7 Things to Consider When Dating as a Single Parent
By Coach Amy Schoen. Posted on .
Not everyone is comfortable stepping into a parent role, especially if they don’t have kids of their own. Can they be flexible enough to roll with the punches? Since you cannot control everything, there are times you will have to cancel a date because of your kids. How will your date handle it? Can your date be able to take a back seat to the needs of your children? Unfortunately, only time will tell!
5. What is your children’s reaction to you dating?
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Is your child(ren) supportive and encouraging of your dating, and practically push you with their friend’s fathers or mothers!
Other kids are jealous of the attention away from them, create distractions and make it difficult for the parent to date. Your children can have a big role in whether you date or not.
6. When do you intend to introduce your date to your children?
There are two schools of thoughts. First is to have a casual introduction to your children by saying that this person is Mommy’s or Daddy’s friend. That means that you have no physical contact in front of the children. The upside is you can see how well your kids get along with the person you are dating without the fear factor from the kids.
The second is to wait until you are in a serious, exclusive relationship with that person with intent towards a more permanent arrangement. Here you want to make sure that your relationship is solid and that the person loves you before introducing the kids into the picture. You also want to make sure the person loves you for you and not because of the family package.
7. When your partner does meet your children, how much time will you spend with your children versus just adult time alone with each other?
Each person needs to express their expectations about this. Are they similar or far apart?
It’s important to plan date night alone to keep building the personal adult relationship. Of course, time with the kids allows them to get adjusted to having this new person in your life. There is no right or wrong answer- just what feels right to both of you.
Yes, dating as a single parent seems more complicated. It’s a lot different than dating before kids! However, with new challenges also brings many rewards for those dating the single parent. There are many single people who may have missed out on parenthood and now this is their opportunity to be involved in children’s lives. This can be end up being a very fulfilling and rewarding experience.
About the Author:
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Amy Schoen, principal of Heartmind Connection (http://www.heartmindconnection.com ) has been transforming people to be their best for over 20 years. Amy has the gift of visualization and uses it to help her clients visualize the kind of life they truly desire. Contact Amy at CoachAmy@heartmindconnection.com or 240-498-7803 for a complimentary phone coaching session and learn how to make the best decisions for you using both the heart and your mind.
