Feeling isolated with toddler

[minigrimms]

Just before lockdown happened, I had just returned after my maternity leave, had left an abusive relationship and relocated back with my family 200 miles from my old life. I was feeling incredibly positive and had booked my son in to lots of toddler groups and classes in the hope that I would meet friends with children a similar age. The groups were of course all suspended and I'm feeling a bit down. I have very few friends in the area, none with children.

AIBU to think that it's not going to be possible for me to make new friends until we are back to normal?

I tried the apps that are for mums meeting other mums but I didn't get on with them. Struggled to find anyone likeminded and it made me uncomfortable. I much prefer to meet people organically and was so excited to interact with other people after being so isolated and locked away for so long.

My son hasn't interacted with another child for months

Is anyone else feeling similar?

How is this unreasonable?

@GinDaddyRedux I'm just looking for help and advice.

Have you taken him to the park? Out for a walk? Went to a field with a ball?

@FelicityPike all of those things, but it's more the lack of human contact and friends I'm struggling with having just relocated.

Oh Gindaddy, who made you the thread police?

Sorry to hear you're going through this Op
Mine are older but I have been very hermit like throughout and don't really want to do much.

It will take a while. But I think things are starting to reopen. I relocated and had to really put myself out there to make friends! Not easy. But I'm there now! Almost! Go to everything! I also spent time with people not necessarily on my wavelength just to be with other people and so my dd could socialize a bit.

It sounds hard. Artificially meeting people has never worked for me either but groups always did. The lack of groups is going to take a huge toll on mums of small children I think.

Is there a local FB group? Could you explain that you've recently moved and ask if anyone with similar age children fancy a socially distanced walk/ play in the park? I know in my local area people would oblige.

I also know that Rugby tots has restarted in my area, you could ask on a local group whether something similar is starting again.

If you can find a suitable local Facebook group, you could introduce yourself on there, and explain you're having difficulty meeting people; there might be someone reading who would say "we're going to the park on Tuesday, come with us", or "a bunch of us meet on Zoom, shall I send you an invite". You might be better with the local baby-items-for-sale group than a more mixed age group, to reach other parents. Someone new to our village has succeeded in reaching quite a lot of people starting that way. Our local community coffee shop has a regular zoom drop-in, too. Is it worth asking the organisers of the toddler groups if they know of anything?