Dating since divorce or breakup

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Replies

  • AskTracyAnnK28
    AskTracyAnnK28 Posts: 2,817 Member
    Bbg340340 wrote: »
    Tinder is for booty calls isn't it?

    Not necessarily. Any dating app can be used for booty calls, if you think about it. The funny thing is, is that I've had better dates from guys I met on Tinder than I did with guys from PoF, Match and Eharmony combined.
  • LiftingRiot
    LiftingRiot Posts: 6,946 Member
    All women are crazy. Escpecially at my age. If they were able to keep it together and be marriage material, they would already be married. Everyone has too much drama.
  • kd_mazur
    kd_mazur Posts: 569 Member
    I was married for about 16 years, our divorce was finalized in February. I don't know if this is true in other states, but as part of our divorce process we had to take a "parenting education class" on how to minimize damage to our children during the transition and how to help them with the changes. Also on how to not let the kids see any negativity between us, etc.... As part of the class, the instructor discussed when to date again after divorce. He gave two pieces of advice. One, don't date again for two years, because of the time the healing process takes. I don't know what based on or whether I agree, but that was one of his pieces of advice. The other was to imagine yourself creating a profile on an online dating site. Not to really do it, but to imagine what it would say IF YOU WERE BEING COMPLETELY HONEST in the profile. So, would it read like this: "Recently divorced. Can barely breathe. Suffering from major depression. Have lost everything." If, in total honesty, that's where you're at, probably better not to try to date, because it probably won't work out. However, if you can imagine yourself creating an online profile where you are more balanced and more back to being yourself, and don't have to lie in order to seem like a normal and appealing person, you are probably ready to date again. I thought that was a good way to look at it.

    You know, I did that class and our instructor said there were no rules and it would be silly to impose an arbitrary timeline on a room full of people with different lives and stories. I agree with him. I started dating my husband almost immediately after splitting from my ex-husband (I never intended to date so soon, it just happened that way) and have never regretted it. I adore that man. People judging that it's 'too soon' need to mind their own business.

    I agree with Heartisalonelyhunter, you can't really put some arbitrary timeline and pretend it will work for all. I married at 20 yrs old and divorced at 30. The best thing I did for myself was to be alone for a while and figure out what I really wanted from a relationship.
    I was worried about how I would meet new people if all I did was work and hang around the house so I picked up some long lost hobbies like going to the gym and playing softball. At the end of the day I didn't meet anyone in these avenues. I tried online dating but as some have mentioned it is quite an exercise to wade through all the frogs to find the prince but at least I knew what I was looking for and what I was not looking for:)
  • melmelw03
    melmelw03 Posts: 5,332 Member
    edited August 2016
    I just had a weird breakup a week ago. We were together for 7 months...when I met him he told me he was separated. Turns out he wasn't. So I'm still pretty angry at the whole thing, but I know I'm going to have to date eventually. Someone asked me yesterday if I was putting myself 'out there' yet. The thought of creating a new online profile gives me a case of the 'icks'. I need to wait until what happened isn't so fresh in my mind, and I need this anger to subside before meeting other guys.

    Online dating is exhausting! I met my recent ex on Tinder. So I won't be using that anymore!

    Tracy, I have a Tinder date tonight. Wish me luck! My last one had what seems like so much build up(mostly on his part), maybe a week of talking before the actual first date. I just knew it was too much build up and felt pressure that it be some magical event. Of course it wasn't. Just a typical first date. At least it didn't turn into one of my funny/crazy first date stories, so there's that.

    Meh....I guess I should shave my legs and make myself look representable.
  • AskTracyAnnK28
    AskTracyAnnK28 Posts: 2,817 Member
    melmelw03 wrote: »
    I just had a weird breakup a week ago. We were together for 7 months...when I met him he told me he was separated. Turns out he wasn't. So I'm still pretty angry at the whole thing, but I know I'm going to have to date eventually. Someone asked me yesterday if I was putting myself 'out there' yet. The thought of creating a new online profile gives me a case of the 'icks'. I need to wait until what happened isn't so fresh in my mind, and I need this anger to subside before meeting other guys.

    Online dating is exhausting! I met my recent ex on Tinder. So I won't be using that anymore!

