im a single mom with a 4 month old little girl. i'm working at least 40 hours. im only 18 and i have started dating. my mom thinks its wrong that im dating and that im not spending enough time with my daughter.

so what should i do? i spend a lot of time with her. i have her from when she wakes up to about 5 at night. then i get home at about midnight. and i have the weekends off. so is it wrong that i want to have a couple of hours on saturday to myself or am i selfish?

the way i do it (not saying it's right for everybody)but if i go out it's after the kid is asleep, since i have him every night thats about the only way i can do it. nobody comes home with me, i don't go home with anybody else. i make sure i'm there with him every minute that he's awake. he comes first, dating and going out comes second. and i don't bring other people around him either. it's a pretty hard but thats the way it has to be with me.

You need time to yourself and to relax. If you can get a sitter then more power to you!

No, it's not too much to ask. Besides, if you go out for a few hours, most of which she is asleep, what is the harm? That does not at all seem irresponsible.

You are entitled to your personal life, just because you're a mom doesn't mean you lose everything.
You are taking care of your baby, and keeping a job, you need to have some sort of a life

OML! Girl, I have been raising children for the past 24 years and STILL raising 5 girls. PLEASE take the time to do what makes you happy. Whether that's a nap, a movie, or a date...go for it! Being a single mother is not easy, but not giving yourself time for YOU, makes it worse. We start being "angry parents" and get worn out beyong belief. Your mother wants the best for you, and I understand that with such a small child in your care. As long as your baby is in good, loving and capable hands...take advantage of it every chance you can get! I didn't have it!

You're not being selfish! You will find over time that what is good for YOU ultimately turns out to best for your child, i.e., you become a more well rounded individual and your children benefit from that.

I couldn't agree more.

Great advice!

There's nothing wrong with it. YOu need time for yourself.

I agree you doing nothing wrong. You need time for yourself, your working hard, and being a good mom, you deserve it. I'm a single mom 2, my kids are teenagers, but they know that mom deserves time for herself 2.

So true.... we forget we were 'women' before becoming mothers...