Just want to say hello to all the single parents out there...you are doing the most important,most wonderful,bravest,challenging thing ever! Be proud of it!!!
I`v been a single mum for the past 14 years to my youngest son,i have two older sons in their thirties who have long since flown the nest.I will be 56 soon,life has been very ,very difficult at times,but the strong bond of love and devotion has seen us both through many tough times in the past,and i dare say in the future too there will be challenges ahead.I live life from day to day and count my blessings.
I`m wondering if there are any older single parents who are on this site,would be nice to hear from you...
Angela
Hi Angela, welcome to one space, I`m 48 and have also been a single mum for a long time, I have 5 children altogether 24, 20, 18, 16, 10, 1 boys at either end and 3 girls in the middle and yes I can definitely empathise with you on life being really really hard at times but also countings ones blessings xxx
Look forward to getting to know you. one psace is a lovely site where everyone is friendly xxx
Hi Angela,
There are all ages on here and that is great because we all can help each other out. I am 50 now and my boys are 21 and 16 (became a single parent when they were 8 and 3) so I have a few years' experience of single parenting, like yourself 
How is your youngest? 14 can be a "challenging" age, I know.Does he see his dad? How about other things in your life, do you work, what things interest you?
Do hope you stay with us and I look forward to your online company!
Hi tiredmum, thanks for your reply.It must be a strain on you at times to have to cope with the pressures of being a mum,you certainly have your work cut out with five children, are you satisfied with how they are growing up? with or without two parents its hard work isnt it...but sometimes it can be very rewarding..Its been very lonely and isolating for me and my son most of the time, and thats what iv found the hardest,it will be less so now that iv found this site!
Also look forward to getting to know you here on one space! xx
Hi Louise, thanks for your reply, glad i found this site it will be nice to hear from you and others like us.How do your two sons get on with each other,are they close? I was married for 20 years and had two sons,four years after the divorce i met someone and became pregnant at 41(definitely not planned) things didnt work out in the relationship,me and my son of 14 havnt seen his father since he was a year old,so its been just him and me,very lonely and isolating,but we cope,life has been very hard,but also very rewarding in different ways..
My hobby is music which i love..and i got my first ever job in years as a part time waitress just before christmas,which i also enjoy.
Hope to hear all about you too! xx
Hi Angela, welcome aboard! You guys make me feel so young!! Hee hee! I am 38, my daughter is 16.
I am sorry to hear that raising your 3rd child has felt so isolating and lonely, why do you think that was? Was it because your confidence was knocked badly or that because you had done it before with a partner at home, that not having someone 'inhouse' to share things with, made it all the harder?
Great news about the job! I hope that you have met some nice people there and don't feel so isolated. Does your son have many friends locally?
Hi Angela
Great that you enjoy your job, it is nice to get out and about chatting to people I always think.
What sort of music do you like? Do you "make" music as well as listen? I always promised myself that I would join a local choir when the boys were older, but still have not got round to it.
Yes, my boys get on well but the eldest lives 25 miles away now so they only see each other now and then and they go down to Birmingham together two or three times a year to stay with their dad's parents (who have moved to a small bungalow now so my boys stay in a Travel Lodge, you can imagine how much they love that!)
How is your social life? I ask because now your son is getting to the age where you can start going out a bit more. I always enjoyed doing evening classes, Creative Writing was one I enjoyed but you could do anything!
Hi
I'm 48, and I've been on my own for just over 7 years now. They're getting on a bit though 
at 19, 17 (my only daughter), 15 and 12.
I find that now they are at the point where I can go out, that while I have friends, they're not going out types, sadly.
I do the scouts though, which has brought me into adult company.
Looking forward to getting to know you.
Hi Anna, nice to hear from you.It must be lovely having a daughter to be friends with,are you close? 38 is still young to do lots of things so i hope you have fun and happy times doing them!
Many reasons why iv felt so isolated really, being that much older than a lot of other mums is one, and although my youngest of 14 sees his half brothers regularly,its like he`s the only child which has been very lonely for him,he does have a couple of friends he`s grown up with in our area,but they have brothers and sisters,so my son doesnt know what its like to have siblings to share stuff with,but having said that he`s growing up nicely enough and he gets spoilt from me,but then i do have the time to give him,so all in all its not too bad for him.
Not having a partner has been really tough in so many ways,iv tried having relationships with men who iv met in the past,but they never worked out or lasted long,but i live in hope!
Do you have a job or hobby you enjoy,and does your daughter see her father?
Hi Louise, its great that your sons keep in contact and have the oportunity to enjoy time away in a Travel Lodge,do you live near Birmingham then?im from Leicester.
I do enjoy music,and yes making it is what i enjoy most,playing the keyboard writing songs and singing,its a really wonderful way of losing yourself and good therapy too.
Its nice that you have your classes that you get involved with Creative Writing being one,have you ever had anything published?
I dont have much of a social life really,i have a close female friend who i occasionally go out with(not been out for nearly a year) and i go out on occasions with my two older sons (one has a son,my only grandson) so i definitely need to get out more.
Does your sons ever see their Dad,and are they close?
Are you happy being single or do you live in hope of meeting someone?
Hi ANGELA
I think my daughter and I are close, it is interesting really when I was in my early 20's with a young baby, it felt as though EVERYONE else had a life and not me, al lthe parents when she started school seemed like grown ups with houses and husbands and I was some failure, but funnily enough, we have grown together and when I hit 40 I will get more of my life back and have money in the bank to do all the things that I felt I missed out on, more common sense too!!
There are always 2 sides to every coin though, I was a younger mum, carefree and energetic, however I think that if I had another child now, i would be a very different parent, much more sensible!
I love my job, thank you! I work here at Single Parent Action Network, I started as a volunteer when my daughter was about 7 and have learnt soooo much, trained and educated myself and now feel very passionately about the cause!
My daughter doesn't see her dad anymore (sad, but also quite a relief!) I actually think it is easier that way if parent relationships are irretrievable. Although I longed for him to be the 'perfect dad' he wasn't and thankfully he no longer has an influence in her life.....her choice.
I have often wished that my daughter had siblings, she was very close with my neice, but her mum ended up moving away and we only see them once or twice a year.
I always think the meeting and dating of men is far more fun than serious settling down and compromising, the grass is always greener etc etc!
Do you have any plans for the weekend?
Hi Angela
I am "oop North" so it is a fair way for my boys to travel to see their grandparents. They see their dad from time to time, I have no problem with them seeing him but the situation is very complicated.
Your music sounds very creative! I have not even tried to have anything I have written published (only articles on One Space and they are not fiction, lol) I have a friend who is a writer and she has written two novels and is getting them ready to send to agents!
I agree with Anna, the dating side is fun and does not involve too much soul-searching. I honestly think it is better to be happy with yourslef first, and then to concentrate on making new friends second, and the rest will come, if it is meant to happen. Have a look at our article Making New Friends.
How many hours are you working? and is it daytime or evening?
If you would like to, why not join us in the Chat section, by the way
First time on here