    Tracy, I have a Tinder date tonight. Wish me luck! My last one had what seems like so much build up(mostly on his part), maybe a week of talking before the actual first date. I just knew it was too much build up and felt pressure that it be some magical event. Of course it wasn't. Just a typical first date. At least it didn't turn into one of my funny/crazy first date stories, so there's that.

    Meh....I guess I should shave my legs and make myself look representable.

    I find that talking to someone for 3 or 4 days is good enough to meet in person as long as schedules allow it. When there's allllllllllllll this texting and whatnot it can lead to some kind of false intimacy and higher expectations.

    I never met a psycho on Tinder. I guess just the married guy...and we were together 7 months :( the other guys were fine and perfectly nice - just no chemistry. I met plenty of wackos on PoF, though!

  • rps67
    rps67 Posts: 163 Member
    I was married for about 16 years, our divorce was finalized in February. I don't know if this is true in other states, but as part of our divorce process we had to take a "parenting education class" on how to minimize damage to our children during the transition and how to help them with the changes. Also on how to not let the kids see any negativity between us, etc.... As part of the class, the instructor discussed when to date again after divorce. He gave two pieces of advice. One, don't date again for two years, because of the time the healing process takes. I don't know what that's based on or whether I agree, but that was one of his pieces of advice. The other was to imagine yourself creating a profile on an online dating site. Not to really do it, but to imagine what it would say IF YOU WERE BEING COMPLETELY HONEST in the profile. So, would it read like this: "Recently divorced. Can barely breathe. Suffering from major depression. Have lost everything." If, in total honesty, that's where you're at, probably better not to try to date, because it probably won't work out. However, if you can imagine yourself creating an online profile where you are more balanced and more back to being yourself, and don't have to lie in order to seem like a normal and appealing person, you are probably ready to date again. I thought that was a good way to look at it.

    I think waiting 2 years to date is pretty harsh, although I do think it's best to wait at least that long before getting into a committed relationship. When I split from my ex, my next relationship was a longish one with a guy that would never have made a good partner for me. I was aware of that, but there was still a part of me that sort of wanted our relationship to work out to be committed. Now I'm super glad it didn't. When I first met my husband, he was still married to his ex but in the process of separating. I told him many times that it was a bad idea for us to get involved but he wore me down. I should have stuck to my guns. It seems like we have a lot of the same issues that he and his ex had.

    I can't imagine looking for a committed relationship when I'm single again. I don't think I want to put myself through that again.

    A friend with benefits, though? I can get behind that.
  • melmelw03
    melmelw03 Posts: 5,332 Member
    melmelw03 wrote: »
    I just had a weird breakup a week ago. We were together for 7 months...when I met him he told me he was separated. Turns out he wasn't. So I'm still pretty angry at the whole thing, but I know I'm going to have to date eventually. Someone asked me yesterday if I was putting myself 'out there' yet. The thought of creating a new online profile gives me a case of the 'icks'. I need to wait until what happened isn't so fresh in my mind, and I need this anger to subside before meeting other guys.

    Online dating is exhausting! I met my recent ex on Tinder. So I won't be using that anymore!

    Tracy, I have a Tinder date tonight. Wish me luck! My last one had what seems like so much build up(mostly on his part), maybe a week of talking before the actual first date. I just knew it was too much build up and felt pressure that it be some magical event. Of course it wasn't. Just a typical first date. At least it didn't turn into one of my funny/crazy first date stories, so there's that.

    Meh....I guess I should shave my legs and make myself look representable.

    I find that talking to someone for 3 or 4 days is good enough to meet in person as long as schedules allow it. When there's allllllllllllll this texting and whatnot it can lead to some kind of false intimacy and higher expectations.

    I never met a psycho on Tinder. I guess just the married guy...and we were together 7 months :( the other guys were fine and perfectly nice - just no chemistry. I met plenty of wackos on PoF, though!

