Lonely - what to do

[Getoffthetableplease]

Ahh where to start? Lonely, really bored and lonely. Eldest at school, youngest poorly (bronchiolitis, getting better but still very under weather and liable to spreading it), dogs walked, we've been to the park, we've not really seen anyone or done anything for about a fortnight (so all home play activities completely wiped), no family to visit, a couple of (busy) friends with small babies I wouldn't want to make ill. I do work a few evenings and the weekends but that's for an elderly lady who doesn't communicate all that well, so in the nicest possible way that's not going to make me feel any less lonely tomorrow. What do you do when you feel really isolated from a seemingly very busy world. I feel such a saddo but I'm in a rut, and it's only amplified by the youngest being too poorly for even baby groups. What would you do?

Depends how old the youngest is? I would look at doing some online courses for interest but also with a plan on getting a job when youngest is old enough, whether that is for nursery or school. If you are happy with work you have then taking up a new hobby or interest if you can get out for a bit each week? Volunteering could also be an option.

Thanks, I already work in a job I like, volunteer when childcare permits and am studying too. I'm not sure what new hobbies you can feasibly do with a toddler on tow. We're out and about a lot, but that doesn't stop the feeling. We can't get out when he's ill, I don't want him to get worse or anyone to catch germs so we're still stuck for now. Ho hum, pointless post I guess. Just at a loss.

If you have a partner, can you go out some evenings? I founded a Book Club & we meet once a month plus have some additional nights out. It also gives something to do in the month in between as we have our books to read & people end up recommending others too. We also 'chat' quite a lot on our WhatsApp group. Otherwise things like WI, language groups, exercise classes etc could be good.

Forgot to say, one of the ladies can't get out as she is a lone parent with no childcare, so she hosts Book Club at hers once her DC are asleep. Could that be an option for you if you can't get out?

All great ideas but I work 4 evenings a week, husband tends to work late or be away the others, and the toddler is such a light sleeper you can never get away with people over in our tiny house. I know I'm making excuses for everything, there just really doesn't seem to be a way out. I guess I'll just have to suck it up and ride out the early years until things get a bit easier again, that makes me sound so ungrateful. I love my children, just the relentlessness of it all can be so exhausting and isolating when they are small

Tricky when you don't have many evenings free. Things I have done...

• a monthly jewellery gathering with a friend (but could easily go on my own)
• Ceroc (it's a modern jive style of dancing). It's very social and you can go on your own as you swap partners. I really enjoyed it and there's usually a group or two in most towns/cities. There's also workshops you can do (and holidays!!) so I got to know more people and got out a bit more. Our Ceroc group used to go to the pub after too.
• leisure centre with a creche. Our council ones include 1hr of creche time with the membership. Not social unless you do a class but did involve getting out of the house and doing something for me.
• went to a coffee morning at school, got to know a few other mums and one is now a really good friend. Because we live local, we often have coffee and a natter after the school run. Maybe school do something, or you could start something? Basically I did everything on offer at school when we moved here in a desperate attempt to make some friends

parkun on a Saturday morning. You can run or volunteer and the kids can come as well.
You will meet loads of people and leave with a smile on your face.

There aren't really any regular evenings that either don't involve at least or short shift at work, or that DH isn't working away leaving me as sole parent here though, and work on a Saturday stops parkrun as if I could run without passing out anyway . No creches at gyms unless you pay £80 a month for the swanky ones, and we do lots of school/toddler activities normally, but they don't really achieve much more than a new place to chase the tornado toddler. Ah thanks for your advice peeps, sorry for being an askhole, just venting at the drudgery which I'm sure many people also experience, seems heightened by current cabin fever