Hi,I'm SingleShin2006, I have a seven year old son with my ex and I have been a single parent for 5/6 years now although in all honesty even when we were together I was very much the only one fulfilling my parental responsibilities. I work full time and manage to provide for my son but I am continuously finding it harder and harder and the more I try for his sake the more isolated I feel. I've been so focused on being the parent everyone expects I dont have any time or idea as to what makes me happy anymore.
Sx
Hi SingleShin
It is good to see you here. I find it difficult to build a social life now my children are older.
I have started to help with the Scouts, which I do get a lot out of, but not quite a bit of socialising that would have been nice.
Hi SingleShin. Welcome along. I have a 9 year old, and I socialise on a Friday afternoon/evening with a friend from school. The boys play and the ladies chat and drink wine. She often asks me to go out with her, but 1) I don't have the cash, and 2) I don't have a babysitter. At the moment, I'm not at that stage where I've thought 'what about me', but I'm sure it'll come soon. Of course there are days where I'd like some free time, once a week, but that quickly passes.
What sort of thing did you used to do before you had your son?
Hi all, Its really weird because I'm quite fortunate that I do get to still have soem form of a social life with my friends and family etc but I think I'm just struggling to accept that my son is solely my responsibility and as much as I want his father to pull his finger out he just doesn't. He thinks his a saint because he sees him at the weekends but its the day to day support I feel I'd appreciate so much more. There really is no manual and its harder because I constantly second guess myself as a parent. Whilst I feel okay as an individual I suppose I feel lonely as a parent.. if that makes sense.
I'd love to meet parents at the school but I work long hours and its hard to form relationships past hi and Byes....
Yes, I always think it is very frustrating that there is no process for "forcing" the other parent to have more involvement. it sounds as if you would really benefit from talking with other parents and having their support. What would you think about a parenting course of some sort, to meet others and discuss your ideas with them?
Of course we are here for you to do this too 
Is there a Gingerbread group in your area? Sometimes there are weekly or monthly meetups of single parents and you can bring your children too.
Or there are specialist websites, where single parents all go on holiday together.
http://www.singlewithkids.co.uk/
Would this help with the isolation of being a single parent?
Hi SingleShin2006, welcome to One Space, I have moved your message to start your own Discussion, as I feel we can offer you more support here.
You say that you are finding it harder and harder and the more you try for his sake, the more isolated you feel.
Is this in regards to your ex and the contact arrangements, or is it about providing everything for your son, that you are now feeling lost?
It is interesting reading your post because it reminds me of going through similar feelings, you have done the break up, you no longer have a baby, your son is slightly more independent - becoming his own person and this is the time when we stop and look around and go - HEY what about me!
This is fine, this just means you are ready for the next stage of your journey! What makes us happy is a good question and we can spend hours pondering it, however I think the best way to find out is to start doing. Find a singing class, or yoga, or zumba, or art class - anything and do it for a while, it gets you out and you'll soon know if it is for you or not.
You say you don't have any time, what about when your son sees his dad? Or do you have anyone you could share sleepovers with their son? Or maybe you and your son start Kung Fu together??