How on earth can I ever find the time to date???

[tetti]

I split with the father of my 5 year old last summer after 13 years together.
After that I had a 7 month long relationship which ended on good terms(he was simply too young and at a different stage in his life).
But since then I've got even more on my plate...apart from being a ft single mum,I run my own sml business,and to improve mine and my child's future I've recently started a degree(long distance).
I work my butt off,look after my child and and when she's gone to bed I spend 2 hrs studying.
I just wonder how on earth I can ever find the TIME to date again?!?
My child is with her dad 2 wknd's a month,so that's the only free time that I get really.
Is there anyone else in the same situation,someone who has a busy,busy life,but STILL manages to find time for a relationship?And if so,HOW do you fit it all in???

[singledadofthree]

ive been on my own ages and havent the time either. i work long hours and am too busy and knackered thru the week to go out.
come the weekends i'm too busy catching up around the house and with kids.
i've neither the time, energy or enthusiasm to make the effort to date. is no wonder i'm still single

[tetti]

Lol.Yeah,maybe people in our boat are destined to be single forever,eh?
I mean,what man would consider starting a relationship with a woman they could only see 2 wknd's a month to begin with???lol.
With my ex I introduced him to my daughter after a few months,which meant that he could pop round anytime as they got along swimmingly.

But,this time round I'd have to make sure it's a relationship that's really going somewhere BEFORE I could even think of introducing (a new person) to my child.
Gees,I may as well resign myself to living the life of a nun for the foreseeable future!

[thornrose]

I too don't have the time or the inclination to "date", can't even say the word comfortably. My dd is 9 and has recently started saying "when will you get a boyfriend mummy?"

[Bexter1]

Yep - quite agree. My life is work, kids, sleep, work, kids, sleep. I have been on my own with twin 8-year-old boys for four years. Their dad lives in Panama, so I have them all the time. I have given up on myself in a new man regard, quite honestly, and hope that by the time my boys are 18 I will still have enough life left in me to find someone else. What sacrifices we make for our children, eh...?

[tetti]

Yup,we certainly do:-)
I don't even have time for myself(!),work ft,have started a degree as well,so my life is work,study,kids,sleep,work,study,kids,sleep...My ex only has our child every other weekend(if I am lucky),and those weekends I have to study.Stressed out isn't the word,but if you wanr a half decent life you have to work hard..
I keep dreaming of winning the jackpot so that I can retire and have a break!!!!!lol(don't we all?)
How could I fit a man into my life???
Still though,it would be nice,and it'd stop my child from nagging me to find a boyfriend,lol(she thinks someone like Carlton Banks from Fresh Prince would be nice...erm,no comment on that,lol)

[elastamum]

I feel exactly the same, 2 boys, 2 dogs, 2 horses living all alone in a huge house in the middle of nowhere and about to start a demanding full time job in January! Cant see any time where I could find a date. Any spare time I just fancy a kip on the sofa Beeter go and walk those dogs before I put the kids to bed!

[allgonebellyup]

im in the same boat too, and would really love to date. i work full time 5 days a week, and i am also doing my OU degree which is supposed to take up a lot of time, but i AM lazy! go to bed at 9.30 most nights!

my dcs go away most weekends but then i find myself doing studying, housework and shopping and catching up with friends.

[Nighbynight]

Me too. Work, travel to and from work, look after children. Worse still, am thinking about signing up for a 30 point course on the OU in the new year.
Am worried that any spare time I have I either go ont eh internet, or read romantic novels. Which is not doing anything to help me find the real thing.

[allgonebellyup]

i have a mad crush on one of the teachers at the school where i work..we talk a little bit but he doesnt notice me! :-(

am going to be all dolled up for xmas party tomorrow night in a sad attempt to attract him! Loser that i am! but at least i do know he is single and not taken.

[Nighbynight]

well fancying a single man is a start anyway, lol

Anyone I fancy is always
(a) married, or
(b) 15 years younger than me or
(c) 1000 miles away or
(d) fictional.

[tetti]

More OU students on here?lol.Yep,sometimes I wonder if I am mad or brave working and doing a 3 year long degree,I mean,WHEN would I have the time to date???.But,I don't fancy the idea of living like a nun for the nxt 3 years either(grin),have to try and find the right balance,but how?hmmm

[Nighbynight]

dont you have OU pissups tutorials?

[skrimbo]

I am doing a distance foundation degree, and have 2 very busy kids so BF hardly gets any time. Perhaps 40 mins on a Tue night if he is lucky .

Ok its not that bad, but not much better.

[ELOB]

I AM A LONG WAY FROM EVEN THINKING ABOUT ANYONE ELSE AS IM ONLY SEPARATED SINE NOV AND HAVE 3 VERY YOUNG CHILDREN TO CONSIDER BUT WHEN I AM READY, PROBABLY NOT FOR 2-3 YEARS YET I WILL HOPEFULLY HAVE REDISCOVERED SOME INTERETS, JOINED CLASSES/GROUPS OR CLUBS ETC AND HOPEFULLY MET SOMEONE THAT WAY. IN THE MEANTIME, NOT INTERESTED.

[aseriouslyblondemoment]

I do have a BF
but its a LDR so it means that we don't get to see each other that often,which has its advantages as well as obvious disadvantages.
Obviously with us both being parents it has to fit in around the dcs mine being with me during the week and he sees his at the w/e like most dads!!
our dcs don't know that we're dating so hopefully things might be easier once we tell them.
But as this is both our first serious relationship since our respective divorces we have decided to take things slowly and enjoy what time we have together first.

[BigusBumus]

I split with my husband when my DS was 2, and worked a demanding job full time too. I used to go on Direct Dating.com (at the same time as my friend was doing it) - it was hysterically funny! I had no intention of finding a real Boyfriend, just having a laugh and being taken out on those precious 2 weeknds a month when Ex-h had my son. I thought i was far too busy for a real proper boyfriend.
Then, quite by accident i met my new partner at a friends BBQ and fell instantly in love. It is quite amazing how, when you fall in love, you suddenly have all the time in the world for that person! Your life magically reorganises itself!
I do beleive that you never find anyone tuck at home night after night. Use your weekends off wisely - go on Dating websites! They are quite a laugh and the friend i used to go on it with is now marrying the guy she met!

[bodgejob]

Same here, split last may and not even considering a new relationship, although one of my DS teachers keeps giving me the eye...Is he completely mad?

I'm really enjoying concentrating on myself and three young children after a really stressful couple of years.

If someone did come along then he'd have to be very special to take on us 4.

[aseriouslyblondemoment]

yeah agree the dating websites are hilarious thou choose carefully which one you go on and take it all lightheartedly as there are some nutters and men just up for quickies on there!!
bodgejob I never thought that I'd stand a chance what with dcs in tow
but given time I'm sure that once you're in the right place emotionally you will be more receptive to the idea of a new relationship

[Youcancallmeal]

Frankly for me, just starting out on my own again, two weekends a month, gently gently sounds perfect!

[lou33]

my dating comes in cycles

i was seeing someone then i ended it, then i couldnt be bothered, and now i have 2 lunch dates next week

[aseriouslyblondemoment]

good on yer Lou
nice to have options eh?

[Pinkchampagne]

You are always getting dates, lou! Where do you find all these men?!

[aseriouslyblondemoment]

yes i'd like to know too!!

[lou33]

i buy them online

one of them i have known almost 2 yrs, one of them only recently

one of them wants to talk about seeing me in a proper relationship , and one is about to move to dubai for work

[aseriouslyblondemoment]

LOL!!