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Where Is He ?
Now that you ' re ready to meet Mr . Right , how do you find him ? He could be at your PTA meeting , in the supermarket , on the sidelines of your kid ' s soccer game , or in the bookstore -- but you ' ll never know if you don ' t approach him . Though it sounds totally retro , " men like to feel needed ," says Jill Spiegel , author of The Flirtologist ' s Guide to Dating . Ask him for help reaching cereal on the top shelf or whether he knows the score of the game . If he ' s interested , he ' ll keep the conversation going .
With kids at home , you need to be extra careful about the kind of person you let into your life ( even if it ' s just a date ). The best route of all is to let people know you ' re interested in being fixed up . And don ' t ask just your closest friends -- tell your paediatrician , your yoga teacher , or even the person who cuts your hair .
Who ' s Your Daddy ?
It would be great to find a father figure for your child , but not every guy you date is qualified to play that role . Never introduce your child to anyone on the first date , even if you ' re excited about his potential -- it will only compromise her sense of security .
" It ' s important to tell your child the truth about your social life , but give her a version she can understand and that won ' t worry her ," says Pepper Schwartz , PhD , professor of sociology at the University of Washington in Seattle . Tell her you ' re going to see a new friend or you ' re going out to dinner . At the beginning , that ' s really all you ' re doing . You might hope it ' ll turn into something more , but don ' t get your kids wrapped up in that until it happens . Once you ' ve been steadily dating someone for at least three months , and you feel he has staying power , you can consider introducing him to your child , says McKenna . Arrange for him to join you at the bowling alley or at your picnic in the park so he doesn ' t feel like it ' s all about him . And if it doesn ' t go well , he can make a graceful exit .
Yes , YES , YES !
It ' s only natural to worry that no one wants to date a mom , but you need to pump up your positivity . Think about it : Your married friends are surely jealous and dying to hear every detail of your swingin ' single life , a " call from the babysitter " is the perfect excuse to bail on a dreadful date , and no matter whom you go out with , you ' ll always come home to someone who loves you unconditionally . Who cares if McDreamy never calls you again ? Your kids are calling you from the living room , and they think you rock .
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