Some insight into the world of dating...

[Icecreamlover123]

Hi ladies,

Backstory: Left an abusive relationship of 10 years, 6 months ago. Have 3 yr old child.

Finally, I feel really happy and content with my life, everyone kept saying when you going to start dating, and its never been at the forefront of my mind. Until I met a guy and we went on our third date yesterday.
He's the only person I've ever been on a date with (apart from ex!) and I'm basically just after some insight /advice on how to deal with dating and men! I feel like I dont have a clue what I'm doing.
Throughout the first and second date we were drinking at bars and I began to really like him, hes gorgeous looking and very nice and warm personality. But then I wasent sure if it was the alcohol and I had my beer goggles on.
Then yesterday we went on a spa day (so zero alcohol involved, only herbal tea haha) and felt like I connected with him on a much deeper level. Feel so much chemistry and a massive spark. His body language said he was interested, we just laughed the whole day and light hearted banter it was good fun. He's been divorced for 2 years and has 2 kids and we both said we want to take life less serious and talked about going out again at weekends and exploring lots of good places and having a laugh together.
on the way home in the car he said we have such a great spark.
I have not stopped thinking about him all day to the point where I cant be productive and get anything done!! Its only been 3 dates!! Why? Surely this cant be normal. He hasent text today (busy with his kids) and I'm just waiting for him to message (feel sad haha), as it was always me saying I didnt want a relationship.
Dont know what I want to get out of this post,/ but does anyone else have similar experiences. Did it go well or not?

Sounds lovely! Has he a brother?

@DockerDre hahaha! No unfortunately not.

I don't think a spa date is that weird under the circumstances. You had a spare ticket, you asked him, he said yes. Why not? At least you know he likes similar things to you. Just take it easy and don't necessarily look for red flags. If they are there they will manifest themselves quite quickly!

My boyfriend and I met at a pub. We have not told people it was pre arranged via OLD.

It is an unforgiving world for divorced mothers out there, I bet it won’t be long before someone comes and tells you 1) you need to learn to be on your own,2) find yourself, 3) Focus on your children (as if you didn’t 24/7) and most importantly 4) do not let cocklodgers get comfy at your kitchen table”

The stereotyping of what a single mother is is very tiresome at points...

@TanMateix Thats what I worry about people's opinions, even though I'm starting to think this is my life and people will have an opinion regardless wont they! I am a single mum to my little girl and she has the best possible life always taking her out to socialise with others and days out in the week, stay up most nights till 1am doing a PhD so I can better mine and my little girls future and I work 2 jobs around everything too! So i totally agree with the tiremsone stereotypes. So when the weekend comes now and my little girl goes to her dad for 1 night a week and 2 days i think its my time now to let my hair down and start enjoying life again :) glad everything went well for you with OLD :)

I wouldn't say it is infatuation

I didn't mean it was - yet, I was just saying it's easy to fall into infatuation, if you get me.

You can get into thinking about them a lot/all the time, being hyper aware of how often they contact you, how long it takes them to respond, get very invested etc etc. Whereas I'd try to avoid doing any of that. Not easy but ..

Don’t pay too much attention to what other people think. I remember someone worrying about a man trying to take advantage of me and stealing my benefits... I could only laugh big time at that... I am financially independent, highly educated, own my own house, have a child who has been privately educated and the man I was dating back then was very well off himself!

Moralitym1n1 yes I know what you mean about being hyper aware about texting and responding, it is quite difficult to turn off from that.