BekZ - I know what you mean. When I was having DD1 NONE of my friends had kids. They didn't realise after I had her that I couldn't just drop everything & do what ever they were doing. There was only one friend that really got to me though. She insisted every night that we go visit them, but never came to see us, yet we had the new baby & they didn't.
I now have 3 kids while all my friends only have one. I don't have any social life out side of the house, but I'm loving my babies too much right now to care. If I'm having a hard time I go visit my SIL, or ask her to come over - she is more than happy to come here, coz I have 3 & she only has 1!
I've lived in this town for 7 months & have only been out once when DS was 5 weeks for a few hours. Without any kids & to the pub.
I am happy this way. I have felt left out & that its not fair that everyone else can get drunk & carry on when I hadn't had a dring for months - while pg, but it does end. They do get bigger! Freedom can be yours again.

Fionas - My mum was a bit like that. She did go between work & SAHM, but for some reason had no friends. It was her choice though. Dad's friends wives used to come around when they did & they'd talk, but mum was never really friends with them. Never really went to their place, even when we all did. I don't know why, but I wouldn't be able to stand it. I need people around.

Astrid - I was the same. Only I was 11 when I had to get my DB & sister up & off to school. We went to a babysitter after school, but the next year we were doing corrospondance & I was with my sister all day everyday on my own. She's 6 years younger than me. I often had my brother too. 2 years younger than me.
I wish my mum was there then. I often had them alone through high school coz baby sitters wouldn't show up, or something. I think mum gave up on them coz I was usually the only one she could guarantee home every arvo.
When I was in year 11, my sister was 10 & my brother 14, they used to be home alone from after school til around 6.30.
I think it's too much for a child that age to be reponsible for themselves, let alone anyone else.