Are there rules for single parents who have not been
on the dating scene for a while and now decide to step out? There most
certainly are. Times are tougher, women are braver, eligible men are scarcer
and you have to have your wits about you. A woman’s first priority is always
her children. As long as you consider their interests first, you cannot go
wrong.
Times are tougher
Going out on a date for the first time in many years might
be welcomed by the kids and the new beau might even grow fond of them. But what
if they don’t like him and the date turns sour? Their father is no longer in the house and they
might wonder why you would want to spend more time with this man than with them.
They will be jealous of a new person on the scene. Here are some things you can
talk about to let them know they will be all right.
Kids come first
·
Don’t bring the man home until
you have been out several times and strongly believe that he might be a match.
You don’t want your kids to be introduced to a string of men.
·
When you do find that guy with potential, tell
your kids beforehand that he is coming to dinner and that you want them to be
nice to him and treat him with respect.
·
Don’t come home late and have
your kids worrying.
·
Spend enough quality time with
your kids; have a game night or play Monopoly. You don’t want them to feel
different.
·
If he has children, ask him
not to bring them with him the first time. You want your kids to get used to
him first.
·
The dinner goes well and you
decide you really like him. Do a back ground check nevertheless to make sure he
is who he says he is. Don’t pry openly for information. You don’t want to find
out you are dating a pedophile.
·
Pay attention to how your kids
react to him and don’t express your feelings or be intimate in front of them.
After the dinner is over ask them how they liked everything.
·
Have several of these
get togethers before you introduce your kids to his kids. Children need time to
digest what is going on.
