Love Lessons Learned From Mom

My mom has a boyfriend.

For most children of divorce this is nothing new—or perhaps all too common—but for me, this is big. Really big. You see, my mother has been single for most of my life. She has great friends, a close-knit family, and a job she feels passionate about, but she's never really had a guy in her life since my parents divorced. The Frisky: My Mother Is A Hoarder

A typical Friday for her involves her bathrobe, the couch, our dog, and The Daily Show accompanied by the phrase "I like my life just the way it is!" Now, I realize that this sounds like the ideal Friday night for many people, myself included. But, it's not really about the bathrobe or the TV shows or even the fact that it's a Friday night. It's about seeing some variation of this over and over again: My mother, alone.

When she turned 55 last year, I had a realization that hit me like a lightening bolt: "She really is never going to get re-married." This was a holdover from my childhood. My parents divorced when I was four and for years afterward I'd daydream about whom my mom was going to marry next. This was an exciting prospect at the time because I assumed I'd get to go to the wedding. I also assumed she would have another baby, giving me the sibling I'd always wanted. It was my dad who managed to do both things by the time I was 12.

For mom's part, there were a couple guys here and there, but nothing serious. The older I got, the less interest she seemed to have in dating—possibly because I had started dating. I never wanted her to have a boyfriend more than during that time. Only children get a bad rap for being spoiled—and, quite frankly, it's true. But, there's a catch: You get all of your parent's attention—especially when you don't want it. Granted, we had a dog that took some of the pressure off, but the dog doesn't borrow your car until 1 am or ask to go on birth control. In hindsight, I can understand why my mother couldn't be bothered with men while she was dealing with me. However, I'm twenty-five now. I moved out years ago, and I no longer need to borrow the car. The Frisky: "My Boyfriend's Jealous Of My Relationship With My Mother"

My mother hasn't given me too much love advice directly, aside from the time she told me and my high school boyfriend that we weren't "mature enough to have a physical relationship, even if you think you are." (Note to parents: nothing makes your teenager want to do it more than telling them they can't handle it.) That being said, I've learned a lot from from watching her wade back into the dating pool after far too long spent on a deck chair—mostly that she has no idea what she's doing, but also that there are some things about the dating world that never seem to change, whether you're starting college or eyeing retirement.