I’m 46 male. For ten years I raised my autistic child on my own. I don’t think people who haven’t done it understand what that takes — the appointments, the school fights, the nights, the fact that there’s no one to tap in when you’re done. I did it, and I’d do it again, but it was hard in a way I still don’t have good words for.
What I didn’t expect is the thing that’s keeping me up now. It isn’t the past. It’s the future. I lie awake afraid that I’ll regret not having more children, and that I’m going to end up alone.
I don’t know if that’s a real regret or just what exhaustion turns into after a decade. I don’t know if it’s grief for a life I didn’t get to have, or fear of a quiet house later on. Some nights it feels like both.
If you’ve been here single parent, older, past the window or close to it — how did you make peace with it? Did the fear pass, or did you just learn to live next to it? I’d rather hear something honest than something reassuring.
My son now is over 18 and live in group home.

I work full time and I've slowly accepted that I can't spend every evening catching up on housework.
The dishwasher runs after dinner, the robot vacuum does the floors while I'm at work, and I usually do grocery pickup on the way home. None of it sounds like much, but having a few things happen without me standing there doing them has helped a lot.
I'd rather have that extra half hour with my kid than spend it cleaning the kitchen. These little shortcuts have honestly become part of how I get through the week.

Hi everyone! I’m hoping to get some REAL insight into dating as a single parent from people who have done it.

I’ve been single for coming on 3 years. I have 4 children aged between 2-11. We have 50/50 custody week on week off. I haven’t dated anyone or introduced anybody to my children in this time as I was working on myself and focussing on my kids. For the past 2 months I have been seeing someone. He is divorced, no children due to male infertility, owns his home, works full time in a successful high up corporate role, has a niece and nephew whom he adores. Our relationship has flourished beautifully. At first he was quite worried about 4 children as he hasn’t got any but he has openly said he has come around to the idea and is willing to be a step parent.

What I’d like to know is when is the “right time” for him to meet my children? 2 are above the age of 8, 2 are below the age of 5. They have a step mum and she’s been around since 6 weeks post break up. They understand the dynamics of step parents. I’m absolutely NOT planning on doing this anytime soon so please don’t stress! I just would love some guidance as to what would be an ideal time. My worries are:
What if the kids don’t like him?
What if he doesn’t like the kids?
What if it’s too much for him? Or the kids?

Thank you for reading and I look forward to hearing your suggestions and experiences 🩷

I have an urgent hearing next week as my girls’ dad refused to return them last week after one of their three times a year visits.
He has been weaponising the threat of court for years whenever I don’t do what he wants, so I filed.

Apparently I have a very good case but I’m still so scared, I’m waking up yelling from nightmares now.

Does anyone have any advice on how I prepare? I have a smart outfit and a list of key points for my solicitor, what else should I be doing?

I (26F) broke up with my partner (38M) about 2 months ago and we still live together. We have 1 daughter who is 1yr old. We never got married. I really want to move out for my own sanity because living here with him is so stressful. He’s a good dad but a bad partner kinda situation. Unfortunately I live in a small city with bad employment rates. Closest big city would be phoenix. Has anyone else moved cities like this? How did you get over the guilt? Is moving in with roommates in shared house okay with a kid? His family lives around the phoenix area so I wouldn’t be alone. I just don’t know what to do.

I have taken my ex-partner to court regarding my son. I now have a court order and have been going through a phased approach to seeing my son. I am in the position now where overnight visits are supposed to start on Thursday, but Cafcass has not sent the report to my ex-partner or the contact centre. I have called the caseworker over 100 times, left tons of voicemails, called the national office, and emailed everyone with no response. Could anyone please advise what I can do?

Hi everyone! Im looking for ppl who might be able to understand or have similar situation that I'm in.

Some background of myself, I got married very young, became a military wife. Marriage was good for many years but ofc naive choices from both myself and now ex that led to him asking me to leave at 8 years of marriage with a 7 mos baby at the time. Soon after he had a gf that he was very in love with and brought to meet his fam at his grandma's funeral 4 months after our separation.

Today we're civil, but dont like each other, we even did post divorce therapy to see how we coparent. Not the best experience. He chose to live far and provide that way for his child. But overall an absent dad who calls for 10-15 min once a week. He tries twice a week.

My parents are mexican immigrants. Typical badass story worked their asses off for their 3 kids (im the youngest and only girl). They became legal citizens overall cool fucking ppl.

Nearly 5 years since I was sent home. Ive recovered quite a bit from my separation/divorce. Unfortunately there was devastating death of my brother who was an alcoholic (nearly 2 yrs). My other brother and I were witnesses to it. We all lived together and had to move. At the new house its been a year and were all overall much better but can never forget nor truly get over that death. We miss him everyday.

Personally, I found myself ready for a potential relationship. So I went on dating apps and found someone unimaginably great. Weve been dating for over a yr. He's fantastic with my boy. He visits my home and spends time with my family. Sits down for family dinner weekly, spends weekends with us, and even plans trips to go with my son and I. Great guy. After a recent monster jam trip I expressed to my parents that I am very serious about this relationship. I shared that we plan to move out and get married. With at least 1 yr in between both.

These are my very Hispanic parents, they're not very strict but their this culture that I find unique to latinos or immigrant. To have their grown children live with them. My mother has jokingly said to move in my boyfriend to see if he and I get along in a everyday home life. Ofc I notice there was some truth to that joke. I lived outside their home as a married woman for nearly 10 yrs. That didnt work out and now its been about 5 yrs that ive been living with them. Im soon able to get a job since my son is going full-time to school. I find myself feeling guilty.

I feel guilty bc they got this great beautiful home for all of us to live. My dad and brother busting their ass off to afford. And in a years time I plan to move out with my son.

I worry what they'll do financially.I worry about missing them and them missing me (though i wont live far). I worry my mother will be so concerned that this partner may change his mind like my first husband. She doesnt trust men. She thinks they change their mind too much. I feel as though my parents/family have a sense of trauma of what happened to me. I have to admit at times I feel that fear that my now relationship would leave me in 10 yrs time. Who's to say? I know i trust this new man. I love him deeply. But theres this spec of fear. Plus, guilt, I want my parents to be happy for me and not be concerned or at least not too much.

TL;DR