Hi. I'm a lone parent of a 9 year old girl. I'm won't beat around the bush, I'm on here because I'm downright lonely. My daughter has never met her father, I don't have family nearby & have never quite managed to fit into the mums & kids social scene that everyone told me would magically open up to me once she started school. I'm unable to work due to ill health & my life is going nowhere fast. I suffer panic attacks at times & I'm ill a lot, so a big part of the reason my social life has gone downhill is the huge effort it takes to get out & about. It doesn't get any easier either & it just makes me sad when my daughter goes to bed & I have no-one to talk to. Also not having internet at home due to financial struggle is an obstacle. The town I live in is quite cliquey & there isn't much on offer for families, I'd move if only I could. Sometimes I feel like I'm the only person in this situation. I'm not naturally a pessimistic person, or defeatist, in fact the things I've overcome in life are proof of my fighting spirit. I'm simply exhausted & disillusioned with everything. I LOVE being a mum but being a single parent is lonely. How do you deal with that? Because that is the hardest part of it for me.
Hi, yes using library computer, I feel a bit better now just for getting that off my chest. Me & my daughter love being out in the countryside & we're both quite creative, making things & painting. Also like watching films & singing. My daughter is a bit of a tomboy & has bundles of energy & confidence. Thank you for the message Louise :)
Ooh making things, I am sooooo uncreative, I envy people who have some talent in that department.
Others will be along to say hello to you too, have a look around the site and jump into any thread you fancy, you will be made very welcome 
How would you feel about some voluntary work to build up your social connections again or do your health problems make this difficult?
Hi pmsilver
Just to say hello. Yep I know where you are coming from. I am a lone parent of a 13 year old girl . Yes it can be lonely.
It's good that you and your daughter are creative. Plus the fact that you both like being in the countryside. At least that is something that you can both do together.
Just keep on with that fighting spirit girl and you will get lots of support/advice from this sight.
Look forward to getting to know you more.
Hi PMSilver,
I am also new to this site. I am a single mum of 2 girls 11+9. Lonliness is a big problem for me too. For me its slightly different as I work full time and have a busy life but once the girls have gone to bed and I am alone in front of the tv I feel so lonely it alsmost paralyses me. So although my situation is different to yours I feel I can empathise with your lonliness.
The suggestion of volunteering is a good one, part of my job is to run a volunteer programme. Some of the people who volunteer do it because they haven't worked for a long time and just want an introduction to the workplace without having to make a full on commitment, they get so much out of it and find it a very positive experience.
Have you looked into getting help to have internet access at home, some councils give grants to help purchase a computer.
Hi I'm also new to this site,
it's funny i browsed just a few posts and clicked on yours, and felt the need to reply, wow ! i can relate to what you are saying. I myself have a nine year old, he's a fun little boy with lots of energy !!. I 've been a single mum for 6 years now and not had much support from his Dad at all. although I'm fourtunate to have a family that helps out.
Loneliness is a big issue for me too. I'm not in with the mums at the School and just a few friends. I find that working on improving myself like, thinking more positively, looking into, has been a hard new habit to put in place at first, but helps me immensly in enjoying my own company, and explor more new interests from books from the library, self-help books in particular. I hope that advice helps you in some way. t x
Hi PMsilver. Welcome along
Hi tsunshine. Welcome along to you also
I guess most of us can relate to the loneliness of being a single parent. I thought once my son now 9 started school, I would make lots of friends there, but I didn't really. I have a few, but they are all married or living with someone. I work 20 hours a week, but not made any 'friends' there yet. We chat, but thats it really.
Look forward to getting to know you both.
Hi pmsilver from me
Yes the dreaded loneliness, I don't think I know of one single parent who hasn't faced this.
I am wondering if you would join a rambling club? It sounds as though the pair of you have lots going for you, you know how to enjoy yourselves, but you are feeling isolated with carrying the load alone.
You say that your town is cliquey, but I bet my bottom dollar there are other women there who are feeling exactly as you do.
It sounded when you wrote your first post that you were having a particularly down day, was anything else going on?
Hi tsunshine too, look forward to getting to know you
Hi PMSilver, have missed seeing you on the boards, how are you doing?
Hi PMSilver
I too have panic attacks and sometimes controls my life. Good to have you on here. Its the same where I live. I dont speak to any of them (partly because i moved to my then husbands area) so now because i divorced him for adulty they hate me but i just laugh about it, My neighbours either side are great. They think im a snob (far from it)
Its hard to meet new poeple and joining groups is not my thing - even though my auntie (over 50) joined one and is now engaged *(hope for me yet)
Have a good day
HM
Hi all, sorry took me so long to reply, been hard to get to a computer. Thank you for all your lovely words, really good to read and tsunshine yes I am doing quite a lot of work on me & improving my emotional health bit by bit, that helps. I've kind of accepted a lot more that I'm on my own & haven't felt it so much, I was investing too much time in friendships with people who weren't that loyal and it was all too one sided. Then I had a month of illness & no-one around & it made me realise that maybe I should just concentrate on me & my daughter for a while. I feel a lot better now, just having nice moments with my little girl & being thankful for what I have. Thanks to ALL of you for the words of encouragement!
Hello again, you are welcome here anytime I was wondering about the nature of your health issues, are you on Employment Support Allowance and do you qualify for Disability Living allowance? This would at least give you a bit of extra cxash to get out and about.
Hi again, I've been on ESA, total nightmare due to ATOS medical assessment. Ended up being shoved off it back onto income support & lost out on housing benefit putting me at risk of losing my flat. It caused me to have a breakdown as it was the final straw after so many other difficulties & traumas. Now on JSA, daren't apply for ESA again after that, I have fibromyalgia & anxiety & have to be quite careful with my stress levels. I'm hoping to move closer to my family so I can get their support to get back on my feet.
What a nightmare, PM Silver. It is still worth applying for DLA...apart from anything else it would mean that you could think about applying for a grant to get some extra help, and Disabled Person's Tax Credit if and when you do get back to work.
Great idea to move closer to family, is this something you plan to do quite soon?
Hello PMSilver, a big welcome from me.
You're right, the loneliness is something a lot of people find to be a problem and I understand that you are maybe not able to get out and about as much as you would like. You mention that you do not have the internet at home, are you online at your local library today?
There's lots of online friendship and support here
Tell us a bit about what you and your daughter like doing?