    POF is full of weirdos!
    However I did meet my best friend/ex bf on there, but that's totally a fluke! Tinder hasn't been too bad for me, just nothing special yet. I have learned to not have any expectations.
  • Lone_wolf46
    Lone_wolf46 Posts: 2,709 Member
    This is all so depressing... what's wrong with being single?
  • Lonestar5715
    Lonestar5715 Posts: 466 Member
    rps67 wrote: »
    I was married for about 16 years, our divorce was finalized in February. I don't know if this is true in other states, but as part of our divorce process we had to take a "parenting education class" on how to minimize damage to our children during the transition and how to help them with the changes. Also on how to not let the kids see any negativity between us, etc.... As part of the class, the instructor discussed when to date again after divorce. He gave two pieces of advice. One, don't date again for two years, because of the time the healing process takes. I don't know what that's based on or whether I agree, but that was one of his pieces of advice. The other was to imagine yourself creating a profile on an online dating site. Not to really do it, but to imagine what it would say IF YOU WERE BEING COMPLETELY HONEST in the profile. So, would it read like this: "Recently divorced. Can barely breathe. Suffering from major depression. Have lost everything." If, in total honesty, that's where you're at, probably better not to try to date, because it probably won't work out. However, if you can imagine yourself creating an online profile where you are more balanced and more back to being yourself, and don't have to lie in order to seem like a normal and appealing person, you are probably ready to date again. I thought that was a good way to look at it.

    I think waiting 2 years to date is pretty harsh, although I do think it's best to wait at least that long before getting into a committed relationship. When I split from my ex, my next relationship was a longish one with a guy that would never have made a good partner for me. I was aware of that, but there was still a part of me that sort of wanted our relationship to work out to be committed. Now I'm super glad it didn't. When I first met my husband, he was still married to his ex but in the process of separating. I told him many times that it was a bad idea for us to get involved but he wore me down. I should have stuck to my guns. It seems like we have a lot of the same issues that he and his ex had.

    I can't imagine looking for a committed relationship when I'm single again. I don't think I want to put myself through that again.

    A friend with benefits, though? I can get behind that.

    It seems to me that a lot depends on the circumstances surrounding the separation and/or divorce. In my case our children were grown and had left the nest for a few years. My marital relationship had grown progressively stale (although I wasn't admitting it to myself) for many years.

    When the time came that we finally separated things were really lifeless and I was relationally starving. I was more than ready to date at that point and am feeling alive again by meeting new people. Again, I think circumstances differ and how much time is needed to "heal" will vary also.

    And as an aside, my experience with dating sites has been better than a lot of the postings I have seen here. Of course not all dates are ones you want repeated but overall I think online is a decent option. Interesting thread here.
  • AskTracyAnnK28
    AskTracyAnnK28 Posts: 2,817 Member
    rippin2U wrote: »
    This is all so depressing... what's wrong with being single?

    absolutely nothing @rippin2U ! But I guess it can be a little...lonely (for lack of a better word) sometimes. Interaction with the opposite sex can be fun...or entertaining :wink:
  • synchkat
    synchkat Posts: 37,368 Member
    When I divorced my first husband I dated someone from work and then I tried the online route and chickened out when I was supposed to meet someone. Everything was planned but I was a wimpy chicken. I met the current husband less than a year after my separation. Sometimes I wish I had been single longer after the marriage just to have time to be on my own.
  • AskTracyAnnK28
    AskTracyAnnK28 Posts: 2,817 Member
    melmelw03 wrote: »
    I just had a weird breakup a week ago. We were together for 7 months...when I met him he told me he was separated. Turns out he wasn't. So I'm still pretty angry at the whole thing, but I know I'm going to have to date eventually. Someone asked me yesterday if I was putting myself 'out there' yet. The thought of creating a new online profile gives me a case of the 'icks'. I need to wait until what happened isn't so fresh in my mind, and I need this anger to subside before meeting other guys.

    Online dating is exhausting! I met my recent ex on Tinder. So I won't be using that anymore!

    Tracy, I have a Tinder date tonight. Wish me luck! My last one had what seems like so much build up(mostly on his part), maybe a week of talking before the actual first date. I just knew it was too much build up and felt pressure that it be some magical event. Of course it wasn't. Just a typical first date. At least it didn't turn into one of my funny/crazy first date stories, so there's that.

    Meh....I guess I should shave my legs and make myself look representable.

    I find that talking to someone for 3 or 4 days is good enough to meet in person as long as schedules allow it. When there's allllllllllllll this texting and whatnot it can lead to some kind of false intimacy and higher expectations.

    I never met a psycho on Tinder. I guess just the married guy...and we were together 7 months :( the other guys were fine and perfectly nice - just no chemistry. I met plenty of wackos on PoF, though!
    Holy *kitten*. That's unreal. Did his wife find out??

