If your date seems unsure about the idea of dating a single mom, but they also seem to really like you, let them know that you don’t have any expectations of them, and you’re not in a hurry to find your child a new parent. Try saying something like, “We’re doing fine on our own, but I think it’s really important for me to still enjoy adult relationships.” Sometimes, you might come across someone who’s just not ready to have a child in their life. This can be really hard, especially if you like the person a lot, but try to remind yourself that it doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with you; it’s just the situation you’re both in. Respect their choice and keep looking for the person who’s right for you.  If a rejection is making you feel bad about yourself, boost your self-esteem by making a list of reasons why you're a great catch. Reread the list whenever you doubt your worth. Remind yourself that it’s best to find out early on if the other person isn’t interested in dating someone with a child. A rejection would hurt a lot more later, once you’re beginning to feel more invested in the relationship. Even if your date is totally cool with you being a single mom, you should still wait until you’re sure the relationship is stable and serious before you bring your date around your child. Usually, you should wait until you’ve been dating someone for a few months before setting up an introduction with your child.  Children form attachments easily, and it can be really hard on a child to have a steady stream of dates entering and leaving their life, especially if they’ve already experienced their parents splitting up. If you’re not sure where you stand, talk to your date to gauge how serious you are. A simple question like, "So, are we exclusive?" or "Where do you see this going?" can help you determine if you’re both on the same page. When it’s time, try to set up the meeting in a way that will make your child comfortable, like inviting your date over to your house for pizza and a movie. If the other parent hasn’t been out of the house for long, consider introducing your date to your child somewhere neutral, outside your home. If your child’s other parent is in the picture, you'll need to have a good plan in place for the role they play in comparison to the role your date plays in parenting. A good way to do this is to sit down with your new partner and your child’s other parent and have an open and honest conversation where you work out a co-parenting plan.  Make it clear that your new partner is not replacing the other parent. However, the role each person plays will depend on how involved the other parent is in your children's lives. For instance, in some cases, the other parent might get the children every other week or on weekends, so they have a large role in their parenting. However, in other cases, children may only see their other parent every now and then, meaning they play less of a role in their lives. Be careful about getting your date involved in parenting too early unless it’s absolutely necessary.
احرصي على التوضيح للرجل الذي تواعدين أنكِ لست متسرعة بشأن العلاقة وبخاصة إذا ما شعرتي بتوجسٍ من طرفه. لا تأخذي تعرضك للرفض على محملٍ شخصي. خذي وقتك في تقديم الرجل الجديد في حياتك لطفلك. احرصي على الموازنة في تربية أطفالك بينك وبين الأب.