Dating when being a parent, but wanted adventures - am I doomed?

[Jennyven]

So I’m in a weird life stage as I’m 28 years old with 6 year old child. I had a realisation I don’t want any more children. I want relationships where my partner would be my best friend and we would go weekends away and do things/adventures… I have quite a lot of time to myself (my child’s dad has our child 3 full weekends a month). I really want to find a life partner. However, men in my age bracket 25-35 are either childless and want children, if they don’t want children at all they don’t want me because I already have a child or they have children and have very little time for relationship . Am I totally doomed?😭 do I need to wait few years? Should I date older ? But I still don’t see much different if I go for men 35-40. It’s making me really sad as I have really huge desire to be in relationship (I’ve been happily single for 4 years now, but I want that partnership, adventures, future with someone). Am I unrealistic ? Should I settle for someone with little time? Should I wait for my child to be independent? Any advice or thought appreciated

Don't go older, just keep looking, there will be men out there who would be interested in a relationship with you.
Just keep your standards high and don't settle and you'll find someone great.

You could try the approach a lot of men seemed to have been described on here as doing, and date with either not mentioning a preference until they ask, or when they do stall and say maybe oneday for a few years - at least they don't have as strict a time limit. Not entirely ethical, but it will give you more options (I'm being sarcastic).
Men with DC but only EOW, could be OK, seem to be plenty of them about.

I get what you’re saying about guys either wanting kids or not wanting any kids at all, but I think you can find someone who will fit right into your situation, someone who will be happy about your older child (and some weekends just for the two of you) but will not want to deal with babies, nappies, sleepless nights…
I have a friend who never wanted kids, but met her DP who has a child from previous relationship (I think every other weekend and some holidays), he’s probably around 8 now, and the set up works perfectly for them!

I'm a solo mum by choice (I had my child using a sperm donor) as I'd not met anyone I wanted to have a child with and time was running out. Prior to that, I'd spent about 5 years dating on and off.

It's good that you know what you want, and I'm watching with interest. I too have come across these "configurations" that you have mentioned (and I'm older than you!), but the compatibility and fancying someone is still an issue in terms of finding someone. But then again when I was single and childless it was still difficult to meet someone I actually wanted to date. I think it's mostly down to luck and timing rather than any specific approach to dating.

If you were to meet someone, have you thought about whether you'd ever consider cohabitating together? Or maybe they want marriage down the line? Although you have a lot more free time to dedicate to a potential relationship, some men might want these "milestones" down the line (after the initial dating stage), how do you feel about that?

I'm open to a relationship but I'm not sure I'd want to live with a man while my child is so young, so it'd be "together living apart" most likely scenario.

Have you mainly been using OLD?

No I would definitely love to be married / live together! But I’m in no rush ☺️. It’s the child that complicates it- I looove my child, but I’m pretty much my own person and hate when men just assume I’m looking for a dad for my child (couldn’t be further from the truth - friend yes, but not a father). And it’s true that dating always has been hard- even before I had my child , but it just feels like what I want doesn’t exist. Maybe I should just leave the future talks for down the line (not years of course…but few months in and maybe if the man fancies me he would be open to my situation more). I am finding that a lot men don’t have future as planned as us women (I’m guessing due biological clock, societal pressures ) so most are somehow open to having or not having children, but when I bring it up few dates in they seem to not like it and overthink if they wanna invest in someone who doesn’t want anymore children….