How do you actually go on dates when you're a single parent?

[zmandaz]

I've been talking to someone I quite like on an internet dating site. We both agreed that we'd like to meet...this is where it gets difficult. I can't ask my family to babysit during the week as they're totally against internet dating (after my ex who I met online) and wouldn't understand why I'd want to meet someone that way again (they just don't understand that I have no social life to 'just meet' someone). I can't really afford a babysitter and the only one I know of doesn't drive so I'd have to pick her up and take her home. I live in the middle of nowhere so it's not easy for friends to help out and they all have families/jobs etc. To make matters worse, I work full time during the week and this fella works most weekends Fri/Sat so finding a time to suit us both is really difficult. Does anyone have any ideas? It all seems so complicated but this is how my life is now and I really don't want to be single forever!

Do you have a day off? (meaning when your child is not with you?)

Well, well... if it is so difficult to organise a meeting, do you think that it will be possible to develop a relationship? Just a thought...

dont tell them where you met, just be vague, say he is a friend of a friend or something

agree with memyson tho

i am fortunate in that dd1 is over 16 so will watch the kids if i go on a date, but i also try to meet up in the day if possible, can you not meet in your lunch hour for the first time?

Not a big fan of online dating but if he knows you have a child perhaps you can meet somewhere for a date....a park (nice romantic lunch on the lawn) a zoo...you can walk and talk and no one will have any expectations etc.
If you get really d;0esperate, I don't know how long you have been with ex or without but you sound like you want to be a part of a "couple" then you should have a professional matchmaker set you up. I know that sounds terribly old fashioned but from what I've heard of them and what I know about online dating I would consider it. Hope that helps.

Lie to your family and tell them you have a hugely important appt to go to.
If they don't know about it, maybe they will do it

I told my exh the truth the last time, and he dumped the kids just where me and date were saying goodbye. Best to lie sometimes, even just for your own sanity....

WHABT - just how much does this professional matchmaker cost? I'd love one, but fear that I cannot afford it, I'll pass for now and rely on my gut feeling instead.

I'd tell my mum i met him at work, then she'd baby sit ;) But at the same time let friends etc know where your going and who your with.

Does he live nearby? Could you meet in a lunch break for a quick coffee or something just as a quict first time meet???

Shame you live in the middle of nowhere,..id have looked after the little ones for ya lol

Hope it works out x

I'd take a day off or meet in lunch break.

The answer's simple - tell a white lie to your family, get them to baby-sit and stop worrying. Although your ex is now your ex, you know that online dating works and so do I. Met my husband to be 6 months ago online and have never been happier. My situation more complex than yours too - he lives 200 miles away and I have an 8 year old daughter so the juggling is horrendous but so worth it.

Good luck.

You don't.

As someone said I quickly found out the impossibility of finding time to meet someone without bringing my child with me to the meetings (ie zoo, bowling etc). And after last time I don't want to introduce my ds to someone too early on given how upset he got when it didn't work out.

Taking time off work is the only option, but then you end up even more stuffed in the school holidays!

So I gave up on internet dating.

I don't have any social life through lack of help or money to afford babysitters. In reality I couldn't afford to go out dating either so I've resigned myself to being single.

Thanks all. I only get 40 minutes for lunch and he lives fairly far away - not far enough that it would be impossible to date but probably too far to expect him to come here for the sake of half an hour. I know what you're saying MMSAI but to be honest, anyone I meet I'm going to have this problem. My family do help out when they can but they have their own problems and I don't want to put on them too much. I do want to meet someone but it has to be right and I don't want to introduce them to DD until I know it's going to work. I'm very nervous, I have really big problems with my ex and it's made me very wary. But he hasn't put me off men altogether thankfully!

cant you say u going for drinks after work with colleagues or something