    @Cutaway_Collar he got away with it because he worked in NJ so he stayed here during the work week and went home to wifey in Avon, CT on the weekends. He told me he had his kids every weekend. LIES! And yeah - I believe his wife found out but stayed with him. He had another long-term affair before me and she seems to just put up with it. He said in their culture (Portuguese) divorce or leaving ones family is pretty much the worst thing ever...so he has affairs and wifey puts up with it. Sad, sad, sad.
  • klkarlen
    klkarlen Posts: 4,366 Member

    @Cutaway_Collar he got away with it because he worked in NJ so he stayed here during the work week and went home to wifey in Avon, CT on the weekends. He told me he had his kids every weekend. LIES! And yeah - I believe his wife found out but stayed with him. He had another long-term affair before me and she seems to just put up with it. He said in their culture (Portuguese) divorce or leaving ones family is pretty much the worst thing ever...so he has affairs and wifey puts up with it. Sad, sad, sad.

    Wifey probably puts up with it because she has a good life in Avon (pricey area of CT to live) and a husband that is gone all week and not bothering her.

    You deserve much more than that.
  • AskTracyAnnK28
    AskTracyAnnK28 Posts: 2,817 Member
    klkarlen wrote: »

    @Cutaway_Collar he got away with it because he worked in NJ so he stayed here during the work week and went home to wifey in Avon, CT on the weekends. He told me he had his kids every weekend. LIES! And yeah - I believe his wife found out but stayed with him. He had another long-term affair before me and she seems to just put up with it. He said in their culture (Portuguese) divorce or leaving ones family is pretty much the worst thing ever...so he has affairs and wifey puts up with it. Sad, sad, sad.

    Wifey probably puts up with it because she has a good life in Avon (pricey area of CT to live) and a husband that is gone all week and not bothering her.

    You deserve much more than that.

    yeah - he was kinda fancy. Had a beach house in Niantic, jet skis, a few cars. Who'd give up a life like that? If I were her I'd have taken him for everything he has. She'd get it, too. She's a stay-at-home-mom. She'd make BANK with all the alimony and child support (3 kids - triplets!). He'd probably end up living in one of his cars lololol

  • AskTracyAnnK28
    AskTracyAnnK28 Posts: 2,817 Member
    I need me a few tristate girlfriends. Probably one in every borough, except staten island because it sucks.

    Staten Island is like a whole other country lololol
  • AskTracyAnnK28
    AskTracyAnnK28 Posts: 2,817 Member
    What is astonishing is the seven month innings and he scams two women. Is there a separated card they issue??

    Did you snoop around facebook and stuff??

    @Cutaway_Collar I met him on Tinder so I knew he had a Facebook. I peaked at it back when I fist met him in the beginning of the year. Most of it was private except for a few posts from 2012/2013. His wife was in a few of those pictures (she was kinda frumpy looking, to be honest) but since he said he was separated for 3 years it kinda made sense that she'd be in old photos.

    To be honest, even if he wasn't married I don't think it would have worked out in the long run. Him being Portuguese, his family would have never accepted a single mom Irish girl as his girlfriend.

    And yeah - SI is...it really is like a whole other country. I tried dating a guy from SI a long time ago. I couldn't stand his accent!!

  • klkarlen
    klkarlen Posts: 4,366 Member
    klkarlen wrote: »

    @Cutaway_Collar he got away with it because he worked in NJ so he stayed here during the work week and went home to wifey in Avon, CT on the weekends. He told me he had his kids every weekend. LIES! And yeah - I believe his wife found out but stayed with him. He had another long-term affair before me and she seems to just put up with it. He said in their culture (Portuguese) divorce or leaving ones family is pretty much the worst thing ever...so he has affairs and wifey puts up with it. Sad, sad, sad.

    Wifey probably puts up with it because she has a good life in Avon (pricey area of CT to live) and a husband that is gone all week and not bothering her.

