post-kids life alone - help

[teahouse]

I have been a lone parent for over a decade. My eldest is now away at Uni and my youngest will be off to college from September and I'll no longer be doing the school run and involved in his day to day life; so, empty nest syndrome big time.

I have virtually no social life because of combining my demanding FT job with all my child and home responsibilies (cooking, cleaning, taxiing, shopping etc - whatever needs doing, there is only me to do it so much of my spare time is spend crashing out and chilling). I don't make friends easily and have no hobbies because I'm really no very good at anything (can't paint or draw, have never been able to master an instrument, can't sing or dance and really struggle to learn a language - I have dyselxia and some short term memory problems although I'm not stupid).

I'm not religious so the local church is out, and I live in a small town with no facilites for anyone, especially middle-aged singe women. I've tried dating sites to no avail.

I really need to sort out a life for me as currently I am in danger of becoming depressed. I already have odd moments of wishing I could swop lives with people who have terminal diseases - not a great place to be.

How does one find a social life from scratch at middle-age?

Hi, sorry you feel so sad at the mo. try posting this in another topic with more traffic such as chat for more responses.

You really need to take up some new activities - you may have to force yourself because it's probably not something that you really want to do. There are loads of things - join a gym, a book club or even the WI - anything that will get you out and about. Don't look for a social life - instead look for things to occupy your time, and which also include interacting with other people. You could try hospital visitng or even getting involved in local politics.