So, despite what I'm always telling people, I really would like to meet someone now, but it seems impossible

[TheOriginalNutcracker]

I split with xp 7 years ago and for the first 5 years afterwards I was completely and utterly single, no dates, sex, fwb, nothing.

Then I got a fwb, and I still have him now, but it is very very on and off, and way more off than i'd like. I love him to bits, but it will never be more than it is, and I need to start cutting ties with him.

Other than that, I had one very short relationship last year with a friend of my fwb. It was crap, he was an idiot and a bit of a psycho.

I really would like to start dating, but i don't know where to start. ID doesn;t seem to work for me, as all I get is messages from old men (and i mean old), or men asking if i like to dress up like a secreary, cos apparently i look like one

My social life is very very quiet, as I have my 3 dc all of the time, and also don't have many friends. I also work in a female environment, so no chances there either.

How do i get back out there then ?

what dating websites have you used? i used plenty of fish and only had one weird message reported and blocked lol

Mainly plenty of fish and smooch.

I don't get weird messages as such but messages from blokes in their 50's, 60's and even 70's. I have said in my blurb that I'm not looking for anyone over 40, but that seems to get ignored.

I have sent messages to people i like but haven't had any replies.

For the most part the dating sites I have found a waste of time and in my experience so have most other women but I could be totally wrong on that.

The best way to get out is to mingle so should you get the childcare and finances and opportunites try looking on meetup.com which has many social groups where you meet men and women who are single and looking to mix and live their life and spend time on their hobbies and interests and is NOT a knocking shop. It isn't full of a bunch of saddos or no-hopers either just normal interesting people quite an eye opener really!

At least that way you make new friends of both sexes and have a more interesting life indeed a SOCIAL life which many of us single parents find a stumbling block.

HTH.