need to eat, not have $$ in a bank

**~*familyof3*~** · February 13th, 2012, 11:05 AM

I to agree with everyone else. Your doing what you should as a mother which is....do what you need to to feed your children. Dont you ever feel bad for that xxx

**Liviam** · February 13th, 2012, 11:23 AM

You are doing an amazing job and there is nothing disguisting about a mum using the money to feed her kids - regardless of where it came from - but I do understand you feeling terrible about it

**Miss.September** · February 13th, 2012, 11:18 AM

There will be plenty of time to put it back before your kids need it. We had to do it over the Christmas holiday break. We drained all of our savings and DD's too because DH had no work coming in. For five weeks we had no income and somehow we needed to survive. It feels terrible, I know. But you do what you need to do. We will put it back in DD's account slowly but we will do it, even if it's $5 each week. Hang in there. You're doing a wonderful job getting going in your new beginning

**sloane** · February 13th, 2012, 11:25 AM

there are plenty of things you could have used that money for that i might have said was pretty low, but using it to feed them is in no way disgusting or something to be ashamed of. even moreso when you were driven to do it because their father did not provide the money he should have.

you are doing the absolute best you can for your kids & you know the move was the right one & better for you & the kids. you should be proud of yourself at the moment & not feeling bad. hang in there

**Arimeh** · February 13th, 2012, 11:44 AM

I couldn't have said anything better than anyone else. You are doing a wonderful job.

There is a disgusting part of the equation - but rest assured honey - it's not YOU.

Big big hugs.

**Jewel** · February 13th, 2012, 12:11 PM

You're doing fantastic, honestly. Try not to be so hard on yourself. You're doing the best you possibly can.

**Mak** · February 13th, 2012, 12:53 PM

Clover - feeding and looking after your kids is the number one, you are doing that so please be kind to yourself. You have to do things sometimes to get through. xxxxxxxx

**Miss_Dee** · February 13th, 2012, 01:05 PM

Don't feel bad. You have put food in their mouths. You shouldn't feel bad for meeting that most basic need. *hugs*

**KimB** · February 13th, 2012, 01:37 PM

Hunny I would just be thankful that I had some money that I could take from somewhere. You can always put it back later. I have been in this position and while it might not feel great at least you can provide food for the kids. Tell X to pull his finger out and give back the money he owes you. No excuses. If he still doesn't then tell his family and they can make him pay it back