Share your inspiring stories to give me confidence please

[ALS94]

So I’m not even a mum but I’ve always wanted to be. I am 26 and just ended a 3 year relationship, he was 8 years my senior and had his life together but we never talked about our future even if I brought it up. I live at home with my parents and needed to move out and start living an ‘adult’ life which is part of the reason for the break up as he was too comfortable in his bachelor pad with me just visiting on weekends.

I’ve gone through the stage of woe is me and struggling to imagine how I’ll ever be able to move out and start a family now I’m alone and even though I know a lot of people would laugh, I feel old at 26.

I know lots of people have done it alone and I really just need some inspiring stories to give me confidence that I can achieve everything I want for myself. Please share how you may have coped with something similar or any advice you have. Thank you

You are not too old. I had my daughter at 25 and was 2 months of my 26th birthday.
Had my son when I was 28.

If you can afford to live alone then why can't you? You have years ahead. At least 8-10 maybe more to have children. Many women have them in their 30s and even heading for 40 now! You are baby still.

I'm 32 now. I have had two men on my mortgage. I got my mortgage 12 years ago. I loved having my own home.

Life is for living so go live it. Just think how much more independent you will be and how nice it will be to have your own place. You'll be able to have a partner around and relax in your own space.

But even if it takes you a few years to settle you have heaps of time. X

In the most unpatronising way possible - you are just a baby yourself! Yes you could have a family now and I’m sure you’d love it and be fabulous but you can also wait 10 years, have amazing fun with friends - travel, build your career, volunteer, date, have lots of sex, explore the world.....

It doesn’t even have to be that extreme, you could just enjoy your youth and sleep and body whilst it’s still young and intact!

If you need an inspiring story - I married at 30, husband left within two years, went on to have a long term relationship which broke down when I was 36. Met my DP at 37, engaged, mortgage and 2 kids within 3 years.

Yes it took me a while, yes it was a little diverted path but I enjoyed the journey and my only regret is that I didn’t travel and sleep more.

Honestly you’ll get everything you want, there’s no reason you wouldn’t. Just because you aren’t where you want to be right now doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the journey of getting to that place.