Re-entering the dating scene as a single parent can be quite challenging. On the one hand, your children are your main priority but on the other hand, you want a romantic relationship and are ready to let somebody significant come into your life. Romance Compass Agency gives some advice on how soon a divorced or widowed man with kids should start dating again. Usually, it depends on a particular man. Combining dating with raising kids is an art and many single dads want to master it. If you want to know the secrets of being successful both with kids and women, use the following tips.
- Tell your children about your plans.
If you decide to get back in the game, you should let your kids know about it in order to prepare them. It should be explained in a manner comprehensive for your kids. Tell your offspring that you feel lonely and you want to find a girlfriend. At the same time, reassure your children that you’ll always love them more than anyone else in this world and they will play a leading role in your life. - Date the right woman.
It’s a good idea to start dating a single mother and many single dads really see a lot of advantages about it. First of all, she will always understand if you have to postpone a date or take the call in the middle of it. Also, the fact that she is a mom means she loves children. However, women who have never been married and haven’t got children yet shouldn’t be disregarded. They could be understanding and good with kids too. - Be careful about introducing your date to your kids.
If you are not going to introduce your date to your children, don’t tell them much about her. Or if you want to test the waters and see how your kids will get on with your date, go somewhere together without telling your kids who that woman is. It will be enough for them to know that she is your good friend. - Don’t introduce all your dates to your kids.
Ideally, your children should meet only that woman with whom you want to build a long-term relationship. Children tend to get attached to new people and if they see many women come and go, they may develop a wrong perception of relationships between a man and a woman. - Don’t let your kids into your online dating affairs.
You may meet and date different women online but you shouldn’t discuss them with your kids. Showing women’s profiles to your curious offspring is a no-no. It’s your private life and it should be kept private. - Prioritize your kids.
If you’re a part-time parent and you see you children on the weekends, spend this time with them, not with your date. This way you’ll demonstrate your kids that you’re a father in the first place. If you’re a single father, your children shouldn’t feel the lack of your attention once you start dating. - Respect your ex.
Even if your children permanently live with you, they love their mother and still perceive you two as a couple. That is why it’s important to persuade your kids that your date isn’t their new mom otherwise they may feel jealous. Also, it’s better to tell your ex that you date somebody before she gets to know it from your kids. Depending on the relations between you and your ex-spouse, you should let her know about your decision to introduce your kids to your potential partner. - Create a casual atmosphere of the first introduction.
When your date meets your kids for the first time, make sure this meeting is short. They need to get acquainted superficially. Also, you should choose the right venue for the introduction. It should be a neutral territory, that is, not your house or your date’s place. Don’t expect that she will like your kids at once or they will adore her at first sight. The chances are 50:50 so don’t have illusions about your children loving your date during their first meeting or vis versa.
