starting dating

When I was single most of my dating consisted of one night stands it wasn’t till I met my husband that i really introduced my kids to someone.

I think @ViciDraco makes good points.

I am neither a single parent nor the product of such.

But introducing your child to a person...that could signal to the other person that you are ready to be remarried, and might create the classic "omg my/her kid has already bonded to him/me" problem...you want the other person to

commit to YOU
accept, love, help your child
parent your child as you two agree

I think that is somewhat right.

It could also signal to your child that a new daddy is going to come to live with you...which might be accepted, rejected, etc.

I do not envy your position, but looking for advice shows you are a caring mother, which is the first big requirement for success. 😊😊😊

I do not have experience as a single parent. But I have experience as the child of a single parent, my mother having died when I was five. And the intermittent dating my father would attempt.

I think you should get to know the person you are dating well enough to establish that they would have a positive impact on your child's life before an introduction. If you do not feel comfortable introducing someone to your child they probably are not good for you either. As for whether it is a long term thing or not; loss hurts, but we need to learn to deal with it eventually. What is important is that the time together provides for positive growth. Keeping abuse and neglect out of the equation.

You definitely should have a sense that it's more than just a short term thing. Which means a sense that the person is right for you and your kids. It's never just you.

That must be so difficult! I guess kids are more happy to meet new people as a transient friend, they're used to teaching assistants and teachers coming and going, childminders, etc.. so long as it's not too much of a strong emotional bond formed between child and partner that doesn't end up working- the risk being choosing a partner for their relationship with your child as opposed to with you! Short answer: I think adults are more bothered than kids are about it...

No one has the right answer except you. Give yourself a chance to try and learn how to make it work.

I met a lady years ago and we started to get more into a relationship and she had two daughters. I said to her early thet if we thought this was gonna go anywhere be a long term permanent thing then we better see the girls... If they didnt like me or weren't able to get along then i would not push in and destroy her family... I would walk away... Thankfully her two daughters were fine with me..

I was in the same situation you are in (many years ago) and felt the same way and in fact didnt date for quite awhile and when i eventually did I never rushed into introducing them to my kids.
I think its normaly feeling guilty because you are taking time away from the kids for someone else, but you need your time too.

You shouldn't feel guilty at all

Yes and I haven't dated since I got divorced I think I've gone to two dinner dates and that's it I have primary custody so I have one night a week that my daughter is at her mom's

My mother was a single parent and I think she felt this way and had very few relationships while I was growing up. I feel kind of bad about that

That is hard a hard one. Me I would make sure the child was comfortable with it before the relationship went on for to long.

You got to live your life a little but only introduce him to your child after a little time

It is not wrong all time. Sometime it ends fabulous

No I don’t but I’m careful

Take your time before you do that!

No, and it worked out just fine.

Sounds like a tough situation

Yes this is always hard

Can we chat

Hard to answer