I have always felt like my kids are the only reason I keep it together, but I did reach a point when that wasn't enough. The best advice I can offer is take care of yourself as well as you do your kids. I have three kids and was divorced when they were very young, so basically raised them myself. I was also an undiagnosed bipolar, which didn't help matters either. I took Prozac for depression, which was prescribed by my family doctor, but didn't feel like I had time for therapy. Eventually, the Prozac quit working and I ended up having a major breakdown and had to be hospitalized. My kids were 11, 14, and 17 by then and I ended up losing custody of them for awhile, so please take care of yourself and do whatever it takes to keep your depression at bay as best you can. My kids are now 16, 19, and 22 and they are pretty well adjusted my oldest is in the Marines and doing great, my youngest is learning to drive and dealing with challenges of her own, she has type 1 diabetes and was recently diagnosed with Celiac disease and is trying to adjust to the gluten free diet, but is usually happy go lucky, and my middle son, unfortunately, has inherited some of the depression/bipolar issues. He's good most of the time and is working full time, but since he's 19, I am not able to make him go to the doctor's or therapy if he doesn't want to. It is hard to watch him struggle and recognize the signs of the illness and not be able to do anything about it, but I'm keeping a close eye on him.

I worry too that when they are gone to college or whatever that my depression will get worse, but that's a few years away and I really try to live one day at a time as far as taking care of myself. You probably have enough day to day worries, so don't buy more by looking too far into the future. As far as other moms making you feel bad, I can understand why you feel like that. I experience it too. I never had enough money for my kids to participate in some of the sports and things that they wanted to do and other parents always seemed to have an opinion about that and it does bother me, but I was told by someone once that "other peoples opinions are none of my business" and I really took that to heart. No one knows what other people are going through at any given time, so really it is not anyone's place to judge another.

Sorry to be so long winded, but one more thing, self awareness is half the battle, clearly you know you have mental health issues and you are trying to deal with them as best you can. That's a good thing.

I am an 'Empty Nester' of one son now 32... Sarah you are doing a Fab job!! Stuff interfering Sport Mums they are often difficult anyhow. You are going really well. You have worked out a manageable program for your Family. You know best. You don't need approval from anyone but you & your kids... Explain things as they happen with your kids and they will support you. If they have a 'Hissy' fit... tough! They need to learn what does & does not work for your Family... When they are old enough to leave home...have a plan in place to give you a goal... work, volunteer, walking group, book club, something social & Fun!! Fill the gap with something that makes you feel good about yourself. I do swimming teaching to children... Makes me feel terrific and I get some good exercise... I get to socialize to what suits me and even if I come home and have a nap... That's FINE!!... Make a current goal to rid your life of GUILT... it won't help you at all! Be proud of what you have achieved Sarah... You won't need to Live thru your kids... You will keep growing as a person... Just Love yourself & be your own best friend! You are doing OK! You have come this far & how Magical is that :)

Try it, hun. I guarantee that you will get more done.
Hugs xx

Okay, I found to manage my time, just do a little bit every day. Success is a lot of little things done well. So don't beat yourself up about all the things you didn't do. I used to make lists of things to do, but when I saw how much I didn't do it made me depressed, so what I did was I finished the dishes s, say, and THEN I wrote it down. That helped. I also got the kids to help, by preparing stuff (lunches) the night before so it isn't a mad rush in the morning.

To motivate myself I gave myself rewards during the day. I promised myself if I finished the laundry, I would sit down with a cup of tea. Or a favourite programme on TV.

I know it's difficult to motivate yourself when it's the last thing you want to do.. Get up. But you have to. Get up, dress up, show up but never ever give up!!

Hope this helps.
Hugs xx

Thank you @A MyDepressionTeam Member, your right I need to let go of the guilt and live for me. My kids say they understand, I hope they really do and are not just trying to make me feel better. They are caring.

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