Childline: Being a parent can be an isolating experience for some - but support is at hand

For some parents or carers, life events such as divorce, a house move, redundancy, or mental health worries can all lead to feelings of loneliness and isolation. Anyone experiencing this might not want to burden their child with their worries, but it’s important to remember you are not alone and there are places you can turn to.

Remember, it’s OK to be curious about your negative feelings. Denying your feelings won’t help in the long term.

Nurture your hobbies or things you enjoy. If you don’t have any, think about what you enjoyed doing as a child and see if you can incorporate that into your life now, perhaps with your child.

Sitting with a friend over a coffee or co-ordinating your weekly shops if you’re limited on time, can be a great way to talk through your feelings and any anxieties. Or if meeting up with friends isn’t an option for you, why not try using meetup.com or the Peanut app to help you make new friendships.

Just as we would advise young people who contact our counsellors, you’re allowed to say when you’re finding things hard. Parenting is wonderful but tough, and you don’t need to have everything figured out all the time. Remember – it’s OK to reach out for support from friends, family and organisations that are here to help, like the NSPCC Helpline.

It's important to give children reassurance and support, but looking after your own mental health is vital to their wellbeing so don't be afraid to try new things together.

Childline is here around the clock to support children who might be missing a parent this Mother’s Day, but there are also many reasons why mums and dads might feel lonely amidst the busyness of family life.

Reach out if you need help. The NSPCC Helpline is on 0808 800 5000 or at [email protected] whatever your worry.