When you decide to begin dating, lunch dates are a great way to get your feet wet. You can easily fit a lunch date into your workday -- and you don't have to hassle with finding a babysitter. Moreover, you don't have to tell your child or children right away that you are dating. You can do a little exploring on your own, and then talk to them about it.
Of course, talking with your children about your dating life depends on their age. Younger children - say under the age of five - might need to know that you're having some "Mommy or Daddy time" or that you are going out with a friend. But older kids are more perceptive.
Jennifer Wolf, a writer for About.com and a certified Parent coach says that when you are ready, you should talk with your kids about your desire to date. "Your kids are your family" says Wolf. "Of course you can't predict the future, but you can clue them in to your intentions. Think of your honesty at this point - before you've begun to date - as a seed which will grow into their future acceptance."
The bottom line is, your kids are a very important part of your life but you have to make yourself a priority too. And as was mentioned last week, give yourself the opportunity to get to know someone before you go sizing up their parental potential. Just get out there and start having fun!
