Getting back into the dating world as a single parent can be a daunting task, but you are not alone. It is a complex world of dating out there, so the first question is where can you meet people and then when should you reveal that you have kids?
A common mistake many single parents make when scoping out another single parent to date is going to children environments and places, like Chuck E. Cheese’s or to a zoo. Yeah, you will find many kids but not so many single parents there. Of course you probably aren’t ready to jump into the whole bar scene again. The best places to start meeting people would be at bookstores, farmer’s markets, museums, and parks.
Once you have met someone and started dating them, it is important to talk to your kids about dating. You should definitely tell them you are dating and what exactly dating is. Try to keep it short and sweet, but make sure they understand you are feeling lonely and would like to meet new people.
But when should you tell your date about your children? Since you are teaching your children not to lie and have already told them about dating, you should do the same to your new date. If you are on an online dating site, make sure you mention you have kids, how many, and how important they are to you and your life. However, when on a date, talk about yourself and things you are interested in. If your date asks more questions about your children, keep the answers again short and sweet.
When it comes to actually introducing your kids to the date, make sure you aren’t introducing them to every guy or girl you meet that you go on for only a few dates. Children will often find a form of attachment rather quick and if it is with someone who you didn’t really like so well, you might have a hard time moving on finding someone new. When the relationship becomes serious and stable, then you can introduce your kids to your new partner.
Getting back into the dating game can be fun and invigorating even when you are a single parent. Get out there and meet someone and make sure you let both your children and your date know about each other.
