I've always wanted children all my life, but in the past few years, with everyone in my age group having them (mid 30s) I've began to feel desperate and that it's all I think about. Im freaking out about my age and if i'll achieve my dream. I feel now, in the next few years, will be the making or breaking of my life. I have very few friends or family and life is lonely.
I have never been too successful with men. I have had a few short relationships which haven't worked out, no more than a year long. But these were mostly pre 30, when babies weren't everywhere and weren't on my mind.
I would say also i'm an experienced OLDater, having used apps on and off for about 10 years. I can get first dates, but either when we meet I don't find myself wanting to see them again or they don't want to see me, it never seems to work out which is demoralising and tiring/time wasting in itself!! I really want to pack in dating. I don't enjoy it, I genuinely feel when i'm getting ready for a date that i'd probably prefer being on my sofa relaxing. I also work full time so having to date on my time off when nothing works out makes me feel resentful of having to do it.
But with that I know i'm never going to meet someone to have a baby with. And due to the fact i'm feeling desperate about being pregnant, every first date I go on i'm wondering if this person would be willing to have a baby within the next couple of years.... even more so than if the relationship itself would be successful long term I think. Although if I don't like them/am not attracted to them, I don't continue dating for the sake of it.
It makes me feel like i'm being a bit dishonest about dating really, I don't know that I really want to be dating or to find a relationship, mostly because i'm fed up of it all not working out, its just about NOT ending up childless. I feel awful really. I've even considered how it wouldn't be awful if I had a few years relationship and then it ended as long as we'd had a baby. Being a single Mum wouldn't be awful and of course i'd hope to maintain a good co parent relationship.
I don't want to go it alone. Has anyone else felt this way? Or have any positive stories?