Learning To Be Lonely | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Relationships

Learning To Be Lonely

The life of a mom.

6
Learning To Be Lonely
Nichole Cooper

Last week, I talked about how interesting of an experience it was to become a mother. This week, it's going to be a little different.

No one tells you that when you become a mother, a certain amount of isolation comes with it. Granted, you have family members and friends, but all of those people have lives of their own.

In my case, the depression set in fairly quickly. I was alone most of the time, with little sleep and a human that couldn't interact very well, let alone hold up his little noggin. My boyfriend consistently had a job, and as much as I struggled to return to mine, it just wasn't possible. With daycare too expensive, I stayed home. I was constantly told by friends that they would come to visit, or that I should "come out," not realizing just how unrealistic for me that was.

With our new son, my boyfriend started his new job: he spends 12 hours a day at work, rotating between days and nights. He provides for our family, for which I am entirely grateful. But it still becomes difficult in more than one circumstance.

I started binge-watching Netflix pretty heavily and spending more and more time on my phone. My social interactions were always littered with my incessant need to push the home button on my phone, hoping for outside content. I became addicted to having my phone present fairly quickly, being the only connection to the world that I had.

Now, people will say that even going for a walk is helpful. "Fresh air is always good." However, when the only people you speak to on a daily basis fill your head with negative information and babble, you start to go a little crazy. So I got a job. And then a second job. Just to get out of the house. Crossing my fingers that I could just have one normal conversation a day. But, like I said before, I just couldn't swing it. It became more and more difficult for me to have a job, putting strain on my mental stability yet again.

Although it started getting progressively better as my son started talking and interacting more with his silly personality, it still puts a heavy weight on my chest to see the world through a piece of glass.

I pray daily that my personal issues don't effect my son, hoping that he doesn't grow up to think that I find him anything less than perfect. But it only takes one experience for a child to find out who their parent truly is as a person, and I'm afraid that day will come soon, and my son will be forever changed by me.

People still promise to visit and people still find better things to do. But this isn't about other people. This is about what goes on where people can't see. This goes on at night, at 2 AM, when I can't fall asleep because I'm alone. Or at 4 AM, when my son wakes up and I'm alone. Or at 10 PM, eating popcorn on the couch watching a movie, alone. It's extremely difficult spending most of your time alone. I used to crave it, look for it purposefully, finding excuses to not go out. And now that I'm here, alone most of the time, spending nights playing with my son.. That's when it sets in the hardest.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
girl holding phone
NYCPRGIRLS

Now that it seems “talking” is the new way to date, and will stay that way until another idiotic term is used to describe the people who can’t settle down and just date someone, I feel as if it’s time to go over the unwritten rules of “talking.”

Rule 1. Having feeling without feeling.

Keep Reading...Show less
The Stages of Having FOMO in College
iamthatgirl.com

Are you one of those people that gets super upset when you miss out on anything? Well, you may have FOMO, or fear of missing out. In college it’s not hard to experience FOMO every once in a while. You just love doing everything and anything, so hen you have to miss out on something it's the worst possible thing in your mind. Whether you’re sick, have to work, or have so much work to do you could cry – FOMO will hit you hard in college.

Keep Reading...Show less
Vivien Leigh
Revelist

I've lived a whole 21 years with an RBF (Resting Bitch Face), so naturally, I go through most of these struggles on a daily basis.

And before you ask, yes I'm fine. No, I'm not mad. This is just my face, so take it or leave it! To those of you who have been #blessed with an RBF, you'll probably relate to these more than you'd like to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Iconic Duos: Timeless Legends

From Luke and Leia to Beyonce's twins...

774709
Luke and Leia from Star Wars, a iconic duo
Lucasfilm

“Name a more iconic duo... I'll wait." OK, well, if you insist. In no particular order, here's a list of 100 iconic duos that seem to be timeless.

SEE MORE: This Is The ICONIC Disney Sidekick You Are To Your BFF, According To Your Zodiac Sign

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

A Candid Letter to My Best Friends Ex

Because this is the real form of torture you deserve.

956
middle finger
Photo by engin akyurt on Unsplash

What's up Asshat,

I've composed a list of things that I wish upon you, and they're harsh and cruel. These things are things that I wouldn't wish upon my worst of enemies, not even that Starbuck's barista who always screws up my order, not even him. You fall into a whole other category of hate. You surpass Starbucks barista. Congratulations, I'm actually a pretty nice person, making you worthy of every single bit of torture I wish upon you. What are these things I wish upon you you might ask?

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments