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Dating as a single dad can be tricky at times. You’re always doing the balancing act of finding time for dating and spending time with your kids, all while trying to maintain a healthy balance between work and family life. It’s not easy by any means. But it is possible! Here are nine tips on how to make dating as a single dad easier. Understand that your kids always come first Dating as a single dad means putting your kids first on the list of things to do and your children should be aware that they are always going to rank number one in your life. Don't forget that you have given up the right to put yourself as number one when you decided to bring kids into this world. Be patient with the person you are dating - don't rush them Never pressure someone to go further than they want to with you - it is not fair. If your interest in this person goes beyond the social, don't push them too fast. This can make them uncomfortable and ruin things between you. This is a common problem for single dads because we tend to wanna escalate things quickly once we've made up our minds to "get back out there". Don't be a bum! Get up off your couch and get out there! You will meet people when you are working or playing sports or doing your hobby. Don't limit yourself to just the park and playground if you are a single dad and have children - be proactive. Do things that interest you, not necessarily what interests your kids.Your kids will love it when you make new friends! Try to schedule date nights when your kids are asleep or at school. This way you won't be interrupted and will be able to get the most out of your time together. If you have more than one child, consider waiting to let them know after the date is over. Why? Well, if they learn about it first, they might do their best to interfere with your date or sabotage things by telling the other person that they have to leave early because their dad needs them. Also, try not to argue with your children in front of the other person - it can put a damper on things and make the other person feel like what you are doing isn't important enough for you to be respectful, even if it's only for a few minutes. If you have a work event, ask for help from friends and family members so they can watch the kids while you're gone If you get roped into a work-related outing, call on your friends and family members to help out. Some people may not understand that babysitting is exactly what they are doing by watching your kids for an hour while you play golf or attend the business mixer for work, but whether it is an hour or eight hours - if you're a single dad, you need help! Not only is it bad form, but it can also be very unappealing if your date shows up with their kids in tow or has them tag along all night. If this happens on the first date, you know that it will probably happen when you get to the third or tenth date. Things might not work out with this person, but if they do - make sure that your kids are on board and even try to have a conversation with them about what dating means for the whole family before introducing them to the new person in your life. If you're not lucky enough to have family and friends around, or the right friend is always busy - consider paying for a babysitter for an hour of your time so you can get out and enjoy yourself before your kids come home from school. Try to find a sitter that doesn't charge by the hour, because if you don't leave on time, you might have to pay for the whole hour anyway. Look for a babysitter that charges by the day so you're not caught in this situation. Spend time with your children before leaving for a date night - this will make it easier on both of you! Dating as a single dad is difficult at times, but it can be fun and rewarding. If you plan well and put a little extra effort into planning your time with the other parent, you will both benefit from time apart and have more quality time together when you do spend it together! The most important thing to remember is that your kids are not a hindrance to your social life - they are part of it and should be treated as such! Don't feel guilty about dating, even if you have kids. You are only hurting yourself and the other parent by trying to push through this feeling or avoid it altogether. Some things might work out and others won't, but if you just give it a chance, you're more likely to find someone that makes all the difference for your family! Leave yourself enough time to get ready in the morning - don't wait until 10 minutes before to start getting ready! If you have the option of trying to get your kids up in the morning, try to make it a quick and easy process so that you don't give them an excuse for why they should stay home from school. Even if they normally wake up on their own or need some help getting ready - get them jumpstarted by waking them up earlier than usual. You can offer to get them breakfast if they want, but try to make it seem like a fun thing that you are doing together as opposed to an obligation that has been forced upon you. The more time your kids have in the morning, the more likely it is for things to go wrong and for them to be late which will lead to you having to drive them to school. If they refuse breakfast, try offering a smoothie or some other healthy snack - that way you can control what they eat and will avoid the temptation of sending them off with a Happy Meal from McDonalds. If their morning schedule is too hard for you to adjust to (like it's not possible for you wake up an hour earlier) then try working on their bedtime routine. You can work together to create a new schedule and give them more time in the morning while you get your chores done or relax for a bit before heading out. Don't forget that if you are going out with friends in the evening - you need to make sure that your children are in bed by a reasonable time. If they aren't, it might be a good idea to wait until the weekend so that you can look after them until they are ready for bed. Try not to let yourself get too frustrated about things going wrong when you are getting the kids ready and out of the house for the day. Make it a positive experience and remember that the more you do this, the easier it will become! Dating is frustrating when things don't go as planned. There are so many factors out of your control, like other people's schedules or general life not going your way all the time. It can be hard on your mood and your self-esteem when you're not used to it, so try to let go of things more easily if you can. Be understanding when problems come up and remember that the little things aren't worth getting upset over! If your kids are having a hard time adjusting to everything being different - take it slow. They might need some Remember that being a single dad is hard sometimes, but there's always someone out there who understands what you're going through and If you ever need a place to vent, don't be afraid to reach out to others - they're there for you. By reaching out to others, you're going to avoid being trapped in your old ways and you'll be able to get some support when times are tough. Follow your instincts and remember what you want out of life - if you're feeling sad or lonely then that's a sign that it may be time to seek some help. Don't forget to ask the other parent about having their children over for a playdate, as long as they are also OK with this arrangement. This could be an easier way to become friends with the other parent and it can help you feel like you're getting your kids some company while they are out of school. The summer is a great time for getting together if there are enough children around, because all the kids can play together! If this has always been something that you've wanted but never had a chance to do - this year may be the time for you to try it. When you're planning your first get together with the other parent, decide if you want to have a date-like night or if it would be better to just plan a fun afternoon with friends and family. You can do whatever works best for you and everyone else involved! Remember that your children have needs too and try not to make them feel like their needs are less important because it's date night time! Remember that your kids have needs too! They might be sad if they see you doing something else. You can tell them that the date night is happening, but it will be for a short time. Also, if they are little ones, don't expect them to understand that it is date night. They might feel insecure because things are changing around them. Make sure everything is going smoothly. The most important thing is not forgetting about your responsibilities. Don't forget about the kids when you get started! Always make sure that you put your children first even if it's a date night. If they need something, take care of their needs before anything else. Don't push things on them and cause your children to feel disrespected. That will build trust issues for them later on down the road. Conclusion Single dads should be patient when dating and try not to get frustrated if things don't go as planned. It's important to remember that your children have needs too, so it is OK for you to take time away from them in order to date someone else. You'll build a stronger relationship with the other parent by inviting their child over for playdates or spending some time together during the summer months. Be understanding about any problems that come up while planning a first date night and always put your kids' needs before anything else! Remember: being single doesn't mean you can't find happiness again-it just means you've got more work than most parents do!

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