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Original poster

Single mum

305 replies

PITH1 · 19/03/2023 21:41

I'm 30, a single mum of 2 DC (7 and 3), broke and moving 8 hours away to Scotland next week where we don't know a soul. I'm currently living in temporary accommodation and have no chance of being housed where I currently live. I added myself to open housing lists all over the UK and have been offered a gorgeous little maisonette flat in Scotland on the edge of a small town about 30min from Glasgow. Lots of green space and a small school. Have visited and really liked it. My children's father doesn't want anything to do with them and hasn't since my youngest was born so that isn't an issue. I don't have family support and I haven't been happy for a long time here and have been wanting a fresh start but I'm nervous and it's taken a lot of guts for me to do this. Does anyone have any stories/tips about moving far away on your own? Especially with young DC. Or can anyone tell me their experience of living in Scotland? Making friends there? Thanks for reading x

OP posts:
Thread gallery
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Yolo12345 · 07/05/2023 23:44

Absolutely love those floor tiles in the bathroom! Might actually inspire me to crack on and renovate my kitchen floor...would love something similar!

Original poster
PITH1 · 08/05/2023 13:06

Thank you 😊 it's just vinyl on a roll, looks great though 😊 xx

OP posts:
Mumtobabyhavoc · 10/05/2023 01:13

So happy to read your updates! 💖💖💖

JustMy2Pennith · 10/05/2023 14:05

I just want to say if the flat is gorgeous and theres good green space and schools locally then it sounds like a fabulous opportunity, Glasgow is a great city of culture so you might have a fabulous new experience ahead, good luck.

Blingstar · 10/05/2023 14:48

@PITH1 so happy to hear you're doing so well. Your post about the neighbour and the sweet money brought a lump to my throat. Glad you are keeping posting. Best of luck xxx

BraveGoldie · 10/05/2023 22:48

OP, it's so brilliant to hear your updates.

You say: I never saw myself as brave, felt really scared actually but just pushed thru the fear.

I say, this is 100% what bravery is all about - feeling the fear and doing it anyway!

You are awesome and I am so happy that my home country is proving itself as welcoming and community-hearted as I hoped it would! SmileSmile

Original poster
PITH1 · 11/05/2023 21:47

Thanks everyone ☺️ just wanted to thank the person on this thread who told me to apply for the Scottish child payment as I got accepted for it and received the back dated payment today which will help hugely with buying furniture and things we need for our new home xx

OP posts:
Badbudgeter · 11/05/2023 22:02

Haha I think that might of been me. It's such a positive benefit. Financially it's making such a difference having the extra monthly money. I worked out that if you're earning enough to pay tax and NI and on UC so subject to the taper rate that the extra £1300 per year per child is the equivalent to earning an additional £4,100 a year.

bizzywiththefizzy · 11/05/2023 22:15

Oh that is really helpful that advice here helped you with finances 👍🏻

NisekoWhistler · 11/05/2023 23:06

This is such a beautiful thread, so pleased for you PITH1 you're doing so well and I'm so glad that you're never going to look back.
Looking forwards to hearing all your updates in the future

Original poster
PITH1 · 13/05/2023 22:28

Thanks everyone ☺️ I've had my kitchen/hall/rest of stairs flooring put down today thanks to the Scottish child payment and I'm soo happy 😊 have attached some pics. I still have to pinch myself that we finally have a home to call our own! The area is starting to feel really familiar now which is nice. We were walking home from the park today and I just felt like I recognised everything and I was going back to my house. Can't really explain the feeling I mean. Just a nice warm feeling. I have people that smile and me and say hi now on the school run which is nice, same in the shop, I chat to parents at the park. I have realised that I'm actually quite a confident person. I was so down on myself before this move. My kids are so so happy. My little girl is loving school so much. I let her go to the shop on her own today (the shop is the building right next door to our flat and I watched her out the window) as she's been begging me as she sees the other kids going. It's so nice as the lady in the shop knows her by her name now and apparently asked her if she's come in for her wee chocolate bar 😁 I'm surprised at my lack of homesickness. I have no desire to go back for a visit although to be honest that's probably partly because the coach journey was soo long! X

Single mum
Single mum
OP posts:
SocialLite · 13/05/2023 23:08

PITH1 · 13/05/2023 22:28

Thanks everyone ☺️ I've had my kitchen/hall/rest of stairs flooring put down today thanks to the Scottish child payment and I'm soo happy 😊 have attached some pics. I still have to pinch myself that we finally have a home to call our own! The area is starting to feel really familiar now which is nice. We were walking home from the park today and I just felt like I recognised everything and I was going back to my house. Can't really explain the feeling I mean. Just a nice warm feeling. I have people that smile and me and say hi now on the school run which is nice, same in the shop, I chat to parents at the park. I have realised that I'm actually quite a confident person. I was so down on myself before this move. My kids are so so happy. My little girl is loving school so much. I let her go to the shop on her own today (the shop is the building right next door to our flat and I watched her out the window) as she's been begging me as she sees the other kids going. It's so nice as the lady in the shop knows her by her name now and apparently asked her if she's come in for her wee chocolate bar 😁 I'm surprised at my lack of homesickness. I have no desire to go back for a visit although to be honest that's probably partly because the coach journey was soo long! X

You have such a beautiful home, and such a beautiful outlook!

