With my two children about to start secondary school, I'm worried about losing the friends I've made through primary - and, it's a more common concern than you'd think. An expert in loneliness shares what you do to feel less on your own if you feel the same.
I have two children aged 11 and 10, and the first is off to secondary school in September, closely followed by his brother the year after. This means in a short space of time I'll wave goodbye to the school that's been a part of our lives for over six years - and potentially, the 'mum friends' that have come with it. With the news that parental loneliness is soaring, and evolving societies mean best friends are no longer forever, this feels like a scary prospect.
