Dating After Death or Divorce

Should Parents Shield Their Children From Their Dating Life?

September 25, 2009

Jumping into the dating game after a decade long hiatus may be more terrifying than dipping toes into a pool of starved piranhas. Aging and gravity can take a toll on a woman's body but that's not the toughest part for a widow or a divorcee to handle. Instead, much of the fear rests in a mother's heart of how to introduce a potential boyfriend to her children. Many moms wait for the relationship to get serious before greetings are exchanged and others can hardly wait for the ink to dry on the legal documents before declaring themselves single and available. In Cougar Town's debut, Courteney Cox's character berated her neighbor for swiftly entering the dating pool but it was she who embarrassed herself when her son walked in on her pleasuring her new boy toy.

What's your take on the mommy dating game? Tell us in The Mommy Club over in our LilSugar community! Photo courtesy of ABC

5 Comments

cheersdarlin916 3 years 34 weeks

I have been single the whole time my son has been alive. He is 13 now and I have only brought home 2 men. Unfortunately I divorced the first man but now I have found my perfect match and knew that it was right to introduce him to my son. I did not want to introduce anyone to my son that I did not think would be around for a long time.

kty 3 years 34 weeks

i also agree with Anonymous

lilkimbo 3 years 34 weeks

I agree, anon, particularly if this is someone with whom you're on the relationship track, even if you're not quite serious yet. I think a lot also depends on the age of the kids. High schoolers might be better equipped to deal with meeting a new boyfriend and having him disappear than young children. Of course, it depends on the individual child, as well.

3 years 34 weeks

I tend to take a bit of a cautious stand here. I think there's really nothing wrong with introducing someone you're dating to your kids so long as you keep it casual around the kids and explain that this person is a friend. We all, even children, know that friendships come and go. As long as it's kept that way around the kids until it's a very permenant relationship I think there's nothing wrong with them meeting your kids and vice versa. As a single parents it's often hard to fit everything into your life, so what's wrong with spending time with yoru kids and a friend all together going to the park or doing other activities?

skigurl 3 years 34 weeks

i find it inapropriate for parents to flaunt a new love interest in front of their children when it's very casual...i feel you should wait until you're both committed and you strongly believe the person is in your life for the long haul...and i especially wouldn't think you should bring your "boy toy" around and do things to/with him when your children could possible walk in!!

Link Love

5 Comments

You Might Also Like