Weekends are hard for me too. And the odd evening too. I still worry I over-rely on the kids to meet my emotional needs, and that isn't to their benefit.
Shall we brainstorm good ways to tackle loneliness? I need some help with this too. I see my friends pretty regularly, and I saw my family this weekend and that was good too. But yes - there's a husband-shaped gap in my life and it is painful still sometimes.
Well there's not much chance of me over-relying on my kids to meet my emotional needs, they are full on teens who don't talk very much unless I take them to lunch (ds1) or drive them places (ds2). It's hard because my friends are still very much in Family Mode so they're mostly busy at the weekends, their kids are either younger or they have very dependent relationships with them. That's part of the reason why I've been trying to meet new people, it's nice to talk to people about anything but family! Yes, Hope, I have been reframing it as freedom, but that only goes so far when I spend so much time alone, I know you can feel lonely in company but I know I need more social contact.
So, solutions for the next few weeks: 1. spend 2 days a week at the office, should be easier now I have less stuff on 2. go to running club one night a week (and tell someone there I will be going so I have accountability) 3. book yoga one night a week (to have accountability) 4. join my working group on Fridays at the pub, arrange to do something afterwards 5. weekends: arrange at least one thing in advance (walking group, book cinema tickets, race etc) 6. lots of exercise classes 7. buy some new books, reading is something which makes me feel less lonely, particularly if I do it at a pub or cafe
Not sure how long this will be sustainable for when the holidays start but I have firmed up dates to go away at the start of August and after that a friend has asked if I want to go camping with her. And of course I still have a huge amount of work to do for my October deadline, panicking a bit about that!
