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

Happy birthday!

This thread had made me smile and warmed my heart SO much. You are absolutely amazing and I hope you’re proud of what you’ve achieved! LOVED that you snuggled the hamster on the coach 😆 great memories already and sounds like you’re going to make so many more.

wishing you and the children all the very best for your future xxx

Thank you so much 🥰 xx

Hi PITH1, we've had a lot of requests for us to put your lovely thread in our Classics topic, so we're moving it on over if that's okay.

We hope that life's still going well for you and your DC

Hi everyone, can't believe this thread has made it to classics 🙂 well I thought I'd give a little update seeing as it's been a little while since we arrived in Buchanan Station by coach in the early hours 😀 we are doing brilliantly! My daughter has heaps of friends at school now and I've never seen her so happy. The Scottish school system is child centred and play based and we no longer have anxiety and dread about going to school. Infact she loves it and looks forward to going every day! Her class is tiny which is crazy considering her old class had 30+ kids in and there were 3 of those classes in her year. In her own words "I am guaranteed to be with all my friends every day"! 😊 She is starting to copy some of the things her friends say and it's really funny and sweet. I'd not given it much thought before but I'm now wondering if she will have more of a Scottish accent than an English one. We are still learning new phrases all the time and a particular hilight was when someone asked my daughter if she wanted to give their dog a wee clap and she stood there looking confused and started giving it a round of applause 🤣😂 I have met a few mum's at the school now which is nice and I even got asked out by the carpet fitter 😄 I wish I could tell you it was a big love story but he wasn't my type. Nice guy though. My house is coming along slowly but surely. This is one of the best things I've done for me and my kids ♥️

Really moved to hear your update, OP. So very happy for you that it has worked out so well. If your kids are happy and settled then that really is half the battle.

I am sure you will meet some nice parents through your school. It will be a mixed bag and will take you some time to find your feet, no doubt, but you sound lovely so it's just a matter of time until you find your tribe. 💖

I love the phrase to clap a dug. 🤗

Great to hear you are settling in to your new adventure

It’s you who deserves a round of applause OP!! Well done x

I am so, so happy to read this ♥️♥️♥️

@PITH1 please keep us updated. Even if it's just a little check in once a 1/4. Loving how quickly your kids have started to adapt their accent and way of speaking. My children were born in London but have geordie parents. Grand parents aunts and uncles, they had their first two years around family who all had North East accents so they sounded super cute in our leafy suburb with their 'canny bag of Tudor' speech.

I am so happy for you op. 💗 You are a warrior and you are winning!

I just saw this. I love your bravery and your story! Wanted to say well done and congratulations on your new life! My grandparents lived near where you live and me and my sister loved staying with them every summer for a couple of weeks.
Sending all the best for a brilliant life for you all!

Your so brave, sounds like you made a great decision for your family what a great move

*You're

Hi everyone, thanks for the comments 😊 so kind. I definitely plan to keep updating this thread. It's funny because I never saw myself as brave, felt really scared actually but just pushed thru the fear. Actually the carpet fitter who asked me out said he was so impressed by my story and really admired me for it which I thought was lovely. I've grown so much as a person since moving here because I know I am capable of anything now and actually arriving here with nothing and sleeping on matresses on floorboards and using our suitcases as sofas truly makes you appreciate everything you have. I'm so grateful for my comfy sofa and look forward to sitting on it every night...! I'm grateful to cook food with the cooker the council kindly gave me. Someone commented saying that West Dunbartonshire is a deprived area and tbh I think where I live maybe is a bit of a deprived area (but absolutely beautiful) however my elderly neighbour gave my children £1 each today to buy sweets after school just because it's Friday. My old neighbours were I originally come from wouldn't even make eye contact with us because we were in the temp accommodation. Sometimes the people who have less are the ones who give the most. We arrived in Scotland with bugger all, English accents, a 3yr old who doesn't always fit in to societal norms and been welcomed with open arms and accepted for who we are. I love it here and I know life will only improve from now xx

I’m so glad you’re settled and got some lovely neighbours. It’s easy for us to say the Scots are a lovely generous bunch.

This is such a great thread! I wish I had the courage to up and leave elsewhere with my kids. You’re so brave and sounds like your daughter is benefiting at the school already. Good luck with everything🤞

What a lovely story after what has obviously been such a tough time for you all, and I honestly didn't know whether to laugh or cry at the hamster nibbling on the cucumber on the coach. I am so pleased for you, in my experience Scotland is one of the most beautiful and welcoming places you could wish for, with genuine people who will do all they can to help if you need it as you've already experienced. Hope the kids continue to love school too, and that things just continue to get better for you.

What a lovely thread, congratulations on your new happy life,

Every good wish and luck 🍀 remember to include hamster 🐹 updates too 🤣 your going to fly OP

So glad this has been moved to Classics ,it really is a template for others to refer to ! 💐

So happy for you all x

This thread gives me hope

Hi guys - got flooring put in my bathroom today. Bought it online and had it fitted privately and didn't cost much at all as my bathroom is really tiny 😊 really happy with it xx

Another pic - also had carpet put on upstairs hall and bedrooms! Rest of the stairs will have to wait 😂 xx

It's all looking fab! I bet it's feeling really homely now - well done, you should be really proud of how much you've achieved in such a short time!