    You deserve much more than that.

    yeah - he was kinda fancy. Had a beach house in Niantic, jet skis, a few cars. Who'd give up a life like that? If I were her I'd have taken him for everything he has. She'd get it, too. She's a stay-at-home-mom. She'd make BANK with all the alimony and child support (3 kids - triplets!). He'd probably end up living in one of his cars lololol

    Not in CT - it's a community property state, she would get only half. And then there is the stigma of divorce. . . she is playing it out just fine. . . probably having a thing with the pool guy.
  • AskTracyAnnK28
    AskTracyAnnK28 Posts: 2,817 Member
    klkarlen wrote: »
    klkarlen wrote: »

    @Cutaway_Collar he got away with it because he worked in NJ so he stayed here during the work week and went home to wifey in Avon, CT on the weekends. He told me he had his kids every weekend. LIES! And yeah - I believe his wife found out but stayed with him. He had another long-term affair before me and she seems to just put up with it. He said in their culture (Portuguese) divorce or leaving ones family is pretty much the worst thing ever...so he has affairs and wifey puts up with it. Sad, sad, sad.

    Wifey probably puts up with it because she has a good life in Avon (pricey area of CT to live) and a husband that is gone all week and not bothering her.

    You deserve much more than that.

    yeah - he was kinda fancy. Had a beach house in Niantic, jet skis, a few cars. Who'd give up a life like that? If I were her I'd have taken him for everything he has. She'd get it, too. She's a stay-at-home-mom. She'd make BANK with all the alimony and child support (3 kids - triplets!). He'd probably end up living in one of his cars lololol

    Not in CT - it's a community property state, she would get only half. And then there is the stigma of divorce. . . she is playing it out just fine. . . probably having a thing with the pool guy.

    That explains a lot! I guess she'll put up with his cheating so she can keep her lifestyle.

    Personally, I couldn't do it. I have ZERO tolerance for infidelity.
  • Timshel_
    Timshel_ Posts: 22,834 Member
    Not divorced, but been close and honestly I would swear off anything serious dating or relationship wise for a few years if I ever did separate. Can't understand how quickly people "find love". Maybe that is the issue right there...afraid to be with just them self.
  • MicahPsencik
    MicahPsencik Posts: 129 Member
    I need to read all this...its applicable to say the least
  • MicahPsencik
    MicahPsencik Posts: 129 Member
    klkarlen wrote: »
    klkarlen wrote: »

    @Cutaway_Collar he got away with it because he worked in NJ so he stayed here during the work week and went home to wifey in Avon, CT on the weekends. He told me he had his kids every weekend. LIES! And yeah - I believe his wife found out but stayed with him. He had another long-term affair before me and she seems to just put up with it. He said in their culture (Portuguese) divorce or leaving ones family is pretty much the worst thing ever...so he has affairs and wifey puts up with it. Sad, sad, sad.

    Wifey probably puts up with it because she has a good life in Avon (pricey area of CT to live) and a husband that is gone all week and not bothering her.

    You deserve much more than that.

    yeah - he was kinda fancy. Had a beach house in Niantic, jet skis, a few cars. Who'd give up a life like that? If I were her I'd have taken him for everything he has. She'd get it, too. She's a stay-at-home-mom. She'd make BANK with all the alimony and child support (3 kids - triplets!). He'd probably end up living in one of his cars lololol

    Not in CT - it's a community property state, she would get only half. And then there is the stigma of divorce. . . she is playing it out just fine. . . probably having a thing with the pool guy.

    That explains a lot! I guess she'll put up with his cheating so she can keep her lifestyle.

    Personally, I couldn't do it. I have ZERO tolerance for infidelity.

    Agreed, especially on the infidelity part.
  • DetroitDarin
    DetroitDarin Posts: 955 Member
    If one partner allows it, it's not cheating. It's 'an arrangement' :) No victims - assuming the other person knows the whole story and can decide for his/herself.

    How have folks dealt with kids from a former and dating again?

    Generally the woman I'm in love with - not just dating, but once we become a couple - is the most important person to me, then my kids. Kids will not 'come first' because i owe it to my new spouse/serious/so to make them first in my life.

    But until then - I struggle thinking about having a 'sleep over' when my kids were home, even with a woman I loved and dated for years. My kids are old enough where I don't have to worry about "OMG! She's going to meet my KIDS TODAY!!"

    And that's another thing - I wonder if folks wait too long to introduce kids to somebody they are dating. I am pretty picky when it comes to kid behaviour - I don't enjoy kids who are a-holes. I'd rather know if a woman's kids are a-holes up front, before I fall head over heels for her. Make sense?



  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    If one partner allows it, it's not cheating. It's 'an arrangement' :) No victims - assuming the other person knows the whole story and can decide for his/herself.

    How have folks dealt with kids from a former and dating again?

