[Aliantha]

There were lots of nights after my Mum died when I drank myself into a stupor then took pills and passed out. I know it was the wrong thing to do now, but at the time it was pretty hard not to. Many nights I felt like I would have been completely happy to never wake up again. It's probably only thanks to the kids that I never quite took that step right over the edge.

Maybe it sounds pathetic, but I couldn't cope when she was gone, and she was my back up as a single parent...so I felt like I had none.

Anyway, I think people who're in these situations need support not judgement. I was lucky. Just plain lucky that the above mentioned behaviours, and a number of other risky behaviours didn't end in tragedy. I think it's why I have tried in the past to help out when I have felt mothers or parents weren't coping. Sometimes it helps. Other times not, but I'll keep on doing it for the sake of the kids, and in the hope that the parent/s see that they've got more to live for than they think.