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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
11
NisekoWhistler · 13/08/2023 22:14

Your updates are so heart warming I love following this.
Roll on Wednesday

Applebyapples · 14/08/2023 16:17

Thanks for continuing to update us, I've really enjoyed following this thread. Well done on making such a success of this new start for you and your kids 😊

ThinWomansBrain · 14/08/2023 21:21

Been I while since I read the start of the thread!
I'm so glad that it seems to be going so well, and your children have settled in.
Thanks for all the updates, Amazed that you're always so positive.

Yolo12345 · 24/08/2023 19:13

I'm hoping that you weren't too overwhelmed by Edinburgh during the festival...it can be very busy. 🙈

How did your kids get on in the first few days back at school.

Talking about travel with kids - I assume that you know about the free travel on buses for 5-21 year olds across Scotland? You have to apply for it and the application can be tricky but your local library can help you.

Your neighbours sound so lovely 💐

Peacelily001 · 04/09/2023 14:56

Just found your thread OP, your flat is beautiful and the area looks fantastic!
I salute you as one single mum to another, you have made a great move x

DiaryofWimpy · 04/09/2023 20:12

Welcome to Scotland OP Flowers

BoredAuditor · 07/11/2023 23:01

What a heartwarming thread - you should be so proud of yourself.

RubyJack · 21/02/2024 19:05

How are you getting on?

Sunshinenotrain · 21/02/2024 20:38

I was just thinking about you @PITH1 last night too but couldn’t remember the name of your thread until it came up on my ‘watching’ threads today!

I hope you and your children are feeling settled and content up here. I have loved reading all your updates x

bizzywiththefizzy · 22/02/2024 04:58

Yes I hope everything is going smoothly for you and the kids .

PITH123 · 02/03/2024 09:27

Hi everyone, it is the original poster here 😊 I can't believe we have been in Scotland for a year! Time has gone so fast. Moving here remains the best decision I have ever made for myself and the children. To think I turned up to Buchanan St with a couple of kid's, a couple of suitcases and a hamster after sleeping on the footwell of a coach for most of the night 😂 our home is finally complete now and it is lovely and cosy. The kid's are settled in school and my son is getting so much support, he is starting to speak in small sentences now 🥰 we all have heaps of friends now and I know most people around the area I live in .. They are all very friendly .. I love thinking back on our past year and all the new things I've experienced and new people I've met. It has made me realise I can achieve anything to be honest. I love Scotland and have still yet to return to England. It definitely feels like my home now xx @RubyJack @Sunshinenotrain @bizzywiththefizzy

Fallenangelofthenorth · 02/03/2024 09:29

What a lovely update. So pleased things have worked out so well for you all!

PITH123 · 02/03/2024 09:31

Thank you 😊 forgot to mention, the hamster is still going strong too 🤣❤️

RubyJack · 02/03/2024 09:44

It's so good to hear how well things are going for you and the children:)

Sunshinenotrain · 02/03/2024 10:11

Ah I’m so pleased to hear from you again @PITH123! I am glad things are going great for you and the kids!

MumMumMumMumMumMumMum · 02/03/2024 10:19

Wonderful update 😃

sotired1234 · 02/03/2024 19:25

This is such a lovely thread, I loved reading your story of finding a safe and happy place for you and your children.

Can I ask you about this bit of your original post; I added myself to open housing lists all over the UK.
I would love to do as you have done and move to a new area and start over but I didn't know it was possible to do what you did. I thought you had to have local connections to move to a new area? How do you find which areas have open lists?

giggly · 04/04/2024 23:40

Glad to hear it’s all going well for your and your kids and long May that continue

TiptoeThroughTheToadstools · 30/04/2024 20:03

@PPITH1 I'm a single mum of 3, I'm from Scotland, living about 20 mins from Glasgow. You're doing a massively brave thing for you and your kids. You'll make friends, so don't worry about that Flowers

Mumtobabyhavoc · 21/06/2025 01:32

Mumtobabyhavoc · 24/03/2023 22:49

I think you are brave and I wish you all the luck in the world for this fresh start. You sound like a great mum doing what's best for your children. Keep us posted! 💖💖💖

@PITH1 Came across your post in Classics and thought I remembered it! Hope you and your dc are still doing great! 😊

Icelollies2025 · 30/06/2025 10:35

PITH1 · 18/06/2023 00:02

Thank you 😊 my original plan was to go back to England for a little bit of the summer holidays but I honestly just can't be bothered. The kids don't want to either so we won't. Having too much fun exploring their new surroundings and saves me some cash to go towards the house ❤️

How are you going, OP??

Yolo12345 · 30/06/2025 20:32

I also wonder how @PITH1and her wee family is getting on…? Sending hugs.

WhatTimeDoYouCallThis · 05/07/2025 11:11

Good luck, you sound like a terrific mum who will definitely make this move work for your little family x

PITH3 · 16/08/2025 23:50

Hi all! It is the OP here 🥰 I logged myself out of my original account ages ago and can't for the life of me get back in. Anyway! It's so nice to see that this thread is still going and that you're thinking of me and my babies all this time later 🥰 I'm happy to say that we are still in Scotland and living a fab life. Really. It was the best (and scariest) decision I ever made. The kids are both thriving, my eldest has heaps of friends and I barely saw her thru summer as she spent the majority of the time playing out, at the park, swimming, at people's houses! She's doing amazingly well at school too. They went back on Friday. My little boy has come so far. He is speaking! Not conversationally yet but the difference is crazy. It's so funny because he speaks in a Scottish accent 😁 I still find it strange that my child sounds so different to me! The flat is basically done now give or take a few bits I still need to get .. As for me, I've made friends for life. Met so many mum's thru the school but also in the park and just on the estate where I live. I'm actually surprised by how easily I settled in and loving it. I've been back to England once and couldn't wait to get home. I'm also doing some voluntary work and I'm learning to drive. Have my theory next week! Also, the bloody hamster is still alive!

hhtddbkoygv · 17/08/2025 00:05

PITH3 · 16/08/2025 23:50

Hi all! It is the OP here 🥰 I logged myself out of my original account ages ago and can't for the life of me get back in. Anyway! It's so nice to see that this thread is still going and that you're thinking of me and my babies all this time later 🥰 I'm happy to say that we are still in Scotland and living a fab life. Really. It was the best (and scariest) decision I ever made. The kids are both thriving, my eldest has heaps of friends and I barely saw her thru summer as she spent the majority of the time playing out, at the park, swimming, at people's houses! She's doing amazingly well at school too. They went back on Friday. My little boy has come so far. He is speaking! Not conversationally yet but the difference is crazy. It's so funny because he speaks in a Scottish accent 😁 I still find it strange that my child sounds so different to me! The flat is basically done now give or take a few bits I still need to get .. As for me, I've made friends for life. Met so many mum's thru the school but also in the park and just on the estate where I live. I'm actually surprised by how easily I settled in and loving it. I've been back to England once and couldn't wait to get home. I'm also doing some voluntary work and I'm learning to drive. Have my theory next week! Also, the bloody hamster is still alive!

So glad to hear this OP. Well done you! X