Yolo12345 · 13/05/2023 23:10

Love your update and loving your floors - it looks beautiful honestly! 🤩

Sounds like a nice community you have landed in - a friendly local shopkeeper is all you need for your kids to make very fond memories. I still remember the thrill of going into the local post office as a kid to buy sweeties on my own.

And good on you for finding yourself and your confidence again. I'm sure your neighbours and other parents will be so pleased a nice mum has moved and settled in. Not to stereotype but Glaswegians and folk from surrounding areas love to chat (they don't bloody shut up sometimes) 😁 so if you like to chat too, then you'll be well in there.

Do you really have to go down? Maybe folk can come and visit you instead?

You have probably clocked the differing school summer holiday dates...this can be quite good when visiting England when the English schools are still in so it's a lot less busy. A bit cheaper too sometimes.

bizzywiththefizzy · 13/05/2023 23:17

💪Mother .

OliveWah · 14/05/2023 10:58

It's all looking fabulous! I Love reading your updates OP, it's so good to hear how wonderfully everything has worked out for you - and how hard you've worked to achieve it - I'm genuinely really impressed!

Original poster
PITH1 · 15/05/2023 21:26

Thanks everyone ☺️ it is definitely true that Glaswegians love to chat 🤣 I don't think I've ever had a silent journey on public transport since being here haha, but I am also chatty 😊 my son was off nursery today so we took the train to Glasgow Queen St. We watched the buskers and then fed the 1million pigeons in George Sq! And looked around St Enoch's and went up and down the escalators (my son loves escalators 😂) and got a cake in Gregg's! I really love the city centre. I think the whole day cost me about 7 quid! Tomorrow is my daughter's sports day which will be her first event in the new school so I'm looking forward to this. X

Single mum
OP posts:
sonicmum2002 · 15/05/2023 21:38

Aaahhh, I love George Square in Glasgow so I was chuffed to see this!

Yolo12345 · 16/05/2023 08:47

Fingers crossed that your daughter's sports day goes well....really hoping you get good weather for it! 🤗

Instead of egg and spoon it might be tattie and spoon.., if they still do that. Please report back! 🤩

Original poster
PITH1 · 19/05/2023 13:43

Hi everyone ☺️ sports day was fab! They did running races, sack races and this race where they had to run holding a balloon between their legs but somebody let the bag of balloons go by accident and they all flew off in the wind 🤣 luckily it didn't rain! The school is so so great! Lots of school trips my daughter is going to a safari park over in Stirling and also the Glasgow science centre. They do lots of things like taking the kids to sing at old folks homes. There is a big focus on the emotional wellbeing of the kids which is great. My original plan was to go back to England for a week in the summer but I just can't be arsed. Plus it's expensive and I would prefer to spend money on things we need for the house. I just wanted to share the view from my bedroom window. I feel so lucky to look out at this countryside everyday 😍 xx

Single mum
OP posts:
sonicmum2002 · 19/05/2023 14:49

I hope you can find the time to keep posting photos!! They are great😁

FiloPasty · 19/05/2023 14:59

What a lovely thread, wishing you the absolute best!

Original poster
PITH1 · 19/05/2023 19:10

Thank you 😊 I will definitely keep updating! Sun has been shining here today and I've actually met a mum in the park who I got on really well with and have exchanged numbers and going for a walk with next week 😊 my daughter has also had her first friend over for tea tonight which was lovely and I'm currently feeling very big headed as my daughter's friend told me she loves my style and she wants to dress like me when she's older 🤣 she can definitely come again 🤣 feeling really good and settled xx now for the weekend 😊

OP posts:
KatherineSiena · 20/05/2023 15:24

I’m a lurker and post very rarely but what a heartwarming thread. I hope you’ll be very happy in your new home (what a great view from your window). It sounds as if you’re doing a great job settling in and it’s lovely you’re meeting new people. You should be so very proud of yourself and your DC are lucky to have such a brave mum. 💐

bizzywiththefizzy · 20/05/2023 23:11

That will be a wonderful view when covered in snow !

StoneColdAlibi · 14/06/2023 14:40

@PITH1 How are you getting on? I've only just come across your thread and it's been a month since you last updated. Hope the sunshine is adding to your happiness.