Happy Monday! I’m pleased to announce a guest post from Daniel over at Memoirs of a Single Dad. He writes about the trials and tribulations of dating while having a kid to take care of…no small feat. I love his humor and attitude, and am really pleased he’s contributed a little something for you guys today. You see, I think there is a big stigma attached to dating a man or woman with children. While this is not for everyone, it’s certainly more rewarding than I thought it might be, so I encourage those who are open to dating outside your comfort zone to give it a chance. Plus, I think there are a lot of misconceptions out there. So, Daniel is here to set the record straight…
Top 3 Reasons for Dating A Single Parent
I won’t lie – I know that when it comes to dating, everyone is absolutely entitled to their own opinions and preferences in choosing their perfect match. But consider these three very good reasons for dating a single parent (dads included).
Reason #3 for Dating a Single Parent – Diversity of Selection
According to 2010 US Census data, nearly 2/3 of adults over the age of 30 in the US have children. We all know the US divorce rate hovers somewhere around 50%. Add to that singles that were never married with children and chances are very good in your dating experiences you’ll meet more single parents than singles without children. Eliminating a potential match because of their parental status will easily cut the better part of your dating pool before they can even introduce themselves. Dating and finding quality matches, especially after your late 20’s is a difficult enough prospect. Don’t add further difficulties to your dating life by overlooking some great matches just because they’re parents.
Reason #2 for Dating a Single Parent – Emotional Availability
Parents are more likely to be in-tune with their own feelings and emotions because of their experience in dealing with their children’s emotions. They know what actions will lead to which emotions because children often wear their hearts very close to their sleeves. After months or years of encouraging their children to ‘use their words’, parents should have also developed this skill as well. Single parents will be more likely to not only understand their own emotions but they’re often more likely to be willing to open up and share those emotions as well.
Reason #1 for Dating a Single Parent – Selflessness
Parenting is one of the most under-appreciated roles on earth. By its nature, parenting requires an imbalance of giving, especially in the early years. Parents receive their bits of gratification from little things like a fledgling smile from their infant or a little giggle here and tiny laugh there. Parents know what it means to give selflessly – involved parents do it for their children each and every day. Being in a relationship with a single parent will likely carry the same benefit. Just be sure to have a good amount of give and take in the relationship and don’t take advantage of a parent’s ability to give.
This is a guest post from Daniel Ruyter, single dad blogger over at Memoirs of a Single Dad. Daniel was a single dad for nearly 6 years and went on hundreds of dates over the years. Many singles have fears and misconceptions when it comes to dating single parents which often lead to them being excluded from certain dating circles. In his post, Daniel hopes to dispel some of those misconceptions and ease some of your fears of dating a single dad.
About Kelly Seal
Kelly is a freelance writer based in Los Angeles, CA. She blogs about dating, relationships, personal growth and what "healthy living" means to her. You can follow her on Google+, Twitter @kellyseal or through her website www.kellyseal.com.
Many years ago, I was a single guy with no intentions or desires to have kids. I re-met the sister of a friend of mine, who was a single mom of 3, fell for her, and after a period of time she and her kids made a thousand mile trip to move in with me, and we became a family. I saw those kids, 6, 9, 11 through school, and we added another 2 to the group. We had 17 years together, while she’s now moved on, all of the kids treat me like their dad.
It wasn’t at all what I was looking for when I had dinner with her, but I wouldn’t trade the experiences for anything in the world.
While I’ve never dated a single dad, I’ve met a lot of the, and there appears to be a lot of gems among the stones.
Thanks for stopping by NewSingleDad! I applaud your attitude and your relationship with your stepchildren. I know it’s a process to build a bond with children who aren’t blood relations, so congratulations and thanks for sharing your experience. You sound like a gem!
Nice story.