Letters to the Editor
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Been there, sort of.
Here's what saved me when I was an essentially single married mother of a 3 year old with no family, a husband who was out nights and family far away:
1. Find a preschool where there social contact among the families is encouraged. In my daughter's preschool, families had parties for their kids and invited the preschool class. We went to every single one, and it was the start of a new network, and a godsend for me.
2. Find a nice church, if you can. One with an active childrens program. (Please posters, don't beat me up over this one!) There are some genuinely kind, accepting, giving people there who can help you feel comfortable, and help you to meet other moms who won't judge you for making the difficult choices you've made. It also helps to meet and get to know others if you volunteer to help in small ways.
Toddlerhood can be an intensely lonely time ... when the child is too young for sports, still clingy, not ready for real friends. In addition to Cary's advice, please understand that wherever you go, and regardless of what family is around, you will need to develop new friends and contacts for the first time in probably a very long time. It is not easy, but hang in there, take a step, be patient and it will be okay.