How to have friendships when you’re the only one who’s single?

[oopsyoudiditagain]

Seriously, everyone else is in a relationship/married and/or has kids.

It’s really difficult to even meet, text/phone calls takes forever to get back….
Seems like all they want to talk about, whatever little time is spared, is their partners and kids.
It’s pretty tedious.

I also have started to get the sense that my life is less-than in their eyes.
Little jibes here and there.

Is this the end of these relationships?

Find friends you like, understand, and who like and understand you.

Sounds like it's time for an overhaul.

I think this is really stressful and to be honest, not very well understood on here or anywhere else.

Typically advice about being lonely or isolated will urge you to make arrangements with friends and often wistfully look back ‘oh I wish I was single, I had such fun!’ Well yeah - but there’s a huge difference between single at 25 and single at 40.

When I was in this position I found it hard and I just did have to accept that was my lot. It was a bit rubbish though

Totally understand where you're coming from OP. Although my friends don't have kids yet, they're all married or in serious LTRs.

I'm online dating at the moment and miss having people to share those stories with and who can empathise. I could tell my friends but they don't understand anymore and I feel self conscious as it makes me feel so far behind what's "normal" for our age group!

I think unfortunately it's true that we just have to widen our social circles.