‘society has programmed us to be negative’

At 38, Victoria Mapplebeck found herself single, pregnant and broke. Unable to combine motherhood with her job as a freelance film director, she walked away from her career and turned the camera on herself. Her documentary, Motherboard , is an unvarnished portrait of single motherhood. Here, she tells her story

As an increasing number of women decide to have a baby solo, Lisa Oxenham says it’s time to talk more openly about what makes up modern families

The first time I experienced empty nest syndrome it came as a huge shock to my system. I wasn’t prepared for the sense of loss I would feel when my eldest daughter, Mia, left home to go to university.

Lucy Johnstone is determined to not lose herself or her relationship when it comes to motherhood

With Cat Deeley’s shock split from Patrick Kielty ...

Whether by choice or not, singledom in midlife is on the rise. We explore the many pleasures – and occasional pitfalls – of going solo