Help with main character development

[BasicBrumble]

I'm outlining a novel that's contemporary women's fiction. I'm having a wobble about one aspect of the character and wanted some thoughts, without putting the whole pitch on here.

She's an early 30s woman. The main thrust of the plot is about an unlikely platonic friendship she develops. She's married and has some family around but no real friends as such when the book begins.

Initially, I was going to have her with a toddler. She's loved (by toddler and DH) but lonely. Maybe she'd already struggled with making friends at baby groups in the past.

But then I thought, is it more freeing to not have a child yet? She's got an ailing mum to look after so still plenty of sub-plot.

If you're reading women's fiction, which will resonate with a larger audience - someone dealing with being a mum as well as friendship? Or someone who isn't in that mum niche?

Yes, yes, I know there will be hundreds of books in both categories! And I haven't given away many specifics about the book, which makes it harder too.

I need to make a decision so I'm just thinking out loud really.

On a side note, anyone know any decent writing forums they can recommend? The ones I used to frequent are basically dead these days?

A mother/todler relationship gives less scope for setting the story outside the home. Particularly if the mother has few friends to socialise with. How would they meet the new platonic friend?

I'd say that a woman/elderly mother relationship gives you much more scope to explore relationships and resentments (but maybe that's just my family).

That's what I'm beginning to think. I started off with the toddler, right at the beginning of story development, but actually it's going to restrict so much of what she does, because I'm going to always need to the kid to be in safe hands while she's busy... (a bit like kids causing problems on TV shows)

Thank you!