To ask How did you cope with an empty nest as a single parent?

[sessell]

Today I just feel so empty and lonely. My brood have finally all left, all far away. DH died 4 years ago. We were so looking forward to this time! This isn't the life I'd planned! Anyway, here I am. Long days. Still in my 50s. Work at home, alone. Got a dog and that does help. But... We all know the theory. What I should do. But I'd really just like to know what others in a similar position have done to get through this strange time in life. How did you survive and start to thrive again?

i know it sounds cliched but went to college to do a btec, and did volunteering at a cat charity centre (i have cats) have made plenty of friends from both of them , my mom in her fifties and on her own joined the townswomens guild , if you like books look for a book club that meets each week or a walking group, a friend of mine who is in her 70s does parkrun but to make contacts you have to reach out they wont come to you but yes been an empty nester can be very lonely

So sorry for your loss.

Fill your life. Do lots and lots of things you enjoy. See friends. Start a new hobby. Decorate the house. Some of the things younwere looking forward to - do them anyway. Meet new people. Create a life you enjoy.

Good luck OP x

Thanks issey and brake, that's just the kind of inspiration I was hoping for. You're right brake I need to be proactive! All the best times of life have come after being proactive ☺️.

• issey re being proactive, I should say. But your advice great too brake.

I'm in this situation through divorce not with the bereavement. I'm so sorry for your loss and the loss of the life you envisaged.

My second DC going off to uni coincided with covid lockdowns so the plans I had to start some new hobbies and clubs didn't work out. And I lost my job. So I concentrated on taking regular walks with friends, zoom chats and regularly walking on my own. I would just drive off somewhere and explore. Now as things ease up I go to the cinema, have meals out and invite friends round for dinner as well.

I am now also planning to join a choir and find a Pilates class and hopefully to increase my pool of friends. I also plan to travel. It takes more effort than when you have a partner and sometimes I get weary of it but mostly the desire to be sociable keeps me motoring. Good luck OP.

A friend of mine did volunteering in a National Trust place, book club and yoga class. She's quite busy now with a good social life.

I'm asking myself the same question!

I think you have to to think of your life as you would a job, the more you put in the more you'll get out of it, so work at it, make plans, join groups even if they don't interest you at first, something may lead off from that. My friend has found herself in a similar position but she makes sure she does one activity a day, painting, sewing, walking