    Generally the woman I'm in love with - not just dating, but once we become a couple - is the most important person to me, then my kids. Kids will not 'come first' because i owe it to my new spouse/serious/so to make them first in my life.

    But until then - I struggle thinking about having a 'sleep over' when my kids were home, even with a woman I loved and dated for years. My kids are old enough where I don't have to worry about "OMG! She's going to meet my KIDS TODAY!!"

    And that's another thing - I wonder if folks wait too long to introduce kids to somebody they are dating. I am pretty picky when it comes to kid behaviour - I don't enjoy kids who are a-holes. I'd rather know if a woman's kids are a-holes up front, before I fall head over heels for her. Make sense?



    My sister's ex-boyfriend's kids were one of the reasons she ended up breaking up so... I get it.

    Bu the kids already saw their world go upside down when their parents got a divorce... I totally understand why you wouldn't want to make them go through something like that again unless you're sure it's actually going somewhere.

    But personally, if I met a single dad and he put me before his kids (not for the little things, but rescheduling their time with them, or not letting them go to something they were looking for or things like that), I'd run... because it would mean a lack of responsibility and you can bet he'll do the same thing to me when something more exciting comes along.
  • Heartisalonelyhunter
    Heartisalonelyhunter Posts: 786 Member
    If one partner allows it, it's not cheating. It's 'an arrangement' :) No victims - assuming the other person knows the whole story and can decide for his/herself.

    How have folks dealt with kids from a former and dating again?

    Generally the woman I'm in love with - not just dating, but once we become a couple - is the most important person to me, then my kids. Kids will not 'come first' because i owe it to my new spouse/serious/so to make them first in my life.

    But until then - I struggle thinking about having a 'sleep over' when my kids were home, even with a woman I loved and dated for years. My kids are old enough where I don't have to worry about "OMG! She's going to meet my KIDS TODAY!!"

    And that's another thing - I wonder if folks wait too long to introduce kids to somebody they are dating. I am pretty picky when it comes to kid behaviour - I don't enjoy kids who are a-holes. I'd rather know if a woman's kids are a-holes up front, before I fall head over heels for her. Make sense?



    Generally if one person allows it it's because she is emotionally/financially/physically afraid to leave that relationship (usually it's women in abusive relationships). There is no such thing as a one-sided open relationship. Open relationships allow both partners to have other sexual partners and can only work with complete equality and open communication.
    As for step kids, I will tell you from experience that if you meet a woman with kids they will resent you for not being their Dad and that will make them act like *kitten* sometimes. Just as your kid will act like an *kitten* to your girlfriend. It's perfectly natural and the only thing that helps it is patience and time. I am very fond of my stepchildren but I am not their mother and I know they would prefer it if their father and mother were still together. But as time goes by it gets easier.
    I will say that as a mother I would not have dated a man without kids. Because he wouldn't understand the pressures of parenthood and someone my age who has made the decision not to have kids is unlikely to want to live with someone else's.
  • AskTracyAnnK28
    AskTracyAnnK28 Posts: 2,817 Member
    If one partner allows it, it's not cheating. It's 'an arrangement' :) No victims - assuming the other person knows the whole story and can decide for his/herself.

    How have folks dealt with kids from a former and dating again?

    Generally the woman I'm in love with - not just dating, but once we become a couple - is the most important person to me, then my kids. Kids will not 'come first' because i owe it to my new spouse/serious/so to make them first in my life.

    But until then - I struggle thinking about having a 'sleep over' when my kids were home, even with a woman I loved and dated for years. My kids are old enough where I don't have to worry about "OMG! She's going to meet my KIDS TODAY!!"

    And that's another thing - I wonder if folks wait too long to introduce kids to somebody they are dating. I am pretty picky when it comes to kid behaviour - I don't enjoy kids who are a-holes. I'd rather know if a woman's kids are a-holes up front, before I fall head over heels for her. Make sense?



    In my case, she didn't 'allow it' but won't leave him because of their kids and their lifestyle - and I guess because she loves him and believes in "till death do us part even though he's a lying, cheating *kitten*"

    And I agree with your statemens @DetroitDarin. I believe that when you are in a love relationship, that needs to be a priority. I've had my fair share of dating guys who's kids come first and always. Guys who say "my kids are my world - and if you don't like that then GTFO". My attitude was, "I come first"...because if I'm unhappy with my life there's no way I can be the parent I should be.

