by T Kane

Created on: March 11, 2009

Seeing as how nearly half of all marriages end in divorce, it is quite common to see single parents on the dating scene. Single parents are frequently patient and stable. They don't have time for drama or games. A single parent can be a great catch; however, there are a few things you should remember when dating them. You should be cautious when it comes to their children and their parenting skills. Here are a few tips on dating single parents.

Plan dates in plenty of time for the parent to find a sitter. One thing single parents often lack is flexibility. You can not just pop in Friday night and expect them to drop everything and go out. You may want to avoid popping in altogether, especially if you have yet to meet the children.

Don't expect sleepovers. In many circumstances it will not be possible for single parents to spend the night away from home. And if you want to stay over at their house they may have set times. For example they may only allow you to come over after the kids are asleep and expect you to leave before they wake up.

Don't pressure them to introduce you to the kids. If you feel that you need to meet the kids in order for the relationship to advance any further then explain that you are interested in meeting them, but never try to pressure the parent to introduce you. Remember if you push to hard then you may be perceived as creepy.

When you do meet the children don't try to discipline them. Parents are protective of their young, unless the parent has asked you to you should avoid correcting or punishing the child. If you feel they have done something wrong just casually relay this information to the parent. If it is a serious matter than be sure to call it to the parent's attention immediately.

Limit your comparisons. This is especially true if you too have children. Even if your daughter was composing symphonies at age six and all their six year old does is eat crayons you should limit the comparisons between the two. Again parents are defensive of their kids and even if you don't feel as if you are putting the child down they may see it that way. It is great to be proud of your children but you should be careful not to cross the line into jackass territory.

Don't say anything negative about children. If you don't like kids or see them as an inconvenience or burden then you are in the wrong relationship. Mentioning that you would hate to have to be responsible for a bunch of snot-nosed brats will not result in anything pretty.

Be sure not to

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