Dating Advice for Single Mothers

How to find the time, the right man and still look after your kids. Or, how to perform miracles!

OK, so I can't promise the impossible. But here's some practical advice you can use to save time and ensure you get with the right man all whilst giving the love you need to your kids.

Dating when you've got very little time to spare

How can you give the amount of time to a guy that wants to date you?

Set your boundaries with your partner early on.

Most guys who want to date you but don't have kids will not fully realise how much time children take up. Even if you're in the fortunate position of being able to arrange child care whenever you want, you're still going to be less available than a woman with no kids.

So let your partner know up front that your kids are a priority in your life, that it's not so easy to drop them and go to him, that it needs time and planning to go on dates and that dates are likely to happen less frequently. At the same time let them know, and keep letting them know, that this doesn't mean you care for them any less. Most guys will understand - we just need reassuring frequently.

You may think this is all obvious to a single guy, but if you don't spell it out for him, even though he may intellectually understand it, it will still hurt at an emotional level when you don't feel available to him as much as he is used to.

Why don't some men want to get with women with kids?

Frankly, who cares? Just forget them and move on. There's no point trying to change someone who is scared off by you having kids. There are plenty of men out there who will happily date you as long as you are the type of woman they're looking for.

How do you know if he'll be good with your kids?

You don't really! The upside is that many guys who truly aren't comfortable with children will have left long before they get to meet yours. The bad news is that you cannot really judge whether your partner will treat your kids in a way that you'll be happy with until he actually meets them and spends time with them.

Help on finding your Mr. Right

Get very clear on who you're looking for. This isn't specific to single parents, but it is a vital part to finding the right partner for you or any other single person.