    It must have worked because my 20 year old son turned out pretty good (never got into trouble, university Dean's list, has a great work ethic and an awesome personality).
  • DetroitDarin
    DetroitDarin Posts: 955 Member
    Francl27 wrote: »

    But personally, if I met a single dad and he put me before his kids (not for the little things, but rescheduling their time with them, or not letting them go to something they were looking for or things like that), I'd run... because it would mean a lack of responsibility and you can bet he'll do the same thing to me when something more exciting comes along.

    I'm talking about after the new relationship is settled. It's cemented. The spouse/so must always be "ahead" of the kids for the relationship to work. I'm not talking about neglecting the kids - but sticking up for my partner; in face of the kids. I'm talking about protecting and validating. I'm talking about Loving her enough to ensure the kids know to respect her as much or more than me. does that make sense?
  • Heartisalonelyhunter
    Heartisalonelyhunter Posts: 786 Member
    newmeadow wrote: »
    Francl27 wrote: »
    But personally, if I met a single dad and he put me before his kids (not for the little things, but rescheduling their time with them, or not letting them go to something they were looking for or things like that), I'd run... because it would mean a lack of responsibility and you can bet he'll do the same thing to me when something more exciting comes along.



    It's probably best for married people to stay married until the last kid turns 18. If divorce is inevitable, it's probably best to wait until the last kid turns into an adult before "dating" again.

    That's ridiculous. Children adapt just as lovers do. I will say my children and step children are much better off now in a household with two adults who love each other rather than a household where the adults are cheating,lying and/or fighting. And after I was divorced there was no way I was waiting 12 years until I got laid again. Making sweeping generalizations about people's marriages or how long they should stay single is very ignorant.
  • AskTracyAnnK28
    AskTracyAnnK28 Posts: 2,817 Member
    Francl27 wrote: »

    But personally, if I met a single dad and he put me before his kids (not for the little things, but rescheduling their time with them, or not letting them go to something they were looking for or things like that), I'd run... because it would mean a lack of responsibility and you can bet he'll do the same thing to me when something more exciting comes along.

    I'm talking about after the new relationship is settled. It's cemented. The spouse/so must always be "ahead" of the kids for the relationship to work. I'm not talking about neglecting the kids - but sticking up for my partner; in face of the kids. I'm talking about protecting and validating. I'm talking about Loving her enough to ensure the kids know to respect her as much or more than me. does that make sense?

    years ago I lived with someone who had an 11 year old daughter (my son was 12 at the time). She would make up things about me and tell her dad and her mom (like how I ruined her clothes in the wash, I destroyed her bedroom, I gave her something she didn't like for lunch and blah blah). My (now)ex always believed her over me. Always. She was one of the many reasons why I left him.

    Anyway...I give single dads all the credit in the world, but I won't get involved with one unless he knows how to balance his personal life with his family life. If someone's kids are "their world" then obviously there's no room for me in there. I'd rather stay home with my Netflix than fight for someone's attention.
  • dbanks80
    dbanks80 Posts: 3,685 Member
    lislisa123 wrote: »
    I work as a cashier and there is this one guy who is kind of cute, he is nice and has a nice smile. He is always friendly/easy going and smiles when he talks to me. I can't tell if he is just a friendly person or likes me.

    I wear a name tag but he never says my name and never introduced himself to me. I don't even know his name and see him like 2 or 3 days a week.

    You would think if he liked me he would introduce himself or at least greet me by my name right?

    I'm just curious what a guy would do in that Case to show they are interested, if they liked the cashier that was checking them out.

    It's not like we have a long time to chat. It's just how was your day sort of chat and we only have a few mins because my work is crazy busy and I have other customers to check out.

    Any advice/thoughts?


    I would make the first move. Ask him out for coffee. If he says no or he is seeing someone oh well at least you know. Or he could be shy and trying to work up the nerve to ask you out as well. It's a two way street these days and you'll never know this could be the guy God has for you.
  • Heartisalonelyhunter
    Heartisalonelyhunter Posts: 786 Member
    edited August 2016
    Why would you get a strike from the mods? For saying something ridiculous? I don't think you have ever been in this situation so I don't see how you're qualified to make such sweeping generalizations and personally I have no interest in debating anything with you. I suggest you calm down and concentrate on what makes you happy rather than announcing how other people should live their lives. Have a nice day.
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