| If you are a single parent, dating may be a source of | | | | or mother, and that this new person will never take |
| simultaneous joy and anxiety. How do you explain to | | | | their mother's or father's place. Make sure to listen to |
| young children that you are dating? Should you | | | | how your children feel about what you tell them, and |
| introduce the kids to everyone you date, or is it better | | | | encourage them to ask any questions they have. |
| to wait until the relationship has reached a certain level | | | | If your kids react positively or neutrally, you might |
| of commitment? What if you fall in love with someone | | | | schedule an age-appropriate activity all of you can do |
| your kids end up not liking? Although these are | | | | together. If your children seem extremely adverse to |
| common questions most single parents entering the | | | | the idea of you dating, you might consider holding off |
| dating scene have, there are truly no simple answers. | | | | on the introduction for a few weeks to give your kids |
| Combining the following tips with your instincts and | | | | time to let the news sink in. Once you and your kids |
| better judgment can help. | | | | are ready, plan an activity where everyone can have |
| When you have young children, third grade or younger, | | | | a good time. Choose mini-golf or an afternoon at the |
| explaining that you are dating is probably not | | | | arcade over a sit-down lunch, because a hands-on |
| necessary, at least not until you have met someone | | | | activity will allow your kids the option of doing their own |
| you are serious about. Introducing a young child to | | | | thing while warming up to your new love slowly, |
| every man or woman you bring home is probably | | | | whereas a restaurant lunch will involve forced small |
| more damaging than helpful, and will likely only confuse | | | | talk and awkward silence. |
| your child. Remember that young children grow | | | | Keep in mind, all children adjust differently. If your kids |
| attached to people quickly, and thus, it is unfair to your | | | | lived through and remember the times you and their |
| children to bring someone into their lives whom you | | | | father argued, or your kids' mother has only been dead |
| yourself are still unsure about. Once a relationship has | | | | a few years, the concept of a new man or woman |
| reached the stage where you both envision a future | | | | entering their lives may be more than your children are |
| together, the risk of heartbreak for both you and your | | | | emotionally ready to handle. Once a child has lost a |
| kids becomes smaller. | | | | parent, they may fear being abandoned. Although it |
| Once you are dating someone you truly believe could | | | | may seem irrational to your adult mind, to a child, it may |
| be the one, you are faced with how to introduce your | | | | seem like you are abandoning them for a new man, or |
| kids to the new man or woman in your life. It is wise to | | | | a new woman. They may also feel like you are trying |
| sit down with your children individually and have a | | | | to replace their father or mother, or they may be |
| conversation before bringing home someone who, to | | | | holding on to fantasies that you and your ex will get |
| your children, is a stranger. If your children are old | | | | back together. If your children feel any of these things, |
| enough to understand the concept of dating, they | | | | they will most likely react negatively to anyone new |
| might not necessarily be happy to hear the news. Kids | | | | you bring home, regardless of what a good person he |
| ages nine and up, especially ones old enough to | | | | or she might be or how much you love him or her. By |
| remember your divorce or separation, or who have | | | | reassuring your children that you love them, that they |
| lived through the death of a parent, tend to see their | | | | are your priority, and that your loyalties are to them, |
| single parent's dating as a threat. Explain to your | | | | you will be allowing your children to accept your new |
| children that you are not trying to replace their father | | | | relationship in their own time. |