to ask you to tell me why it's good being single :(

[Sullabylullaby]

Lonely and hurt, and swirling thoughts/memories/anger/love/resentment/loss/sadness/trying to think positively ain't doing much for me.

Also, if you look at the thread “childcare equals work?” in AIBU you’ll see another reason to be happy single.

Definitely! As I said on the thread - bloody depressing!

I'm in a serious cohabiting relationship again after being single for three years. I was married for 8 years before that.

I love being single. For all the reasons everyone else has said.

If this relationship ended I'd be heartbroken BUT I know I'd be okay and I'd get over it eventually as I'm content on my own. I am very lucky in terms of money/property/career and childcare though so it is probably easier for me that most, but it is nice being independent

Yes to nearly all the reasons given above!

Basically:
Own choices in the house
Own choices out of the house

I'm honestly struggling to think of any pros to being in a relationship!

The pros are sex and the knowing that someone's got your back. But those aren't exclusive to relationships so I know what you mean

Yes, newly single and it does take time. Sometimes you do feel a bit lonely but it passes. Pros for me:

No more arguments in my head with myself about my relationship - Its done now and the relief is enormous

No compromising - it's amazing how much you do without realising it

Eat anything at any time. Gone is cooking the dinner every night after a hard day's work, I can have a boiled egg at six if I want to - luxury

Peaceful nights YY to no snoring (except me)

No moody grumpy old git to placate to have a nice evening

Friends round anytime - don't need his permission or moaning and asking when they're going

NO MIL!! NO MIL!! NO MIL!! - could say this 1,000 times

I can choose my own furniture and lamps and rugs etc without a debate and agreement to 're-visit' the topic in six months time, where the process got repeated and repeated ...

I can go to bed at eight if I want to and read on and off all night if I can't sleep - bliss

Tidy up after myself - seems to take less time because I was the tidier one

All this far outweighs the occasional loneliness - I was lonely really anyway when I was with him - this is my choice and it's more peaceful.

FLxx

Can sit on the sofa in my pants and eat a can of sweetcorn

I thought I was the only one!!!

Seriously though, I'd like the financial security of a second income again (ex has skipped the country and pays no maintenance for his DS), but when I think about all the other things about having a relationship - well, I'm much happier with it being me and DS. I have hobbies now, friends, DS is pretty cool and now he's getting older (tween) I can leave him more with others and in the not too distant future on his own. I don't want someone in my bed, on my sofa, clogging my drains with their pubes, leaving stinking socks down the side of the armchair, talking through Eastenders.

Our only wish, mine and DS, is that he had a sibling. He's been in at me since he could talk about having a brother or sister. I've got several years left and fertility runs late in my family anyway (going by the amount of accidental post 40 pregnancies we have had - both my parents and my youngest sibling were post 40 babies). I'd be happy to go it alone and have the baby without the man, but it would temporarily end my hobbies. So I'm taking the next year or two to really find what makes me happy in life and if I still want another baby after that I'll do it before I hit 40. But the thought of dating and going through all that effort just to do things the 'proper way' (if you listen to my DM) makes my blood run cold.

I remember saying at 16 that I'd rather do it all alone. Maybe I should listen to her?

Just to add to what I've already written. I'm still really good friends with someone that I was with for 9 years. He's a lovely man, and he came for a visit at Christmas (totally platonic)

After 2 days I was desperate to have my own space back. I absolutely hated sharing my space, my time and more importantly, my sweetcorn.

You'll learn to value your own space OP and will learn to love it. It just takes a little while to adjust.