Single parent chat with room for the whole person

Some days are organised down to the minute. Others unravel before breakfast. A chat room cannot tidy the kitchen or do the school run, but it can give you somebody to laugh with when the house finally goes quiet.

A full day can still have a small social moment

Single parents often make plans around everyone else. ChatFriends lets you join for a short visit when it suits you. You might share a funny mishap, ask what somebody is watching tonight or simply follow a lively conversation for a while.

You do not have to explain your family arrangements to take part. Talk about parenting when you feel like it, or leave it behind for an evening and discuss music, books, sport or a weekend plan.

Common ground without comparing families

People make family life work in different ways. Some have toddlers; others are helping teenagers find their feet. School days, meals, work shifts and unexpected changes of plan give people plenty to recognise in one another.

The best exchanges are often small ones. Somebody shares a recipe that saves time, admits they forgot a form, or tells a story that makes another parent feel less alone in the chaos.

Start with the bit you would like to share

A good opening does not need to be serious. It can be the victory of getting everyone out of the door, a film you watched after bedtime, or a question about what other adults do with a rare free hour.

• What small thing made today easier?
• What do you enjoy doing when you get an hour to yourself?
• Which family meal actually went down well this week?