Just because you are a single parent and your first priority is your child does not mean that you should forget about your needs too. We all need to feel that we are loved and that we have someone we can depend on. This is especially true for single parents who are singlehandedly raising their children with minimal or no support. Single parents can definitely date but they must know their priorities and have firm rein on their self-control. They must also know when something is appropriate and when something is not. They need to get ready though because the scheduling can be hard and there is also the added stress of juggling both the problems of being in a relationship (and there will be problems, I tell you! Every relationship has them.) and raising your child alone. Here are some ways to make dating easier for you.
Be honest
Right at the get go, be honest with your date and tell them that you are a single mother or a single dad. Trust me, you will be saving yourself a lot of time and heartache if you say this at the start. Some people are just not ready for a commitment with people who already have responsibilities. Remember that they will need to not only relate to you should the relationship continue, they will also need to relate to the kid. Its going to be a package deal and for some this can be pretty scary. So save yourself the waste and tell them right off.
Set the ground rules
You need to be clear about what your priorities are and it should be on your child and on no one elses. That way, you will be in control of the situation and you know when you should rein in your actions. When the situation progresses from dating to a relationship, it is also good to be clear with the ground rules with your partner. This will minimize any discord and misunderstandings between you two. With him or her knowing where their place is, things will be a lot easier to deal with.
Involve the child later
Although it is not good to involve the child at the early stages of the dating because he or she might be exposed to potential father or mother figures that will quickly disappear as they have appeared; when things become serious, it is good to involve the kid. This way you will be able to test if you all can be a family together and if your child is okay with the idea. For those who have raised their kids singlehandedly from the time of their babys birth, this should not be a problem but for those whose children experienced the attention of a father or a mother, wooing them to the idea of having another one can be a challenge.
Dating when you already have responsibilities is tough but if you play your cards right, you might end up juggling the two together well.
