If you are a single parent, at some point, you will probably miss having a partner and think about dating again. How will you decide that you are ready to enter the single parent dating scene?

First, you need to determine if dating is a priority for you right now. For single parents, time is a precious commodity and constant juggling of demands is the norm. Unfortunately, you will not be able to fit in everything that you would like to be doing for yourself and for your kids. Decide what the most important activities are in your life, and make a list. Is dating one of them? If not, then now is not the time to venture into the dating world. Remember, you can always revisit your decision not to date later as your responsibilities change and priorities shift.

If dating is a priority, you will need to figure out what to do with your children if they are still small. Maybe you have free time while they are with their other parent. If you are lucky, you may have family members or friends who are willing to watch the kids occasionally. If not, you will need to find babysitters that you trust and are able to afford.

When will you date? Weekends are popular, but you may have activities with your kids some of the time. Be creative and consider alternatives to the Friday night date. Maybe you can meet for coffee on the way to work, eat lunch together, or have an afternoon snack before you have to pick up the kids. If your children are in activities, you may be able to sneak in some time to meet while your child is at soccer practice or a piano lesson. If you have more than one child, you may be able to strategically arrange play dates or sleepovers for both at the same time.

Have a game plan for when you will let the kids meet your dating partners. Since children can easily get attached to someone new, it is generally best to hold off on introductions until you are ready to seriously commit to someone. You probably will not want your dates coming to your house if your kids are there with the babysitter as both your kids and your date could be put in an awkward position. Kids often would rather not know about your dating life.

Remember that your kids may not be enthusiastic about the idea of their parent dating. You may think that the kids will be happy if they see you happy which is often true in the long run. Their reactions in the short-term, however, may be a different story. Sometimes, they have had negative experiences with another step parent, or they may be afraid of losing you. They may be indifferent toward your significant other, or they may be hostile and actively try to break you up. Bear in mind that a happy blended family can be years in the making, and do not expect too much too soon.

If your decision to enter single parent dating is made thoughtfully and with the best interests of yourself and your children in mind, you should be able to successfully fit dating into your hectic single parent life.