You might be skeptical about dating someone with kids and are unsure how to go about it. Well, it might not be easy to date a single parent, but children should not be a deterring factor for your relationship to continue. Also, you should understand that children will be their priority, and you might need to adjust accordingly. Keep reading our post to understand more about essential things you need to know when dating a person with children. It may help you avoid hiccups and have a healthy relationship.
Is It Okay To Date Someone With Kids?
Dating is an entirely personal choice. If you are single, and you like someone who is also single and interested in dating you, why not give it a try? This applies to dating someone with kids too — although the dynamics of dating might change drastically. Being a stepparent to a child or children is not an easy task. You probably are only interested in being with the one you like and may not have factored in the kids. So, before you start dating someone with kids, you need to consider every aspect attached to such a relationship. After considering the relationship from every possible angle, if you think you are ready to commit, not only to a partner but also to their kids, then nothing should stop you from going ahead with it.
17 Things You Need To Know When Dating Someone With Kids
You must be prepared and excited about the new person in your life. But before you get into a relationship with someone who already has kids, here are a few things you need to know.
1. Dating a parent is different
The first thing you need to understand is that dating a parent of kids is different from dating an individual who is single. For them, their kids are their priority, and you must be willing to accept it. They will also likely be in touch with their ex to coordinate their kids’ lives, and you must be secure enough to handle it. You should also trust your partner and be accommodative.
2. Learn about their availability
If your partner is co-parenting, there will be days when they have to look after their kids and days when the kids are with the other parent. Learn about their custody dating life and free days and plan your dates and meetings accordingly. On days they are busy, you may also have to help pick their kids up from school or offer to look after them till they finish their work and return home.
3. Consider your compatibility
An essential factor you need to consider is how compatible you are with them and how much your lives are in sync. You need to know if your plans align with theirs, as this could make a great difference to your partner and their children. Your lifestyle needs to match theirs so that it is easy for the children to accept you as a part of their lives.
4. Don’t expect to meet their kids soon
It is natural, and rightfully so, for parents to keep their children out of their dating life. You never know how long your relationship will last. No parent would want their child to get attached to a partner who would not be around for long. Hence, they might prefer you to meet them only after they are fully sure about the relationship. In the end, it is their choice.
5. Offer to help
If you want your partner to spend more time with you, make provisions to have their children cared for. You can find them a good nanny or offer to bear the cost of a good babysitter. Once your date knows their children are taken care of, they will be at ease and more willing to see you. You could also offer to pick them up from work and drive them home. Remember, you may have to do things that will make it convenient for them to meet you. But be careful with this one because you don’t want to give the impression that you are trying to ‘get rid’ of the kids so you two can have time together.
6. Know your role in their children’s lives
You need to ask your partner the kind of role they would want you to play in their children’s lives. Should you be actively involved, or do they want you to meet their kids only during holidays and special occasions? It’s important for your partner and the children to know that you are not replacing the other parent and that you fully respect the other parent and their role.
7. Have patience with kids
Are you worried about whether you will get along with the kids or whether they will like you? Don’t put any pressure on yourself or the kids with unrealistic expectations. Don’t expect things to go smoothly at first. The kids make the time some time to ‘size you up’ and may expect you to prove yourself worthy of their time and attention; they may need to see how you treat their parent and if you talk poorly about their other parent. Genuinely take the time to get to know them and discover what they love to do. Kids are no different than adults in that they appreciate it when a person shows an authentic interest in them without any hidden agendas. A word of caution: be careful not to give the appearance that you are buying their affection. It’s quite natural to want to buy them things they desire but often kids will misconstrue this as a way of buying their affection.
8. Exercise caution around kids
Kids are impressionable, and you need to watch your words and actions in front of them. Be at your best behavior around them no matter what age. You cannot bad mouth your partner’s ex in front of them. They will only resent you and never accept you in their life.
9. Always have a backup plan
With children involved, you can never predict how your date plan might go. There will be times when your partner will have to choose between you and their children and you should expect them to choose the children. To try and mitigate this possibility, help your partner devise a backup plan and plan your dates well in advance so they can ensure their children will be taken care of.
10. Try to be understanding
There will be times when your partner may cancel on you at the last minute or may not show up at all. They may even forget to meet you. Try to be more understanding as managing kids and their personal life is not easy. In such a situation, you need to understand that your partner is not doing it on purpose and that some situations may be beyond their control.
11. Accept that you will have to share your partner’s time and attention.
When in love, you might want your partner to shower you with lots of love and attention. But this may be a tad bit difficult in this case as your partner’s love and attention will be divided between you and their kids. You have to be accommodative enough to accept that you are not their center of attention.
12. Be ready to make compromises
Impromptu dates or surprise weekend getaways may not be an option when dating someone with kids. Additionally, you may also have to learn to make compromises for the sake of your date and their children. For instance, you may want to spend the night at their place or may want them to stay back with you at your place, but leaving kids alone at home may not be a feasible idea for them
13. Try to be comfortable with kids’ talk
For most parents, their favorite topic of discussion is their children. When talking to your partner, they might likely mention their kids in their conversation a couple of times. Since they think so much about their kids, it is only natural for them to talk about them. So be prepared to listen to stories about their children. One of the best ways to get to know the children is to ask your partner about them. Find out what they were like when they were little, what their favorite memories are,, favorite activities, fears, and more. A person’s children are typically the most important people in their lives and if you want to be a part of that life, it’s important you genuinely take an interest and learn to care about their children.
14. Get accustomed to ex talk
They might mention their ex too. This will be more frequent if they are co-parenting their kids. From coordination of parenting duties to complaints about the ex, you may have to listen to it all. Their ex, with whom they have had their children, is an integral part of their life, and you will have to accept it. Listen but try not to stoke the fire by adding your complaints about their ex. Just like you don’t want to ever make your partner choose between you or their children, you also don’t want to put them in the middle, between you and their ex. It may be tempting to give them advice on how to handle their ex but it’s best to keep it to yourself until your ex asks for your advice.
15. Understand the ex’s place in their life
Your partner’s previous relationship may or may not have ended amicably, but there is no denying that when children are involved, their ex will be involved in their life too. You need to understand their co-parenting responsibilities and arrangement. If the ex is not too friendly, it is best you stay away from them as they might not appreciate your interference, especially in their children’s lives.
16. Ensure you both are on the same page
You may be at a stage where you wish to see how the relationship shapes as time goes by, but it may not be the same for your date. Your date has many things to take care of and might be looking for some serious commitment. So, assess if you are ready for a long-term commitment.
17. Remember that sex could be challenging
With children around, there will be times when the little ones will need their parent’s attention right when you are getting some action in the bedroom. You may feel frustrated, but do not give up easily. If you make the children follow a regular schedule and know their sleeping time, you surely can make your intimate moments a lot more exciting even in the allotted time.
The Children’s biological mother will always be involved somehow, and you may have issues with her. You may have to give much more than what you receive. In the course of your relationship, you may have to take care of those children. The children can be his priority, and you may not get the attention you desire. Plans and preferences will never be like that of new couples as they will surely involve the kids
