Being a single parent can be challenging enough, which is why most people who understand the struggles of single parenting would never cease to tell you how difficult it gets. You are not just doing the job of two persons, you have to follow it up with the emotional side every parent should display. With all these going on, it could get a little ‘lonely’ for you too, which is why you may want to involve yourself in a romantic relationship, but that is actually a tough decision for a number of reasons.
To start with, you need to find the right person for your child. I am not talking of a stepmother or stepfather, but someone who would be a person the child can look up to. At this stage of your life, you are not just dating for yourself alone but for your child and this could pose a huge difficulty. Your child or children may not have gotten over your last partner which is a normal thing, and to ensure that they accommodate the person you wish to go out with, such a person should be able to fill the void which your last partner left.
Secondly, when you became a single parent without no prior relationships, it gets even more difficult because your inexperience with having a partner could make you choose the wrong person for both you and your children. Given these two scenarios, it could be really difficult for you no matter how you look at it.
Irrespective of these difficulties and other difficult situations that make it difficult for you to enjoy a romantic relationship as a single parent, we shall be offering you a few tips to help you enjoy a romantic relationship. It is really possible to rid yourself of ‘loneliness’ while you still remain in the realm of single parenting. The tips include:
1. Do Not Be In A Hurry To Show Off Your Date To Your Kid.
The excitement of meeting someone new, especially when they tick your boxes to a certain level could have you quickly introducing them to your child/children. While it is good that you want to carry them along, this decision could have a bad effect when you and your new boo or bae probably spilt after a short while and you have to bring someone else home again. This sends a bad image to the child which could affect their growth or perception of relationships or people generally. So while you may be excited to show off your new partner, give it a few more dates before you make the introduction.
2. Always Think About Your Child Or Children.
When choosing a new partner, aside from ensuring that they tick all your boxes ensure that they would be a perfect fit for your child or children. By perfect fit, we mean someone who has good character and would have no problem accepting your child or children just as he or she accepts you. No matter how much they love you, once that love does not spread to your child or children, you really have to let this one go.
3. Retain More Energy, Time And Resources For Your Child.
The thing that comes with being in love is that you have to give out time and attention to your new partner which if not controlled, could see you denying the same to your child or children. This could be really disastrous, especially to the growth of the child, so you have to ensure that you prioritize their affairs and welfare over that of your partner or person you are dating.
4. Keep An Open Mind.
Having been through a past relationship which may have ended badly, or you are yet to be in a romantic relationship but you have heard poor horrible things that partners could do to each other, this could lead you to view a relationship as something bad and you will not hesitate to antagonize anybody because you feel they could hurt you. While you have to be careful, it does not mean you stop being open-minded, knowing that a good person would love you and your child or children completely. To ensure this happens, you need to keep an open mind and give everyone the benefit of a doubt.
Being a single parent could have you thinking that your days of love and affection, and romantic dates or relationships have come to an end. But the fact remains that love finds us all irrespective of the position we may be in. We just have to ensure that we are in the perfect place and position to receive it.
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