Single mum

[PITH1]

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

Hope the kids have slept and you get there safely.

Good luck in your new home and hope you find happiness there.

I'd look to see if there's a local gingerbread group or other single parent meeting point to try to build up a network and just chuck yourself in to everything you can. I bet you will look back at this and think it's the best thing you ever did!

Thanks so much everyone. They are asleep 😴 I am currently feeding my daughter's hamster which I smuggled on the coach a piece of cucumber. She is obsessed with her hamster and leaving her behind just wouldn't of been an option. I bought her a tiny travel cage and smuggled her in my bag. I smuggled a bloody hamster on a coach. My kids and I will laugh about all this one day for sure!

I've only just found your thread @PITH1, but I echo all the PPs - what an exciting adventure for all of you and such a fabulous opportunity for a fresh start with your babies. I wish you lots of luck, let us know how you get on!

My favourite place in Scotland is Balloch Park, you'll be about ten mins from it 🤍 There's also Levengrove and the indoor skatepark Unit 23 is a fab way to kill a weekend afternoon for kids. Lovely area, you're going to love it 🥰

@ggbbnn1 I will be within walking distance from the exact place you mention 😊❤️

So excited for you !!

Oh OP, I'm excited for you and three cheers to you for making such a big move.

You know my instinct is you could all really flourish in this place, which sounds wonderful!

Im Scottish, though living in London. Scotland is beautiful! And the Scots - though they can be a bit gruff occasionally- are warm hearted and straight talking, with a care for community.

Im really wishing you all the best!! Hope you are now safely settled!

Congratulations on your new home!

You are a great mum and are doing an amazing thing for you and your children. Wishing you luck for your future, sure you will all be happy. x

Iv got the biggest smile on my face, just thinking about the life you will have , your kids are so lucky to have such a brave , resourceful and totally go getter mum . Every good luck to you all x ( including hamster 🐹)

Welcome! I have been reading your post, and wish you all the best. Some great places in Glasgow for kids, such as the Science Centre and the Transport Museum. Hope you can find the time to keep updating us on how you're getting on - I'm sure you've done the right thing. I am in Edinburgh so can't offer you much local advice but Scotland is a beautiful place. Your kids would probably be super excited about a ferry trip to the islands of the west coat like Arran This is in easy reach!

Hi everyone! We are here 🙌 arrived in Glasgow at the station this morning. The kids did really well on the coach (not planning on doing that again for a while 😂) and we grabbed something to eat at McDonald's and got a taxi to the flat with all our stuff, although we are staying in a Premier Inn tonight as our bedding/matresses don't arrive until tomorrow. I am hanging about at the flat for now as one of the neighbours was outside having a cigarette when we arrived and saw me struggling with all my bags/pushchair/kids/hamster 🤪 and said I looked like I could do with some help so helped me with all my stuff upstairs and we were chatting and I mentioned about the matress/hotel situation and he told me him and his wife have lots of furniture stuff they don't use anymore just hanging about in their garage so to leave that with him and he will be back soon, he said he's on this group where people are always giving stuff away so he can ask on there for me too. So grateful for any offer of help as we've really arrived with 0! I'll offer him some money of course. Still, life feels good. Just glad that journey is over 🙌 😌

How lovely.

What a great start.

Having children will be a great way of making friends. Have a look for what is going on near your new home in terms of local stuff organised by local people, a great way of getting involved in the community.

You will love it!
Your children are of an age where they will be in school and kinder and will facilitate you having to meet other people.
Join in groups that interest you in the village.
Enjoy your social life and watch out for a part time job.
It is a fantastic choice.
My sister moved to the country and now, after 8 years, she has many friends and is almost too busy. She participated in anything that interested her - garden club, the fete etc and decided to be cheerful and consider seriously saying 'yes' if she was asked to contribute.

Sounds like you have made your first friends! Hope you settle in well.

Thanks everyone! Neighbour came back and invited me down to the garage and has so kindly given me a TV! A side table and some camping chairs to sit on until I find a sofa. So so kind! I offered money but he said not to worry. He's going to make a post on a group for me also to see if anyone else has anything laying about. Feeling so grateful. I've just stuck some fairy lights all over the walls that I bought with me until I can afford lamps to try and make the place more cosy 😂 will be heading to the hotel a bit later on x

Amazing @PITH1 I would be proud of you if you were my mum. Very brave to move so far but going by these posts you'll be fine. All the best.

Good luck and be happy in your new home!

Oh how wonderful "Welcome to Scotland."

You sound like an awesome Mum and you will be very warmly welcomed in Scotland! Scottish people and Weegies in particular are very warm and friendly people who will do anything for you, particularly Mums and kids.

All the best of luck for your new adventure! xx

I'm of course biased but Scottish people are so kind. Speak with your housing officer, there are ways to help out with carpets and basics. They won't be the best of quality but it'll get you through for the next year or two. Welcome 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Aww good luck OP! You are off to a great start x

What an amazing thread! Good luck OP, it's a brave move and I hope you'll all be very happy in your new home 😊

This is such a lovely thread. What an amazing Mum you are

Here are a few links to some free furnitures in Glasgow, including sofas:

sofas:
https://www.freecycle.org/posts/91829796
https://www.freecycle.org/posts/91848076
https://www.freecycle.org/posts/91830630
https://www.freecycle.org/posts/91825810
https://www.freecycle.org/posts/91821810

lamps:
https://www.freecycle.org/posts/91855156
https://www.freecycle.org/posts/91833768

Kid bicycles/toys:
https://www.freecycle.org/posts/91855394
https://www.freecycle.org/posts/91844196

Storage places:
https://www.freecycle.org/posts/91845758
https://www.freecycle.org/posts/91750424
https://www.freecycle.org/posts/91828410

Tables and chairs:
https://www.freecycle.org/posts/91819986
https://www.freecycle.org/posts/91834038
https://www.freecycle.org/posts/91843430

And some carpet flooring: