Single Parents Dating: Should You Tell Your Kids Your Relationship Status?

Kids fantasise about their parents getting back together once again. You say "no", but you're kids still hop it will happen. That is why it's a BAD idea to tell them about your dating life. You don't need to explain your dating life to your kids.

Remember this rule of thumb when it comes to dating and relationships: all information that you share to your kids should just be on the "need to know" basis. This is on the exception that your new partner is on a long-term player in your life, otherwise just keep quiet about your dating life.

Relationship Status: Blind Dates

One of the most frightening and scary concept to explain to a child is the idea of meeting stranger and dating them. Parents teach their kids not to talk and keep away from strangers if possible, to not meet up with people that you just met on the internet. This is a rather complicated thought to be explained to a child.

When you are in online dating, be conscious around your kids. Make sure that you log out of your email when you step away from your computer. Close out and log off in your online dating service site when your kids use the computer. Clear your browser's history and cookies so that your kids won't end up looking into the sites you've been to. When you and your date are talking on the phone make sure your kids are out of ear shot.

If your going out on a date, there's no harm in telling your kids that you are out with friends. Sometimes, sharing the truth can do more harm than good so it's better to keep some things to yourself.

Relationship Status: Still Dating

Let's say you've been together for 3-4 months already and you think things have been going smoothly with your date; you've had plenty of conversations, met up a couple of time. But again, it's still to early to tell your kids about this new found relationship. Never introduce your relationship prematurely to your children, they may find this as a threat to you and your ex to be reunited- kids fantasize often about their parents being together again. So why tell them about it when it's going to be a split decision and their vote won't matter?

There may be unseen consequences if you introduce your partner early. What if your relationship would go south? You and your kids will be affected and you have to deal with the disappointments. So resist the urge to introduce your date in the early stages of your relationship.

Relationship Status: In A Relationship With...

Now that you and your date has moved on from being casual daters to be full boyfriend/girlfriend, and it seems he's sticking around and handling things well, then it would seem like the perfect time to meet. Of course he should have known about your kids at this point. Set your ideals on their first meeting to be realistic, make sure that it's centered around your kids, make it stress-free and limit the time. Don't push them, just let things unfold naturally and when the right timing comes, then wing it! Just remember that the time spent should be unpressured and stress-free.

Now that you know about what to tell your kids and under what relationship status you are under, make sure that you follow and remember these tips when you are on the way to making Mr. Prospect to Mr. Right, for you and your kids.