Isolation

[Casey_03]

So I'm starting to feel really really REALLY isolated taking care of my baby all the time. I'm pretty sure it's normal, but it's still starting to get to me. I barely communicate with the outside world at all, unless it's to meet a delivery guy from the pharmacy or talk to doctors. I do take the baby outside for little walks, but I don't get to socialize with anyone when I do. I'm basically holed up in my apartment all day, next to his crib. I try to talk to friends online when I can but even that ends up making me feel isolated, because they usually want to talk about the fun times they have going out to bars and such ... and my life is so different from that now. I can't really relate to that anymore. Nor can I relate to my fellow journalists setting off on exciting trips for work. So I just sit and watch movies all day. But one can only take so much of that ... I don't know if there's anything I can really do. But it's making me really depressed. It's times like these I wish I had a partner to raise the baby with, or family staying with me.

 

[Silver.]

I completely understand what you are going through. When you have friends that are at different stages of life than you are, it's hard to connect anymore. I had a friend who had a baby at 15, I couldn't relate to her until I had my own daughter. Now she is 12, and I have some friends that are having more babies! I don't want to go through that stage again, so we cannot relate anymore. It is very isolating, I completely feel the pain you are going through.
Is there a local park that mothers frequent? That you could walk to, bring the baby out, have a seat with a book? Perhaps you could strike up a conversation with other mothers. In the United States they do "baby and me" classes, to get you and your baby connected together and with other mothers. Do they have anything like that where you live? Even at a store, looking at baby items, you could bump into other mothers doing the same thing, strike up a conversation.
I encourage you to try and get out of the house as often as you can, to get yourself around people. It is harmful to let this isolation build up, especially because you have a precious boy to take care of. You are so strong and I can feel the pain coming through in your words. Use that strength and try to get around some supportive people who are going through the stage of parenthood that you are. *gentle hugs if you accept*

 

[Deleted member 12723]

I was thinking that sometimes there are moms clubs, and they get together and be with one another for some social exchange. I agree with Silver that the isolation is not good for you and I have so much admiration and respect for you being a single mom. It is so hard to do that. I know because for a long time my daughter was a single mom.

I hope that other options become available to you. I wish the best for you and for your baby.:hug: