Online Dating and the Single Mom -Part 1

At the age of thirty two I have had my share of dating experiences. I know a lot of you may be shaking your head and thinking to yourselves. This girl is still pretty young, how many dates could she have possibly have had? The answer to this is "a lot".

I am the single mother of a seven year old daughter. On some weeks I go out once maybe twice a week. I decided to try on line dating because it seemed so much easier. I don't have a lot of friends and meeting guys at the local bar was never my thing. So I gave it a try. Now to some of you the stories you will hear about, are funny. I can honestly say at the time they weren't. These stories are all true. When I read these and go back and remember, it actually makes me laugh and I shake my head.

So the first man we will call "Steve" is 43 years old, (well that is what his profile said). Of course I had to change his name. God forbid anyone find out what kind of date this guy would actually be.

We met of course on line on a popular dating site. We exchanged pictures and numbers. We had a great chemistry over the phone. So we decided we would meet on the up coming Saturday night. So Steve comes by at 8:30 p.m. to pick me up.There was something wrong. The picture he sent looked nothing like him. This guy looked 15 years older. I was in shock. First because he lied, and second it looked like I was going on a date, with my grandfather.

He asked me where I wanted to go. So I sat there, and thought to myself, this guy had all week to make plans for this date and he obviously didn't put much thought into it. So I decided at this point to suggest a popular steak house the next city over.

On the way over his cell phone rang a few times. Now I understand if it is an emergency you would want to pick your phone up and answer it, but in this case Steve decided he will answer it and talk most of the way to the restaurant. Let me just say this phone conversation was not important. So I sat and stared out the window as we drove and I thought to myself. I should have never spent the money today on this new shirt. It was Saturday night I wondered what was on television tonight. Then I sighed. I Looked over at Steve and he put his hand on my thigh and I got a cold shiver down my spine.

We had polite conversation throughout our meal. He looked so much older than 43. He looked tired, and out of shape. He told me a few times throughout dinner about all the woman he was dating just recently. I thought to myself, yeah right. He told me how attracted he was to young Latin woman. Amusing, I thought. He finished his meal about fifteen minutes before I did. I took my time because at this point I didn't even care if he left me there at the restaurant. I wasn't very far from home and I could always call someone to come and pick me up. That of course didn't happen even though I wished it had. I finished my dinner and he continued talking and I just wanted to get out of there. (Note to men reading this), Don't ever sit and talk about woman you have dated in the past or in the present on a date. First it is rude. Second we don't care and third it doesn't make you look cool, it actually makes you look insecure.

We left finally; and I told him I needed to get home and get my daughter from the babysitter. So we headed back to my house. As soon as we started driving Steve got on his cell phone. I couldn't believe it. At this point I shook my head and didn't care anymore. I just looked at every stop light on the way home and started getting antsy to get out of this guy's car.

As we were driving out of the corner of my eye I spot a Sheriffs police car. I mean in my neighborhood it is kind of hard to get pulled over by one of them. You must really have to be doing something wrong. So we were driving and this idiot is still on his cell phone. I'm looked at him and he reached over and started rubbing my neck, and whispered to me, "Can we go to your place?" I wriggled out of his grip. You have got to be kidding. I thought to myself. I just want to get the hell out of this car.

Finally we pulled onto my street, it is a very tiny cul-de-sac. Then all of a sudden I saw Steve straighten up real fast and he looked in his rear view mirror. The Sheriff's car followed us a few blocks. Steve was freaking out now and told the person on the cell phone he had to go .he thinks he might be getting pulled over. Sure enough, that is what happened.

I mean how are you going to go get pulled over on a first date and in front of my house? I couldn't' help but laugh. Well I look over at Steve and he is shaking and looked really nervous. The police spotlight was shining on us and the car. I saw little beads of sweat all over Steve's face. So I sat there and started laughing. Steve didn't think it was too funny. At this point I didn't really care. I sat there for a minute and in the mirror I saw an officer walk toward my window. Another officer was on Steve's side. The officer asked how everything was going tonight and flashed his flash light inside the car and on me. I told him, "Things are great, I'm home now." He then asked where we were coming from, and I told him we went out to eat, we were on a date and the officer said, "Isn't he a little old for you?" and I looked over and said ,"Yes. way too old for me". He smiled, he was cute. Come to think of it I should have asked for his number. Anyway back to the ugh, date from Hell.

I then leaned over and whispered to the officer can I go home now? I live right there across the street and he said sure go ahead. So I turned to Steve and I said "Good luck with whatever you got pulled over for". He shot me this, Oh my gosh, you are such a bitch glance. I smiled thanked both officers and walked across the street to my house.

I never heard from Steve again. I don't know if he went to jail that night or if they issued him a ticket. I don't even know why he got pulled over in the first place. But do I really care? The answer is no. They Say you have to kiss a dozen toads before you get to your prince,well where is he? I am still waiting.