If navigating the dating scene seems hard enough for single people, just imagine how much harder it can be for single parents due to their unique circumstances. Many single moms and dads have not dated anyone else since they got hitched to their exes, so naturally, there's an element of awkwardness, of not quite fitting in. Also at the back of a single parent's mind is the nagging thought that, "I already have kids and stretchmarks. Who will find me desirable now?"
If you are a single parent entertaining the idea of having a new romance in your life, realize that the quality of relationships you find now is directly proportional to your current level of self-esteem. If you see yourself as a worthless, middle-aged, unattractive, partly obese social outcast for whom the only thing that won't cause jitters is changing kids' diapers, you are doing yourself a great disservice by sabotaging your own potential to attract people to you. So, toss aside those negative thoughts before they become self-fulfilling prophecy, dust off your confidence and open yourself to the possibility of finding true love NOW!
But where do you find potential dates? For starters, you may want to check out online dating tools. Cyberspace is teeming with single parents like you who are also looking for dating prospects. If you find signing up for dating sites not much to your liking, you can try social networking sites like Facebook or MySpace. Some people were able to find romantic connections via Twitter and YouTube. The next time you receive a friend invitation from someone you don't know, don't be so quick to click on the "Ignore" button.
Mobile dating sites also offer a wealth of opportunities for singles. Joining forums or support groups for single parents is also not a bad idea. You can even find special groups on the web whose members are into the supernatural, scuba diving, freelance writing -- the possibilities are limitless.
While web and mobile technologies are good vehicles to find potential love interests, don't limit yourself to them. Go out, connect with friends, attend parties, product launches, weddings, even funerals. Join a local community and get to know real people. Sometimes nothing beats the real world when it comes to finding good dates.
Whatever you do, don't lose sight of your priorities. Don't sacrifice your children's needs in the process (missing school events to spend time with your date). Managing your time well is the key to taking care of your kids and finding love at the same time without losing your sanity.
Of course, it goes without saying that you should not bring home the first single guy or gal you meet in the street or through dating websites. For the safety of your children, make sure that you first get to know the person well in a public setting before you let him or her into your home.
After passing the initial getting-to-know-you stage with flying colors, the next step may be to introduce your new friend to your kids. Letting your date tag along to family-oriented activities would be a nice way to ease him or her into the family circles.
If you are a single parent entertaining the idea of having a new romance in your life, realize that the quality of relationships you find now is directly proportional to your current level of self-esteem. If you see yourself as a worthless, middle-aged, unattractive, partly obese social outcast for whom the only thing that won't cause jitters is changing kids' diapers, you are doing yourself a great disservice by sabotaging your own potential to attract people to you. So, toss aside those negative thoughts before they become self-fulfilling prophecy, dust off your confidence and open yourself to the possibility of finding true love NOW!
But where do you find potential dates? For starters, you may want to check out online dating tools. Cyberspace is teeming with single parents like you who are also looking for dating prospects. If you find signing up for dating sites not much to your liking, you can try social networking sites like Facebook or MySpace. Some people were able to find romantic connections via Twitter and YouTube. The next time you receive a friend invitation from someone you don't know, don't be so quick to click on the "Ignore" button.
Mobile dating sites also offer a wealth of opportunities for singles. Joining forums or support groups for single parents is also not a bad idea. You can even find special groups on the web whose members are into the supernatural, scuba diving, freelance writing -- the possibilities are limitless.
While web and mobile technologies are good vehicles to find potential love interests, don't limit yourself to them. Go out, connect with friends, attend parties, product launches, weddings, even funerals. Join a local community and get to know real people. Sometimes nothing beats the real world when it comes to finding good dates.
Whatever you do, don't lose sight of your priorities. Don't sacrifice your children's needs in the process (missing school events to spend time with your date). Managing your time well is the key to taking care of your kids and finding love at the same time without losing your sanity.
Of course, it goes without saying that you should not bring home the first single guy or gal you meet in the street or through dating websites. For the safety of your children, make sure that you first get to know the person well in a public setting before you let him or her into your home.
After passing the initial getting-to-know-you stage with flying colors, the next step may be to introduce your new friend to your kids. Letting your date tag along to family-oriented activities would be a nice way to ease him or her into the family circles.