Lonely as a single parent

7 replies

AHungryCaterpillar · 13/03/2022 23:06

Does anyone else feel lonely as a single parent? I don’t know if it’s just me but whenever I go to places I seem to be the only one there on my own, always see families or groups of friends but don’t really see any other parents on their own. For example took my kids to soft play yesterday and I was the only one in there on my own (it was hard not to notice) Even the woman when I paid said “just the one adult?” I don’t know where all the other single parents go...

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1Micem0use · 14/03/2022 16:39

I go everywhere just me and my DC. Cafes, soft play, the beach, the park... people probably assume dad is at work or doing his hobby. I doubt they automatically assume I'm a single parent and if they do, so what?

ukborn · 14/03/2022 17:05

As a widow from my kids ages of 4 and 6 I was usually on my own. I don't get lonely but sure occasionally I'd miss having someone to do stuff with, but that didn't include stuff like soft play! I'm very comfortable doing things on my own. I did miss having a partner at couple dominated social occasions, parents evenings and the like - I was the ONLY person without a partner at my kids first school in either of their years. It's up to you to build up a social network. You will have to start initiating things.

iamsoreadyforbednow · 14/03/2022 17:09

Not sure what brought me here (I’m not single) but I’m glad I did, I feel very lonely too OP. DP works full time so I often take DD places alone and it seems like everyone else has either loads of time off, tons of mum friends or something because they all have someone.

I’m quite socially awkward so I struggle to make mum friends and that makes me feel guilty for DD as I’m scared she’s lonely too.

I didn’t want to read and run, but also don’t want to intrude on the lone parent board. Just wanted to let you know you’re not alone with the lonely feeling!

Original poster

AHungryCaterpillar · 14/03/2022 17:13

iamsoreadyforbednow no that’s totally fine it’s nice that someone understand I speak to other single parents but they say they don’t feel lonely at all and I can only assume they have a good set of friends or are close to their family, it’s not just about not having a partner it’s that I’m always on my own if I’m out I either see couples or if it’s women alone they are with friends or family, I seem to be the only one sat their on my own wherever I go. I’ve tried to make friends but it hasn’t happened. I never felt this way when I didn’t have kids despite being single then as well.

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Original poster

AHungryCaterpillar · 14/03/2022 17:23

@ukborn

Yes I guess I just look at all the friends and feel sad I don’t have mum friends to meet up with, even whole families seem To go to soft play/the park where I live (grandparents the lot) so just highlights to me that I am not close to my family, Sometimes wish I had that big happy family. I tried to make mum friends at the school but it just didn’t happen and I’ve accepted that now.

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Mumteedum · 14/03/2022 17:28

Hello @AHungryCaterpillar. I'm a lone parent to an only child. Have been for nearly 8 years. I have felt the loneliness of doing stuff with my DC when all around me are families or else groups of friends with kids with both partners and a big gang of kids together.

I felt it even more keenly during the pandemic when some parents would usher their kids away from mine because they didn't want theirs mixing. Or even recently when my DC was having fun in the playground with some other kids so I was watching out but the other parents were talking among themselves but of course not to me, as I wasn't with them.

I don't feel it all the time but fairly often.

wholeworldiscrashingin · 14/03/2022 22:06

Sorry to hear you feel like this. There is an app called peanut which you could have a look at. Are you in the Uk?

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