Healthy dating life is something we all deserve and yearn for at some point in our lives. However, the presence of children in one’s life can pose a few more dating challenges as compared to single partners with no kids. So, let’s find out how to handle single parent dating!

Whether you said ‘I do’ at the altar or had a shotgun wedding due to pregnancy, breakups can still happen, leaving you in a whole new reality. Now, for most parents, children are pretty much a cherished blessing, but they can also be a huge hindrance to your dating life just as all your other priorities tend to come second to them. However, does this mean this is the end of your love life? Certainly not! You can still be an awesome parent as long as you earn the art of navigating single parent dating, whether you’re after casual sex hookups or a long-term relationship!

It Happens – Life Goes On. Try Single Parent Dating!

Often, we tend to pine over the past, obsessing over what happened and what could have been. Now, as much as that grieving part is normal, it shouldn’t consume us to the point of affecting your daily life because, indeed, life goes on! You can create as much life for yourself and your kids even without that partner. As such, before you can even hope to sign up on a dating website, you need to come to terms with the loss you have experienced. Check out our blog on how best to get over someone if you’re finding it super hard to do so!

Single parents often forget or overlook the impact of partner loss on their children as well. Even at a young age, kids can also experience grief at the sudden departure of someone dear to them or someone they had grown accustomed to. For reasoning-age kids (4 years or so), this loss should be discussed and explained. This way, introducing someone new to their lives will not be met with as much resentment as would happen if they’re still expecting their original parent back!

Setting Your Kids as Top Priority

This one is a no-brainer for most parents, in theory, that is. However, sometimes our humane traits can cloud our judgment and cause us to pursue our wild fantasies and sexcapades at the expense of the kids. As such, you need to establish clear ground rules for yourself and your conduct that ensure your kids remain a priority. Let’s take a quick look at some of the key ones to observe:

• Take a Breather

It’s pretty tempting to want to jump back into the dating pool soon after a separation or divorce. However, with kids in the picture, this can be pretty disastrous for all of you! Take your time to mourn your loss and get used to the new reality, at least for a year, before checking out your options!

• Separate Your Kids & Your Single Parent Dating Life

Kids tend to be very emotionally available, which can cause a lot of complications for you if you’re just on the hunt for casual sex and not on the market for a long-term relationship. After all, having suffered the loss of a parent, they’re likely to attach very quickly to whoever you bring around them!

To avoid having to put them through another loss, simply keep them separate from your dating life, especially in the early stages. Whether you’re engaging in casual sex or even trying to date properly, postpone any introductions for at least six months. This way, you get sufficient time to evaluate how you feel about that new partner yourself without getting the kids involved!

• Choose Compatibility over Everything Else!

It’s pretty easy to get carried away with sexy singles with rock-hard abs or sexy booties, but is it really what you need as a single parent? Of course, there’s nothing wrong with craving wild casual sex, but it doesn’t have to be with a random guy! You can still find an ideal partner that is highly compatible with you in terms of interests, maturity, and still have amazing sex!

Online dating sites like Wickedlist allow users to filter their options through dating ads designed to find an ideal match for every user based on preferences, location, and interests! This way, you ensure that your love life remains exciting yet bring about a bit of stability for yourself! Check out our blog on making a great dating ad to ensure that you attract the right partner to your inbox!

• Be Extra Picky, Extra Vigilant!

When dating as a young guy or lady with no kids, you mostly worry about your safety and comfort. However, with kids around, you also need to consider the threats that dating life poses to them. For instance, bringing random casual sex partners to the house, even if the kids are asleep, can easily expose your kids to abuse! This means you need to evaluate every trait of your date in the context of having children around. Habits that may not bother you at all like smoking or drinking alcohol should also play a part in deciding whether the person is ideal for you!

If you’re after a long-term relationship, and things get serious moving you to introduce your new partner to your kids, closely monitor how they relate and always pay attention to every potential red flag. Remember, introducing someone to your kids’ lives opens up a whole lot of safety risks because your kids will automatically trust that person! Don’t hesitate to do thorough background checks and always ensure that their interaction is supervised by someone long-trusted! Once you’re going strong, try to keep it steady so that your kids can have some consistency again. Check out these tips on maintaining a healthy relationship for a few key pointers!

• Keep the Kids in the Loop!

The last thing you want is to become that neglectful parent who just goes in and out all the time and delegates parenting duties to sitters and relatives.  Rather, always make a point to tell your kids that you’re going out and when you’ll be back. If you’re only engaging in casual sex and don’t want them to meet the partner, minimize your outings to the times when the kids are occupied with school, visiting family/friends, etc. Once the relationship gets serious, and you introduce your partner, try to hang out as a group rather than just always going out leaving them behind!

• Have a Life Outside Dating!

Last but certainly not least, dedicating all your free time and energy to dating can be pretty exhausting. While online dating apps and websites tend to make life much easier to find an ideal partner, it may take a while before you meet the perfect guy or lady that really floats your boat. As such, pinning all your hopes on having a relationship can destroy your self-esteem unnecessarily. Instead, stay in touch with your friends and family, taking every opportunity to hang out with them. This way, you get a chance to make more cheerful memories as a single parent that don’t involve any romance!

Go for Single Parent Dating – Lots of Options Out There!

There are millions of single parents out there seeking casual sex, kinky experiments, long-term relationships, and all kinds of adult engagements! Never stifle your passion for the kids’ sake, otherwise, you’ll only end up resenting them. Wherever you are in the US, Wickedlist can easily find you the nearest local singles that suit your dating needs and preferences!