Two with voicemail/ text. Two with text. One via FB. Asking what they're doing today/ tomorrow? Not a single one has got back to me. Additionally, I messaged two or three the other day, trying to set up half term arrangements. We're meeting up with one on Tuesday, the other two are doing stuff but "might" be up for going out for a drink later in the week. Maybe. We were supposed to meet up with someone today, but she has just cancelled at the last minute.
I find this exhausting. I feel so lonely, isolated and down. I have just pretty much stopped contact with my (abusive) ex- we would hang out with each other and the kids, and it was company, but not sustainable in the long run. I didn't neglect my friends during this period, but didn't actively "try" to grow the friendships, but it's clear that if I don't get in touch with people, they don't get in touch with me.
I'm fairly sure I have AS. Other people seem to create and maintain friendships with such ease, but it's always been a struggle for me- just hard work. I try so hard to behave in the "right" way, and mimic other peoples' friendship behaviour, but it's a huge effort, to be honest.
I've felt lonely all my life, I would love to say that I've made steps forward, but don't know that I have really. I don't want to be like this for ever, but genuinely don't know what more I can do to make friends and not feel so lonely.
Could anybody talk me through it? Step by step, how do you grow a friendship? I seem to be fine up to the "wow, the kids get on great, let's meet up sometime" stage, but after that seem always to be chasing after people who are always busy. Or, at least, too busy for me 
.
(sorry if I don't respond at once. I can hear DS2 screaming in the background, so will have to go and do lunch, then struggle through the afternoon, thinking of some kind of solitary "fun" activity to do with the kids while I'm screaming inside).