Ep 173: How to start dating when being 100% single mum?

In this episode, Marta and Anna are solving a challenge sent by Anne, a single mum of a 3-year old kid, who is getting ready to start dating again. She’s wondering, how to make it all happen since she's almost always alone with her son? Anna shares her previous single parent dating experience and some great tips.

Challenge description:

I´ve been alone with my now almost 4-year-old son since his birth, no contact to his father. I am ready to start dating life again... but how should that work? First, finding time to get to know someone and then the actual dating, the first months of relationship until being ready to bring a new person in my son’s life, when actually not having much alone time without my son.

5 aspects of dating for single mums:

1. Getting ready

What do I want from a relationship:

https://www.the5options.com/blog-articles/2018/4/3/one-exercise-that-can-totally-change-your-love-life

• Things I Have To Offer
• How Do I Want To FEEL With My Partner
• What do you want your perfect relationship to be like
• Dealbreakers
• My partner
• Anything You Want Your Perfect Relationship To Be Like

Five Things To Ensure Before You "Get Back Out There"

https://www.the5options.com/podcast/getting-back-out-there

• Why clearing your emotional and physical space is important and how to do that?
• How to be mindful of falling back to the "old ways" (and old "type of guys")
• Why doing something in a different way can be a good idea?
• What does it mean to open up for a new relationship?

2. Getting to know someone

Dating for single parents ideas:

https://www.single.dk/

https://www.partnermedniveau.dk/raadgivning/singleliv-dating/dating-for-enlige-foraeldre

https://www.parship.dk/magasin/dating/dating-for-enlige-foraldre.htm

https://www.singleparent.dk/

3. Dating

Some ideas:

• Choose someone who is a single parent too, they will understand your challenges
• Online/ phone dates when the kid is sleeping
• Getting a babysitter
• Involving your network
• Creating your own network of single mums supporting each other

4.First months of the relationship 

• Dates at your place after your child falls asleep
• Introducing your partner first as a friend
• Being creative
• Being open to receive support

5. Bringing a new person into your child’s life

• Be open to early signs of the partner not being ok with you having a child
• Listen to your instinct- you'll know when it is the right time to introduce the 2 men
• If your partner wants to meet your child and it doesn't feel write, listen to your intuition
• Make sure you understand his motivation for meeting your child
• Be aware of possible fears

Image by Bianca Mentil from Pixabay