Kate & Emily

Hi Vicky

Yes we all take our children along. There is a meal provided which we all take turns to do and we pay a little each time. There is a local youth group which turns up as well to keep the kids entertained while the adults chat. Maybe see you there soon then.

Hello, Joanne
Thanks so much for your message! I'm quite likely to be away that weekend but if the plan changes I will definitely come along on the 21st. If not, I'll try the next one. I'm presuming that people bring their children along with them as I won't have any option?
Kind regards,
Vicky

Hi Vicky

I have been a single parent in Sevenoaks for the last 5 years. There is a group which was started up because of the lack of a gingerbread or any similer thing in Sevenoaks.It's called Family Drive and meets every 3rd Sunday in Cornwall Hall in The Drive behind the church. It runs from 1-4 o clock and everyone there is really nice. We go on holiday together every year and the children range from tiny babies to teenagers. Its just nice to know there are others in the same situation..I will be going on the 21 March so I could meet you outside if you wanted and introduce you to people. Joanne

Thanks so much for your kind comments and advice, Kate and Emily.
I'm hopefully meeting up with someone at the local leisure centre for a coffee who also has a 2 year old. It's a good venue because the cafe is right next to the children's soft play area - might get some peace...!
I made the contact via the Netmums meet-a-mum board. She finds the Sevenoaks area similarly difficult to locate any single parents (I go to two lovely toddler groups and everyone is merrily married). I've mentioned this website to my new contact so if we get on, we may consider starting a group.
Thanks again,
Vicky

I found myself taking coffee in West Wickam at Starbucks last week and I noticed that they had a community notice board ,People seemed to want to be starting knitting groups , book clubs and all manner so  why not stick something up there . If it were me I wouldn't leave my mobile I am very over cautious though , but you could always direct people to our website forum , other groups have started that way and then plant yourself on a weekly basis in Starbucks for half an hour and start a group that way !!!

Good luck

Kate

Hi Vicky, Everywhere is the centre of happily married people when you;'re looking for someone who isn't!!  it was because kate and I felt the way you do that we started kate & Emily up, initially just as a local group so we could meet like minded people in the same situation.  We found the friends we made and the groups we got together so good that we've made a section of this website all about how to start up your own Kate & Emily group.  We had such a laugh with the single parents we met as well as finding that the best people to talk to where others who really understood what you meant.  Follow this link to an article on the site that gives you ideas about how to find people  http://www.kateandemily.com/how-find-your-buddies-and-get-them-join If you don't know anyone directly then you're going to have to ask around - Sevenoaks can't be the only single parent desert in the UK!!  Ask your friends if they know anyone, get them putting feelers out for you.  You must be doing the rounds of playgroups with a 2 year old so I'd ask the people who run the play group if they know if anyone who comes is a single parent too - they seem to know most things about people!!  We found lots of people by asking our friends and by putting up cards in local cafe, library and shop windows - I'd put up a card saying you're a single parent with a 2 year old interested in meeting up with others in the area.  Spread your net wide and don't worry - absolutely every single parent we met was as thrilled as we were to meet someone else!   lots of luck, Emily