For many single parents it seems as if online dating is the only way to meet someone in our current situation. Most single mothers have a very limited amount of time to meet people. If you’re lucky you get every other weekend to yourself, and most of us spend that time doing all the things that we couldn’t do when our children were there during the week. It’s about the only time we can clean something and have it stay clean for more than five minutes so we take advantage of it. Because of our limited amount of time, online dating is an easy resource for finding people.
More and more people are turning to online dating to find that special someone. Statistics show that one in five have dated someone they met online. Just like any type of dating, there are pros and cons. As a single mom, one of the things that drew me in was the fact that immediately these men would know that I was divorced and had a 4 year old. If they were ok with that they could send me a message, if that was something they couldn’t accept then they were welcome to keep on walking. I also felt like there was less time wasted in an online setting. With my busy schedule I didn’t have time to go on a bunch of dates. I was going to school full time, working, and taking care of my son. Time was not something I had an abundance of, in an online setting all I had to do was send quick message. Eventually if I felt there was enough of a connection then I could pursue meeting in person. By that time, they knew the nature of my schedule and understood that they were going to have to work around when I was available.
As with any dating relationship there are always risks that you take when opening up to someone. Keep in mind that they can say anything in a dating profile. Predators tend to be good liars, so follow your gut instinct. If something doesn’t ring true, keep moving. You may be right, you may be wrong, but it is always better to be safe than sorry. Don’t arrange a meeting until you have spent some time talking. Get to know them as well as you can before you set up a face-to-face. The more time you spend talking to them, the better your chances of success are and the more easily you’ll be able to spot red flags as they arise. Always drive your own car and meet in a public setting. Never give out your personal information. You are not only protecting you now, you have children that are counting on your for their safety as well. There is a certain amount of vulnerability that comes with any form of dating. Be careful and follow your instincts, more often than not, you will find that they are almost always right.