Oh, yes, I have had those (mama meltdowns)... but I'll leave that part alone.
The sewing machine has been my arch nemesis for many, many years! Both my mom & grandma are excellent seamstresses and have made beautiful clothes, blankets, and other miscellaneous sewing projects over many years. I however, did not get the "sewing gene." When I was young, my mom would try to show me how to sew "simple patterns" (like to make blankets for my Barbies/baby dolls), when I got to high school, she tried to get me to help make garment bags for my band friends, in college, she sent me away with her "old faithful" machine and a fantastic starter package of fabric, threads, and other items. I got as far as hemming ONE curtain panel before that machine found it's way back to the box in the back of my storage unit. Now that I have a kid who is outgrowing all of her clothes, a house that requires like a million curtains, and I have a dedicated "craft room," we've decided to give it another go. I think I finally have the hang of it...
So, my problem was always with the bobbin--make sure the thread is on the bobbin correctly (not too tight or loose--the machine should be able to thread it for you) and that the bobbin is on the reel (metal holder that clips into the machine) in the correct direction. That was my biggest problem, and would ALWAYS cause my thread to bunch up, pull, and break! Do you have any nearby family or friends who sew? If yes, I would suggest inviting one of them over for lunch/dinner and ask for a quick tutorial. If not, call around to sewing machine repair shops (or even a JoAnn's) to ask if they can help. A lot of times, they'll just tell you to bring in your machine and they can give you a quick tutorial--of course, it's always nice to repay the favor by buying something.
Good luck, I'm like the "blind leading the blind" here, but I have hope for myself (and you)!