Lonely solo mum

[Lonely2024]

Here goes.
I feel so lonely, I’m an older solo mum and have no close friends. No one contacts me unless I contact them. I only do things with my parents and my young son. My close friend for a couple of years has recently met someone and I never hear from her. I used to go out with friends but have lost touch. I see my Facebook friends all out doing things with other friends and I’m not included. I’ve recently moved jobs and don’t feel I belong there either, they all recently had a night out and I wasn’t invited. I feel really lost and I feel like selling up and moving away to see if a fresh start helps. Any advice would be great thank you.

I get your point about a fresh start but building a new community and friendships takes time - time when you wouldn’t have your parents around.

It was unkind not to invite you if all your colleagues are ent on that night out. If it wasn’t a work do maybe they like to get to know new people before they invite them to socials. Give it time.

Would your parents b up for childminding for a few hours so you could take up a hobby and meet people?

How old is your son? Do you have childcare for evenings out or not?

If not then, you need to get out and about and involved in the things that revolve around him like becoming involved in his sports groups or cubs being on the committee are training as a coach or official or group leader. Or socialise during the work day, does your work have a Sport and Social committee putting on activities?

If you do have regular childcare then Look to see if there are social groups or book clubs at the library or village hall, family quiz nights etc look to see if there is a Women's social circle group in your nearest city there are subdivisions for all ages. My local theatre has a room set aside before, during the interval and afterwards with refreshments if those attending alone want to socialise.

It takes time for new friendships to build and it's likely going to be trickier as you are likely at a different life stage to those your own age whose children have grown or those with very young children who are just starting out.

The other option is you build your own social group at home, my former colleagues and I have a dinner and games night and the children come along too. It's likely that others feel the same as you so why not reach out and organise the first one, hopefully it will become a regular thing. For us the same friend always hosts as her home is bigger and she enjoys it but we contribute with food etc

Thank you for some great suggestions ❤️ very kind of you all. I’ll def be taking up some great ideas