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Dating is hard enough let alone trying to do it with kids. Here are a few dating with kids lessons I learned while trying to find a life partner with little ones at home.

At eighteen years old I was a single parent and I knew at some point I would find a life partner, but it would take a few steps to get there. Sometimes the children get lost or forgotten about when a parent is trying to find a partner but when you do find someone, it’s important to remember that there’s a time to include them and there’s a time to keep dating and family separate.

Dating with kids meant getting to know different men, but before I started to date I wanted to put boundaries in place to protect my child.

Here is what I learned while dating with kids:

Boundaries

I never wanted my son to have people walking in and out of his life as this would create instability and inconsistency, which every child could do without. So I would only agree to a date when I could find a reliable babysitter, and most of the time, only once he’d gone to sleep, so I was still the one tucking him into bed.

This gave me an opportunity to get to know potential partners as an individual person and not just as a mum. Sometimes I couldn’t find someone to watch my child and I would have to cancel, postpone or pass up on dates, and that was always ok with me. And if it wasn’t ok with my date, then I knew that was already a bad match, as my children and their safety should always come first. The right person would be understanding of this, and also of when you decide is the right time for them to meet your children.

Have high standards

Hold the people that come into yours and your child’s life to a higher standard. I wanted someone with a good work ethic, who didn’t do drugs, wasn’t aggressive, would show my son the right way to treat people and would love my child as if they were their own. A good sense of humour wouldn’t go amiss either! There wasn’t one concession I would make – if they didn’t tick all the boxes, I wasn’t about to keep them around just for their company. I would move on.

Prioritise

Keep yourself busy – pick up a hobby or sport you enjoy, or enrol in a course and upskill. It’s really easy to get lost in the feeling of needing someone else in your life, especially when you find too much time on your hands. Be strong, independent and resilient, you may want a partner, but you don’t need one. You’re not wrong for having these feelings but you and your children should stay the priority, and having someone else to compliment your lives is just a bonus.

So while you’re waiting to find the right person, don’t forget to invest in yourself and your relationship with your children. It’ll make finding a partner even more achievable when you’re aware of your own self-worth, and have a great relationship with your children to reflect on.

Don’t forget while partners or potential partners may come and go, your children will always be reliant on you, so remember to value their best interests, safety and security first and foremost, and date only when you feel it’s the right time.

It may take some time to find the right person- it took me six years. But by knowing what kind of person I wanted to be with, who could add quality to both of our lives, and upholding my standards, meant my son survived me dating without incurring instability or undergoing major disruptions to our family roles. It also meant that when I did find the right person, who was the perfect fit for us both, it only strengthened our family dynamic and brought us closer.

Casey Mackinlay is the author of Girls Don’t Lay Bricks, renowned motivational speaker and director of La Folie, Australia’s first aerial silks competition. For more information visit www.caseymackinlay.com.au

Are you or did you go through dating with kids. Share your lessons learned and tips in the comments below.

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  • Oh im so glad i didnt have to worry about this with little kids. But here i am navagating it with adult kids…..totally different kettle of fish. Thank goodness my kids are so supportive.

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  • The kids come as part of the package. Not negotiable.

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  • You are so right in your assessment [you might want a partner, but you don’t need one] and if you keep this to the forefront of where you are going and what you are attempting to achieve you will find the right vibes in the end. Thanks for your very insightful post and hope others might take it on board.
    As an ex divorcee I know how hard it is to get through the times and still keep your children happy and be their devoted mum

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  • A sound, sensible and thoughtful article on dating.

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  • I haven’t bothered to be honest I just don’t have the time and energy

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  • I had 2 boys bordering on teenagers when I embarked upon finding someone to share my life. It was kept A secret for quite some time before this became unsustainable and they were introduced. This did not go well at all and it was clear that it’d would take some time. We all made it through intact but it wasn’t until recently that me eldest son divulged that he used to pee on my partners car door handle whilst he was visiting. Well that’s an original way to burden himself of the horrible feelings he was dealing with. Thankfully, we all got a good laugh about it as we realised it was just a teenage boys protest at his mum being seen with someone other than his dad. We got through with the gently gently approach and my partner and I have now been together for over 20 years and my boys and my partner are the best of mates in adulthood..

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  • It is so hard to find a good man that would treat your children as their own and its great that you don’t settle for second best.

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  • This is great!
    It definitely would be hard to date while having a child but I’m glad you set boundaries and kept top them as well as being the best mum you could be to your son.

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  • Good article, great advice!

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  • All very good advice! When I was younger, I had a friend with a single mum. The problem was that she didn’t want to “share” her mum, especially with a man, so she hated all her mum’s boyfriends. I always felt sorry for the mum as she put her feelings and needs aside to please her daughter. At least the mum is finding a balance

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  • Sounds like this Mum has made her life a priority whilst still keeping her children as a priority. Win/win.

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  • I enjoyed reading this side of the dating scene. You don’t normally hear about Mum’s wanting to date when they have young children. It told me a lot of things you wouldn’t usually think of. Very well stated and I agree with all of the points brought up. I never had to worry about this personally

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  • Great article. I don’t think this gets discussed enough. So important to be mindful of the impacts on your kids when you date.

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  • Such a challenging time as a family but I know too many happy blended families so you just got to keep trying

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  • No I don’t/didn’t go through dating with kids, but sounds like good & logic advice.

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  • Good article. Defenetly its difficult to it with kids and for them

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  • I love this article. It’s all too true. Kids come first!

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  • This sounds like me if I were dating as a single parent

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  • No I haven’t but great advice

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  • Never had one. But some useful information here.

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