how long have you been a single parent?

[AMAZINWOMAN]

ive been a single parent now for oevr 7 years
i chose to be alone

i cant imagine myself being settled again and sharing the parenting responsibility-its been so long

but i dont want to be alone for the rest of my life! im worried that i will be though as we are very close and for someone to come in our lives it would affect the dynamics

Algonebellyup sex at forty is possible and can even be enjoyable

Zookeeper

(aged 41 and a half)

hmmm

i have better sex now than when i was younger (when i do have it that is)

why is it so wrong to have a sex life at our age?

What a ridiculous statement re: over 40s having sex. I'll be 40 this year and my figure is lovely now, got curves in the right places plus the maturity to be able to get what I want in bed.

No I won't I'm 40 next year.

Ok so I'm senile but still up for it

lets take a stand uly

Yes let's get the oldies to all shag in Trafalgar square if we ever get a warm evening again?

hahaha!

I'm with Lou and Ulysees!

Allgonebellyup - I can remember when I was in my late 20s. I was coming out of a long relationship and thought it might all be over for me. (I wasn't too far wrong, but...)I think, as a mahooossive generalisation, it does get harder to meet people as you get older. You get more set in your ways and, if you've got responsibilities (and no babysitter), there are fewer opportunities. I also think that family and friends overstress this a bit ('no-one will look at you once you're over 35...') just because they want to see you settled.

But as for sex, well it's a different matter. From what I've heard, you can have great sex at any age. Yes, you're body gets older but it's all about who you are with and how you feel about yourself. It sounds as if it's only just begun for Ulysees!

I've been a single parent for 7 years now and have had one 3 year relationship in that time but we didn't live together. I've now been single for almost 2 years and it's mostly ok. But I recently met someone online and we're meeting for the first time tomorrow and I can't wait!

I'm also new to this site so forgive me jumping in but it's the one part of parenting I know about all too well: being a single parent.

i got told i wouldnt be able to find anyone with my age and the amount of kids i have, the other day

also wrt sex as you get older, i fouind my sex life picked up enormously once i was sterilised 5 yrs ago, i found it quite liberating

then when i split with exh, i seemed to do ok

I also agree that sex get better as you get older. It's a maturity thing and knowing your own body better and having that confidence to, well, make it known what you like!

I'm 38 and don't think I'm too old to meet someone meaningful.

Hi Elizaveta. I think I'm turning into Mumsnet's worst hijacker of threads so don't worry about jumping in. I hope your date goes well tomorrow. Have you picked your outfit yet?

We're having lunch tomorrow so we'll both be in work clothes which is fine by me. But I am hoping for some decent weather as have 2 suits ready to go. One for good weather and one for the weather we've been having!I've seen photos of her (I'm gay, btw) and she is gorgeous. I know there is the gay parenting thread but, in my opinion, gay parenting isn't any different to normal parenting so I jumped in here.

i have a date in an hour

Wow. I'm sorry Elizaveta, that took me by surprise a bit. I hope you don't mind, no offence intended. You're very welcome here. Can I ask - did you know you were gay when you had your child? Does your child see their father? It's great that you feel so positive about the date tomorrow. I hope it turns out to be the beginning of something big.

Sorry - hope I'm not coming across as crass.

I have probably known I was gay longer than I felt comfortable admitting it. My dd's dad is on the scene and very involved in dd's life. We live about a mile from each other and try to make things as easy as possible for dd. We split when she was 1 and then I "came out" about a year later.

Lou33, are you excited about your date tonight? Is this someone you've known for a while or someone you have recently met?

It sounds like you have a good situation with your dd's Dad. I wish I had the same.

Elizaveta is there a gay dating website around out of interest for a friend?

It was more difficult at first and then strained again when I came out but he's been really supportive. I get along with his new wife (well, she's not so new anymore) and it's not like we're having coffee mornings together but we do what we need to for dd's benefit.

Pinksofa is good but it's for women only. Not sure if you're asking for a gay male friend or female friend. A gay male friend has met someone through the Guardian newspaper dating site (can't think of the name of it off the top of my head, sorry).

recently met, and not really, have a had a few dates recently and they have been generally a let down, so i dont get overly excited now

I know that feeling. I don't rush out buyin a new outfit for every first date anymore, that's for sure. Though sometimes it's a great excuse to shop!

god no ive only just started getting ready and am meeting at 8.30