“The only break I get is when I’m at work,” said a single mum.
But what about the ones who don’t even get that?”
For some, work is the only place they get to breathe, a moment of structure, adult conversation, even go to the toilet in peace!
It’s not easy, but at least there’s a rhythm to it. A desk, a lunch break, and sometimes, just a few minutes where no one is climbing on them or calling their name.
But for others, staying home is even harder.
And I know this because I’ve lived both.
When my son was little, I worked full time. It was intense, juggling nursery runs, dinner prep, and the constant emotional labour of parenting solo. But when he had his surgeries, I left my job to be with him full time.
And honestly?
Full-time work was easier.
Being at home meant I was on 24/7. No breaks. No lunch hours. No adult conversation. Just constant caregiving, relentless routines, and the quiet, lonely weight of trying to be everything for my child — all the time.
There’s this myth that staying home is some kind of break.
Let me be clear: it’s not. Especially not for single mums
It’s unpaid, emotionally draining labour, with no end in sight and no one to tag in. Single mothers at home never stop working.
Whether we’re out earning or inside surviving, single mums are carrying it all. And yet, we’re often met with judgment instead of support, and pressure instead of empathy.
So here’s the truth:
☀️ If you’re a single mum working full time, and your job feels like the only time you get to exhale — you’re not alone.
☀️ If you’re a single mum staying home and wondering why you’re so burnt out all the time — you’re not broken.
☀️And if you’ve done both and felt like neither gave you a break — you’re absolutely right.
It’s time we stop glorifying struggle.
It’s time we stop ignoring the emotional toll.
And it’s time we start supporting single mothers — in real, practical, judgment-free ways.
© 2025 Relight Counselling / Danielle Knall. All rights reserved. No part of this content may be copied, or reproduced without written permission.