Lone parent and dating again?

[Bobbycat121]

I am a lone parent (no involvement from the father) Im thinking of dating again but realistically how do other LP (no other parent involved)
manage dating? is it doable? I have very little support but dont want to be alone forever. Is it even possible. Any advice from anyone in this situation?

I think it's possible.. not easy but it can work. Have you got any family around to help babysit? Otherwise you could look for a good babysitter? The other person will just have to be understanding that dc come first that's the main thing I think. If they don't get that they're not the right person.

No not much family help. Only my sister but she barely has them and has never had my youngest who is 2 in may. Its looking impossible 😭

@Bobbycat121 I think it's doable but you'll need to sort out a good babysitter. Go on the online dating thread on the Relationship forums and people seem to manage there. I agree with PP that anyone you date would need to be understanding of the situation. I also have limited childcare but have a sibling who takes them occasionally. I did go on dates but nothing progressed but had they done, I'd have crossed the bridge with maybe investing in babysitting etc

XH found another woman whilst travelling for work and left us for her and lives in another country since 2010. I have no family nearby so relied on babysitters whilst the kids were still young.

It's definitely doable but the drawbacks are that it's a massive financial outlay for the sitter if the dates are regular, you need to be super organised and it's knackering! You can guess the benefits!

It's lovely when the kids are old enough to look after themselves. It all gets easier.

Good luck.

Also the big point no onehas mention is the cost of the emotional side. Are you ready for that, even the good relationship take a lot of mental time, but the negative ones or dates can cause you to feel bad and not having much support you wouldn't have people around if you needed to feel low.
I spent 7 years single because I knew mental I didn't have the time to be messing around with a guy. When they got older, I could text and call and go out with out feeling guilty.
I'm not saying don't and be single forever but trouble comes with relationships too

I didn’t date til my kids were old enough to be left. Probably isn’t what you want to hear!

Thanks for the comments. Will check out the dating thread thanks for the recommendation. My youngest is 2 so I would be in for a
long wait which im not prepared to do. Im extremely lonely and bored, I do have support just not physical. so I have
people I can chat to but they dont babysit. My sister would occasionally but not sure if that would be enough.

I’d look for a mum friend who would do babysitting for you in return for you doing childcare for her. Or someone else who you could swap babysitting job for another job on a regular ish basis. Then take up a hobby with men and women to make friends and perhaps see if it leads to socialising together etc. Online dating is another option but with very mixed results.