First Ever Date

[LikeRidingabike]

I've got a date later this week, my first date ever, I was with my exH from being at school together, so I've never had a proper date, not even as a teenager. I've been divorced just over a year and feel just about ready to dip my toe into dating.

I met this man on-line, we've been chatting for just over a week, we've agreed to meet for coffee and take it from there. My eldest will know where I am and I'll be driving there myself. I'm going to tell him beforehand that I won't be able to stay more than an hour and a half but that should be plenty of time for coffee.

I have name changed for this, I have friends on MN who know my Username, and I'm trying to keep dating low key.

Any tips would be good, particularly how to handle to subject of meeting again or not.

Try to relax and enjoy it. Remember, its a date, not an interview or a contract signing. You're just two people who quite like each other and want to see if you like each other more. Ask him a few questions about himself (worst date? Best thing about his job? Favourite sweets ?), and let him talk. Smile, make eye contact. Really, just try to relax and have fun.

If i like someone enough for a second date, i am straight with them. "I've had a really lovely time, fancy doing this again some time?". I've only ever been turned down for a second date once, in 3 years of OLD!

Basically, just go along, have fun, be your warm and lovely self, and enjoy it.

Thanks, I'm trying to be cool about it, and keep it low key, I don't have any problems making small talk, so it should be OK. If it's a disaster he lives far enough away that I won't bump into him.

At the end of the day its just a conversation over coffee. Relax.

I wouldn't start by telling him what time you need to leave, it sounds like you are committing 90 minutes to him but you might feel like leaving after 5 minutes!
In my experience, you know if it's a "goer" within the first couple of minutes, and it's very unlikely to be amazing, most first dates are crap or lacklustre so don't get your hopes up, it's a numbers game, you do have to have coffee with A LOT of frogs. See it like visiting a prospective place of work before applying for a job, it has to work for you!

Just remember, if you like him, he is very lucky

Just relax and look at it as a bit of fun meeting a new person. All first , second , third dates have awkward moments so don't panic if you guys have one! Don't even worry about the second date yet, it will happen naturally if it's going to. Good luck. Let us know how you get on!