by Penny B

Created on: September 18, 2008

Whether you're an unattached, single parent or are divorced with children, there's a high probability that you will consider dating somewhere between juggling a career, maintaining a household and raising your children. After all, within the chaos of life, you are entitled to be happy too.

Even though you are surrounded with bills to pay, a home to keep organized and children to tend to, you might be feeling just a little bit lonely, or as though your world revolves around everyone and everything else, yet nothing revolves around you. You definitely need some balance in your life. You might just be thinking of dating again.

However, dating has now become so much different than when you were younger and free of the obligations of looking after a family. There is so much more to consider than just getting yourself dressed up for dinner and a movie with your high school sweetheart. You may not have to ask for your parent's permission anymore, and even though you are now an adult, there are several other factors to keep in mind when making that ever-important decision to re-enter the dating scene.

Although you are entitled to have a life too, you still have to consider how your children will react to this new situation of your dating. After all, this will invariably affect their lives as well, whether you're just looking for some occasional companionship or possibly thinking about a new life partner to grow old with.

In their perspective, you have just brought a "stranger" into their midst, and it's something they have no control over themselves. There is bound to be some act of retaliation or discontent. This is their way of trying to have a certain degree of control over the situation. This is not just about you anymore. There will be many things for you to think about first.

SOME THINGS YOU MUST CONSIDER BEFORE DATING:

1) Date ONLY when you are "ready" to start dating again. Often times, people will jump into a new relationship just as one has ended. This gives you very little time to direct yourself in life. Be completely honest with yourself as to "why" you are dating. The wrong reason might only send you into yet another failed relationship. You have your children and their lives to now consider, so make your decisions wisely and when it's time appropriate. Don't date to heal old hurts.

2) One of the first, and maybe most important things to consider, is that your children should always come first, no matter what. They must always be your first and foremost priority.

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