Dating? Anyone do it when they have no supporters?

[Neweternal]

I just had a message from an online dating guy. Telling he wants more from a relationship than I could give, fair enough. It's got me thinking, my circumstances are alone no family and no father in the scene. My son is 11 years old and is very talented at his hobbies and plays at international level so I have to travel and commit to that. I also run a business. I don't have much time, but I would like to date. Should I give up until my son is older? I have been single since I have been pregnant. I'm financially secure and only need to work 3 days.

I wouldn’t give up if you want to date, could you get a sitter in to look after your son when you want to go out on a date? Anybody that is worth your time will understand your situation and where your priorities lie and will still want to be with you regardless of this, I think when you do meet some one who is worth your time you two will make it work and make adjustments to both of your lives accordingly x

Thank you, yes I could arrange a baby sitter at expense, I was suggesting meeting for a coffee before I forked out £50 on a childminder, besides I have done this and been blown out last minute with no night out and a childminder to pay. He is getting older now, so I can leave him for 1-2 hours.

If you are financially secure & only need to work a couple of days a week, the cost of a babysitter seems a small price to pay. You need to weigh up what is more important to you.

I am a single mum, no support nearby and I’ve chosen to give up until my dc is 16, a few years yet.
I don’t really have the time to invest in a man, providing a good home life for my dc is my priority plus I can’t afford a sitter and while I’m happy to have male friends in the house, I don’t want my dc thinking a new man in the bathroom each month is ok.

So I’ll wait and then I’ll see how I feel.

Me!!! I'm a single mum with 3 at home ages 16, 14 and 11. It should be easy but it's the guilt I can't handle of leaving them to pursue my own life

I think you ladies have made me realise it isn't that important to me. I just feel I should be dating as people keep asking if I'm STILL single. 12 years is a long time to be single but I can't say I have met anyone who would enriched my life yet. Thank you ladies.

If you feel like dating, what’s the harm in meeting for a coffee or a drink? I’ve been single for 4 years and have a 7yr old DS but made a conscious decision 2 years ago to try online dating and also have a social life (v important). I found a sitter who was happy to come just for a couple of hours, and I ended up having a quite a few one off dates with different guys, usually just for a drink. I really screened hard first though and would only meet someone when I was pretty sure I’d actually like them (even if we didn’t hit it off romantically) as it was more about having some fun and taking charge of my life than trying to find a partner if that makes sense. I actually met 2 good male friends this way. 2 years on, I’m now 6 months in to a relationship with someone I met doing OLD, but it’s very separate to my life as s mum with DS and I’m in no rush to change that.
If you’re in a position to organise childcare and have some fun, why not go for it!