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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

How can I make new friends in my late 30s?

7 replies

lonelyandwantnewfriends · 25/06/2025 10:43

Name change for this one as it's a bit embarrassing.

I want a new friendship circle and I have no idea how to make new friends. I only had a very small handful of friends that I mainly just went out drinking with pre-children. They are all pretty much still doing that and we have nothing in common any more.

The 12 years ago I had my eldest, I made, through baby groups and prental classes, a lovely bunch of friends who I love dearly. In the early child-rearing years, we were all out doing things together and I had a full and active life doing all sorts of things wit the kid, always someone to go out with and talk to.

Now the kids are older, everyone seems to have slowed down but become more busy at the same time. Noone needs to meet up so the kids can play anymore, they all have their own school friends. I struggle to get people together just for a coffee. My friend whatsapp group has a message every couple of weeks and we try and get a date together but everyone's always too busy or cancels last minute. The only adults I see are DH and his friends.

I work from home, alone. Noone talks on the school run. Everyone at the church I sometimes attend are all really old.

So I need to make new friends that I can actually see, and it seems harder to do this without having young kids to use 😂How can I make new ones, because I don't know how.

Thank you

OP posts:
Shoxfordian · 25/06/2025 11:05

Have a look on Meet Up for groups in your area, join a book club or another social club to meet new people

Leeds2 · 25/06/2025 11:34

Volunteer for a charity that you care about.

Have a look at your local Womens Institute. There are lots of younger members, but I think each group does vary .ge £5 for this.)

Do you work? If so, try and arrange a lunch/night out with our favourite colleagues.

lonelyandwantnewfriends · 25/06/2025 12:59

Leeds2 · 25/06/2025 11:34

Volunteer for a charity that you care about.

Have a look at your local Womens Institute. There are lots of younger members, but I think each group does vary .ge £5 for this.)

Do you work? If so, try and arrange a lunch/night out with our favourite colleagues.

I work from home, alone :( I only really leave the house with DH or for school runs.

OP posts:
isthesolution · 25/06/2025 13:02

Join a sports team. You’ll meet friend. Get fit. Have fun.

Spanglemum02 · 25/06/2025 13:12

Parkrun? beginners running club?

Destiny123 · 25/06/2025 13:35

Bumble for friends

witheringrowan · 25/06/2025 15:08

Just find some activity that you'll go to regularly. And don't expect new friendships to form overnight. I've done these things in the last couple of years that have led to finding new people to hang out with:

  • Weekend circuits class in the local park
  • Wine tasting course
  • WI meetings
  • Group sailing holiday
Crucially, they were all things I wanted to do any way, not things I was doing just with the aim of making friends.
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