When you decide to begin dating, lunch dates are a great way to get your feet wet. You can easily fit a lunch date into your workday--and you don't have to hassle with finding a babysitter. Moreover, you don't have to tell your child or children right away that you are dating. You can do a little exploring on your own, and then talk to them about it.
Jennifer Wolf, a writer for About.com and a certified parent coach says that when you are ready you should talk with your kids about your desire to date. "Your kids are your family," says Wolf. "Of course, you can't predict the future, but you can clue them in to your intentions. Think of your honesty at this point-before you've even begun to date-as a seed which will grow into their future acceptance."
Of course, talking to your children about your dating life depends on their age. Younger children--say, under the age of five--might need to know that you're getting "Mommy/Daddy time" or that you're going out with a friend. But older kids are more perceptive. You will need to figure out the best way to explain to them that you are dating.
The bottom line is, your kids are a very important part of your life but you have to make yourself a priority, too. Give yourself the opportunity to get to know someone before you go sizing up their parental potential! Get out there and have fun!
Other single parents, however, might not be looking to get remarried, or to find a potential step-parent. Maybe your kids are older. Maybe they'll go to college soon. You plan to keep your romantic and parenting lives separate.
You want to experience love and physical satisfaction, but you don't want to bring your kids, (or their kids), into the mix. Perhaps you've spent many years giving your kids all the love, attention, and cuddling they need to keep them healthy and happy-and now you want to focus on YOU.
We say, go ahead and do what's right for you. You've earned it!
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Looking for more dating tips for single parents? Check out our Guide to Dating, exclusive to Its Just Lunch and written by the First Date Specialists.
