How do people cope with the loneliness

[Serendipity30]

Of being a single parent? Assuming that you do. I am a lone/alone parent and most of the time I dont think about it as I am busy with DD,work and life in general. But sometimes like tonight I am so lonely not necessarily for a relationship but just lonely.

It's hard. I suppose I'm used to it these days. It's also why I'm always on here, FB, twitter .

Im finding it even harder at the moment not really sure why, at least your talking to people even if its on the net

I go through phases too. I'll have a stretch of weeks where I'm happy with my boxsets and xbox when dd is bed and where MN fulfils my social needs that I can't get elsewhere atm. But then I'll have a week or so where I'm desperately lonely and just feel so down. I've noticed that it's best to keep busy but make time to relax (with a plan in mind) as those down weeks usually coincide with running out of stuff to watch or maybe dd isn't sleeping well so I don't get any of my planned down time so don't get to socialise on here or relax. It does get lonely though for sure.

I find that it comes in waves.

DS is now 6 and I had a bit of a melt last year when I really needed time away from him as he was going through a bad patch with behaviour and I'd not been out for a looong time.

I used to find that evenings were the worst. I'd put him in bed and then feel trapped being in the house. With him being at school, I go out of the house every day and now have a job during school hours which is great.

I used to also get that single parent fever like cabin fever when I would get invited out to do things/go places and then not be able to because of childcare. At the moment, this isn't too bad as I've not spoken to those friends since around January when we had a bit of a tiff about a holiday abroad.

I find having other single parent friends does help a lot - and having some things organised to keep you sane that you can look forward to for the evenings and making sure that you have sometime during the course of the week where you are away from your daughter.

With regard to his tantrums etc, DD will get better with time, but SureStart are always a good place to get advice and help with anything - my local centre has been a godsend to me. Or ask your HV.

It will all get better with time, hang on in there. xx

I find it difficult as I do have friends with children but they are all couples, and my single friends have no children. Its not even that I want to be in a relationship, i just get bursts of loneliness, as others have said in the evening is the worst.Thanks for the support x