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Original poster

Single mum

306 replies

PITH1 · 19/03/2023 21:41

I'm 30, a single mum of 2 DC (7 and 3), broke and moving 8 hours away to Scotland next week where we don't know a soul. I'm currently living in temporary accommodation and have no chance of being housed where I currently live. I added myself to open housing lists all over the UK and have been offered a gorgeous little maisonette flat in Scotland on the edge of a small town about 30min from Glasgow. Lots of green space and a small school. Have visited and really liked it. My children's father doesn't want anything to do with them and hasn't since my youngest was born so that isn't an issue. I don't have family support and I haven't been happy for a long time here and have been wanting a fresh start but I'm nervous and it's taken a lot of guts for me to do this. Does anyone have any stories/tips about moving far away on your own? Especially with young DC. Or can anyone tell me their experience of living in Scotland? Making friends there? Thanks for reading x

OP posts:
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11
Wagapapa · 26/03/2023 00:23

So excited for you !!

Original poster
PITH1 · 25/03/2023 23:29

ggbbnn1 · 25/03/2023 23:25

My favourite place in Scotland is Balloch Park, you'll be about ten mins from it 🤍 There's also Levengrove and the indoor skatepark Unit 23 is a fab way to kill a weekend afternoon for kids. Lovely area, you're going to love it 🥰

@ggbbnn1 I will be within walking distance from the exact place you mention 😊❤️

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ggbbnn1 · 25/03/2023 23:25

My favourite place in Scotland is Balloch Park, you'll be about ten mins from it 🤍 There's also Levengrove and the indoor skatepark Unit 23 is a fab way to kill a weekend afternoon for kids. Lovely area, you're going to love it 🥰

OliveWah · 25/03/2023 23:15

I've only just found your thread @PITH1, but I echo all the PPs - what an exciting adventure for all of you and such a fabulous opportunity for a fresh start with your babies. I wish you lots of luck, let us know how you get on!

Original poster
PITH1 · 25/03/2023 22:31

Thanks so much everyone. They are asleep 😴 I am currently feeding my daughter's hamster which I smuggled on the coach a piece of cucumber. She is obsessed with her hamster and leaving her behind just wouldn't of been an option. I bought her a tiny travel cage and smuggled her in my bag. I smuggled a bloody hamster on a coach. My kids and I will laugh about all this one day for sure!

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Lkatsea · 25/03/2023 22:16

Hope the kids have slept and you get there safely.

Good luck in your new home and hope you find happiness there.

I'd look to see if there's a local gingerbread group or other single parent meeting point to try to build up a network and just chuck yourself in to everything you can. I bet you will look back at this and think it's the best thing you ever did!

ThinWomansBrain · 25/03/2023 22:10

hope it goes well - I imagine having young children will initially help you meet other parents, other connections will come as you settle in.

SwimmingAgainstTheTides · 25/03/2023 21:54

This will be a fresh start for you and just know you are more than capable of building a new and successful way of life in Scotland. I am a lone parent and had to deal with a lot of huge changes, but nothing scares me anymore.
It will feel unfamiliar for a while but once you settle in you 'll never look back.

CorpusCallosum · 25/03/2023 21:29

Amazing!!! Good luck! Scotland is such a wonderful country, you're going to give your DC such a brilliant life. Well done 👏💪💚

Notmorecrapola · 25/03/2023 21:25

Obviously I don’t know you but I just wanted to say that I feel really proud of you and the way you are putting your little family first and striking out so bravely on your own. Good on you and I wish you the very best of everything!! xxx

Scatterbrainbox · 25/03/2023 21:00

Good luck!

TrashyPanda · 25/03/2023 20:57

Best wishes for your new life in Scotland

Sunshinenotrain · 25/03/2023 19:58

I’m excited for you! Best of luck with your new home. 🏡

Wagapapa · 25/03/2023 19:54

I moved to Glasgow on my own. Made some friends. Absolutely loved it there. People were so kind and Scottish landscapes are stunning.

timtam23 · 25/03/2023 19:49

Good luck and I hope you and the children settle in well. Pre-kids I moved on my own from England to a small town in South-west Scotland, I met so many friendly, kind and helpful people and I made new friends through local groups and activities. Being a small town there was quite a lot of local stuff going on and hopefully it'll be the same where you are going. Glasgow was quite a distance from me but was the nearest big city, there's loads to do there and I loved visiting. Not sure how easy it would be for you to get to Pollock Park from W Dumbartonshire but it's a really big country park with Highland cattle, I used to love going there to see the cattle.

TimeForTeaAndG · 25/03/2023 19:44

Welcome to Scotland. It's currently absolutely heaving it down with rain where I am on the West coast but I've never really been seriously tempted by any other country. I hope you all settle in quickly.

Weedoormatnomore · 25/03/2023 19:39

PITH1 · 25/03/2023 17:56

Thanks everyone ☺️ we are on our way as I type this 😀

Good luck wishing you lots of happiness in your new home 🏡 x

OnaBegonia · 25/03/2023 18:43

West Dumbartonshire is a good location, not far to the city and surrounded by lovely countryside.
I'm a Glaswegian but now live on the East Coast, you'll find ppl are friendly and having young kids is a great way to make friends.
Look on freecycle and FB groups for freebies for the house.
Best of luck and Welcome to Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Original poster
PITH1 · 25/03/2023 17:56

Thanks everyone ☺️ we are on our way as I type this 😀

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Blingstar · 25/03/2023 09:40

Just wanted to wish you well. You'll be so glad you've done this. Hope you settle in quickly to the new area. Exciting times ahead!

TheFormidableMrsC · 25/03/2023 08:59

Wishing you the very best of luck! I'm planning on doing something similar. It's me and one DS though. I have moved to a new place before and made friends through school and joined a gym. Fortunately I'm quite a chatty person and will talk to anybody! I've made loads of friends in the 20
years I've lived here. You'll be absolutely fine and I wish you so much happiness and peace Flowers

Rainbowqueeen · 25/03/2023 08:53

Good luck. Hoping that you settle in quickly and it feels like home

Original poster
PITH1 · 25/03/2023 08:47

Thank you 😊 💓

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MonkeyPuddle · 24/03/2023 23:34

Oh OP how wonderful you are. You will look back on this and be so, so proud of yourself. And rightly so.
Best of luck to you and your children, here’s to new starts, love and joy x

clpsmum · 24/03/2023 23:29

Ps YoH are very brave and this will be a fantastic new start for you