Be Up Front Full disclosure about your single motherhood status will help start any potential relationship on the right foot -- and avoid any surprises later. When you have a wee little one who's more interested in mashed bananas than mommy's boyfriend, an introduction - say, over ice cream at the park - might not be a big deal. After my book was published, I met a cute scientist at a friend's book launch party; we got engaged a year later. A decade after being a single mom, I have blended my family. When I was dating as a single parent, I often felt discouraged. But I learned that no matter how a date ended, what really mattered at the end of the day was coming home to my girl-power house and kissing my first love, my child.This doesn't mean that you should spend your date talking about your child's honor roll status - but isn't it best to start any relationship with honesty? Set Your Standards High There's no doubt that dating when you're a single parent raises the stakes-after all, this is not just about you anymore. But eventually your kid is old enough what "dating" means. And when you are ready to introduce your date, you might be surprised to hear that your kid isn't ready to meet him/her yet. I'm not sure if any parent ever achieves balance, whether you're single or married. Childcare can be a huge challenge for single parents.
For many single parents, dating is exciting and scary at the same time.
On one hand, you can hardly contain your enthusiasm for your new love interest.
"It helps reinforce your emotional connection." Build a network of people you trust that can help with childcare, carpooling, and even projects around the house.
"The challenges facing single parents are not that different from those of all parents.
Getting back into the dating game as a single parent can seem daunting. Our relationship experts help you navigate the single-parent dating scene. " Sometimes, Baumgartner says, the voids in your life may be better filled in ways other than dating.
How much should you tell your kids -- or the cutie across the table? Without a co-parent to share parenting time or even discuss discipline issues or academic concerns?Some single moms and dads, who’ve had negative co-parenting experiences, might tell you that you're “lucky,” but nothing is easy about being the only adult responsible for every aspect of your kids’ lives.If he's supporting you when your baby spikes a fever in the middle of the night, it's a good preview to see how he responds in the midst of such reality. Watch for Red Flags You know what the red flags are: a guy who wants to know your whereabouts every minute of the day, someone who brings up marriage too soon, someone who has as an unsettled divorce or high unpaid debts, or someone with a quick temper. Before you know it, you'll develop this "single mom radar." Amazingly, you'll naturally start to spot other single moms at the park.The challenging part might be walking up to them and saying, "hi." You can do it!When you're raising a child as a single parent, you're handling a lot of tasks and decisions on your own.