I need to get this off my chest, I have a 7yo from a previous marriage we co-parent amicably, although the split was really rough on me. It’s 5 years later and I’ve dated a ton but not found anyone to get into a relationship with and I had finally got to a point at 37 where I was accepting my life as it is, a mix of freedom and being a parent, dating and having money and choices.
I find myself pregnant from a short relationship where I was seeing someone who didn’t want to have a child. Having wanted more children for so long and being sure my chance had been and gone I very instinctively said I’d keep the baby.
The trouble is now that I’m feeling overwhelmed and sad. I won’t have my freedom or the flex to date and I’ll be a single parent without any support co-parent or otherwise.
I’m so conflicted emotionally - I’ve yearned to have more children to the point it hurt and now I’m pregnant I feel scared and alone. I want to enjoy this but I'm full of dread.
I see my next few years being tied to baby, holding down my job, looking after my growing child with no time to date or for me. I don’t want to be alone but I don’t see the chance of meeting someone and having a relationship now at all, like I’ve lost that chance completely and I’ll be alone forever now.
I don’t know how to feel better about this, I suppose I just want reassurance that there is going to be life after another baby and single parenting and that I will meet someone one day. I have a good job and a lovely home so it’s not from a perspective of can I do this, I know I can and deep down I want to, but I just want this sorrow and disappointment to disperse a bit. Anyone been or known someone in a similar situation who had a relationship after 2 kids otherwise?