Wild Rivers

This morning, my daughter sat right up close to me on the sofa. She wanted to be near me, and I love that about her.

But I felt something else too. This anxiety that started in the pit of my stomach and worked its way up. A feeling of "I need space, I need to get away."

And then immediately, the guilt. I don't want her to ever think I'm rejecting her.

As a solo mum there's no one to hand it over to. No "your turn, I need ten minutes." It just sits there. The need for space and the guilt about needing it, both at the same time.

If you've ever felt touched out and then guilty for feeling touched out, you're not alone. That's not a failure as a mum. It's just being human.

What does touched out feel like for you? Tell me below. 👇

One of my biggest triggers as a solo mum is when Miss 6 is so hard on herself.

She gets so frustrated when she can't do something straight away.

She often won't let me help either, as if asking for or accepting help is a weakness.

It upsets me to see her like that as all I want to do is help her.

Then I realised this is one of my traits being reflected back to me.

I get frustrated when I can't do something straight away.

I often won't ask for or accept help.

I am working on this for both of us.

What can you see in your child being reflected back at you? Leave me a comment.

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