5 Signs that Your Child Needs for You to Date

One of the hardest parts of being a single parent is the idea of ever trusting someone enough to allow them to be around my son. Every single parent has their own method for dating and some skip out on it all together. The truth is that being afraid to date and hiding behind your child are two different things. Your child is going to grow up and move out one day, but in the meantime, it's a good idea for him or her to see some healthy relationship modeling. If you think your child just isn't ready for you to date, compare his or her behavior to the behaviors below to see if you're right.

Your son tries setting you up on dates. This is a pretty obvious sign that your son is ready for you to start dating. That doesn't mean you have jump in head first, but you might start considering the options that you have available.

Your daughter starts asking you why you don't date. Not only is this a sign that your daughter is ready for you to start dating, but it's also an opportune time for you to have a talk with your daughter about your future dates. You can learn what she's afraid of and what her perceptions of relationships are. As you do this, try and assess how your behaviors have created a perception in her eyes and use a dose of reality combined with what your daughter tells you in order to calm your own fears without her knowing you're afraid.

Your son or daughter starts feeling guilty about not spending enough time with you. My son and I are very close. I don't date. Lately I've noticed that he sometimes tries to avoid even leaving me in a room alone because he's afraid I'll get lonely. I actually enjoy my time alone, but I understand his fear. However, my potential loneliness is not his burden to bear. He's been ready for me to date for a while now.

Your children try to give you dating advice. These little gurus of love have all of the experience of a recess wedding, yet they do have a good concept of what it takes to avoid arguments and treat people well. When you start finding your best source of dating advice to be coming from a child who has just celebrated his or her birthday that still involves a one digit number, it's time to get back into the dating scene. More than that, you really need to start hanging out with people your own age.

Your child has more of a love life than you do. Kids get married and divorced on the playground with a speed that baffles. While it's cute, it's also a sign that your child is trying to be "big" and could really use some examples of what a health relationship is. This doesn't mean they're going to run out and have one, but it does mean that they are trying to learn the details of dating and the best way they can learn is by your example.

Source: Personal experience

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