When to start dating again?

Horace

He sounds like a really decent guy, he is offering dinner, lunch or a walk in the park - all of which are harmless and could be fun. Don't think about kissing..he might not kiss you anyway (not saying that you're not kissable). Go out with him - keep him as a friend. No strings, no pressure.

You cannot expect to stay on your own for ever plus your kids wouldnt want you to either.

Go for it and have fun.

funky_snow

suggest you just take this easy - a coffee could be worth doing rather than the whole dinner thing...
then you can chat - see if there's a spark of good conversation that goes beyond small talk in the gym...

my mum was only ever with my dad - who died about 15 years ago. Its only in the last 2 that she's even considered that it might be nice to meet someone for companionship... the time it takes is different for everyone and i'm sure there may be some people who choose to never go down that route at all...

take your time - it should be fun - not panicky

and as for kissing... well let me assure you that you will remember with the right guy!!!!!

MrsTinks

You only get one life... LIVE IT!

I appreciate you don't NEED a man in your life, but that's not to say you can't enjoy another adults company even if that is all it is I did speed dating when I was single and it was a royal disaster in the "finding a partner" stakes - but it was great going out for dinners, talking to other people and doing things I wouldn't do on my own really... And eventually it led to me finding my now hubby on a dating site :rotfl:
As for "men walking in and out of your sons lives"... my dad is married for the 5th time now and I'd class myself as pretty normal... I'm not saying to introduce any bloke you date on the 1st or 2nd date, but they don't worry about them needing therapy because mum has a life and goes out on dates
The guy at the gym sounds nice - so long as you are clear about the boundaries before you go out on a date then I don't see why you shouldn't. He sounds nice and obviously doesn't feel you having 2 kids is an obstacle.

It's only a dinner/lunch date...

Pee

I think you get to know him, and enjoy that, and then worry about when is right for the next stage. That's another bridge.

It is very exciting!!! Sometimes I wish I was still single. Smile!

jinky67

He sounds really nice.
Go for a walk round the park, take the kids if you have to. You dont need to introduce them, they can be your get out clause if you dont get on. :cool:

He hasnt put any pressure on you at all. I wouldn't worry about it.

Give him a call

Pee

jinky67 wrote: »

He sounds really nice.
Go for a walk round the park, take the kids if you have to. You dont need to introduce them, they can be your get out clause if you dont get on. :cool:

He hasnt put any pressure on you at all. I wouldn't worry about it.

Give him a call

I'm just wondering, should you take the children?

I can see on the one hand the children are an important part of your life and whether you will want to be together may ultimately depend on how he and the children get on.

Or should you see him for a while without the children knowing and then introduce him?

(I don't have children, so I have no idea what is the right answer and thinking about it, I have met male friends children, relatives of boyfriends, and if I have never been seen again, I don't think the children thought it was weird, that was just the person we saw that one day...)

GeorgeBloggs

I'd just like to say that I do not disagree with the above comments, if you are really interested then go for it...

However - I find it a bit sad that we still live in a society that thinks people are weird if they are single. My point is, you said at the start you weren't really interested in dating, if that is truly the case then don't do it just because you have been told to by your friends. It's perfectly ok to be single - and even a single parent - if that's what you're happy with.And pushy friends are REALLY annoying when you're single and they think you shouldn't be.

My mother was a single parent with 3 kids, she had two marriages early in her life that didn't work, and she remained single ever since - she's now 60! Now, I'm not saying that's what you should do, my point is just that she was much happier without a man than she was with one. - I also think I actually prefered growing up without a dad - hard as it was - to learning to relate to a new one.

Hope I haven't pulled the rug out!

George

DFrancis_3

I am currently married, but before I met my wife I took almost one year off from dating. I was with a woman for about two years and just needed a break when we split up. It was really good to just have some fun and relax. I got to know myself better as well.

Errata

Blimey missus - he only invited you to have a meal with him, not a 50 year exclusive relationship ! You're reading too much into his invite and overthinking the situation. Have a word with him, tell him he caught you totally by surprise and if he'll let you change your mind you'd love to have a meal with him.
Stop thinking about how you feel about it and spare a thought for the poor bloke who plucked up courage to ask you and got knocked back for his trouble.

Taye

Oh god i've done it... i texted the number..... eeeek