Monthly Archives: June 2022

11 Best Practices for Dating as a Single Parent

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It’s challenging to date for two; dating in a group is even more tricky. Even when you don’t believe they are, the children are involved on a certain level. And everyone is packed with strong feelings and ideas about who is engaged and what could happen.

These insider recommendations will make the post-divorce dating experience smoother, whether you’re a single parent seeking to get back into the dating world or someone trying to figure out how to ask out a single parent.

1. Be sure that the timing is appropriate

Making time and mental bandwidth for relationships might be challenging, but thinking about it can help you find perspective. Searching for romance should be enjoyable and joyful, and putting too much pressure on yourself to meet someone will rapidly turn it into a frustrating and terrible experience.

2. Consider relationships a goal in your life

While there are so many things to do, how can romance be a primary concern? Make a serious attempt to get out there and socialize. How else can you start this new chapter of your life?

3. First dates should be simple and in easily accessible areas

The first date is similar to a job interview. You need to see whether this someone fits your standards if you have a good vibe with them and want to go on another date with them. So keep things simple and don’t make an effort to go overboard.

4. Be honest and upfront about your role as a parent

While your dating life should be all about you, it shouldn’t be wholly devoid of your children. Any prospective partner should know that you have children to make an educated decision.

It’s preferable to exclude them early if they don’t want to date someone with children.

5. Make no excuses or apologies for having children

Many single parents believe that having children is a shortcoming for which they must apologize or make explanations. Being a parent does not require you to explain or find excuses.

It implies nothing about you or your children if someone doesn’t want to date a single parent. It’s just a way of expressing their choice.

6. Don’t bring the kids into it

It’s seductive to include your children in your current relationship. It might be for the sake of convenience or because you believe you know your partner reasonably well.

Don’t include the children until you’re sure things are becoming severe, whatever the reasoning.

7. Being in the moment

It’s simple to slip into the habit of “future jumping,” or looking forward to a possible future together. But it’s much too early for anything when you’re merely talking before a first date or on a first night. Keep your mind on the current moment.

8. Accept and acknowledge your anxiousness or worry

When it comes to dating again, we frequently experience nervousness or anxiety. Accept your emotions. Anxiety and worry are signs that you are aware of the importance of the circumstance. Accept them and keep moving forward despite them.

9. Have faith in your intuition

You may avoid toxic relationships and situations by listening to your instincts. Fortunately, our intuition is so profoundly intuitive that even if we’ve been out of contact with it for our whole existence, it’s still waiting for us to call for its guidance.

10. Take a chance on internet dating

As you re-enter the dating scene, online dating might be a good place to start. Select a trustworthy dating site, and don’t hesitate to pay for it.

11. Think about your deal-breakers

This saves you time by automatically eliminating folks who aren’t a good fit for your life. Then, if you’re going to date online, be sure that these characteristics help you locate folks. Be mindful of your beliefs and the sort of person you want to attract.

Don’t neglect your children by devoting all of your spare time to your new partner if you find love. It’s equally essential to take your time later on if you’ve created a bond with someone.

10 Conflict-free Ways To Handle Unwanted Parenting Advice

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People who care for your infant have a special bond with you and your baby that encourages unwanted parenting advice. However, listening to all of your relatives and friends’ comments while holding a crying days-old child on your chest may be difficult. It’s tricky to draw a line between unwanted advice and the need to maintain a relationship.

However, it’s essential to explain if and when you want criticism on your parenting choices for the family’s sake.

Do you need to have a difficult talk with someone who gives advice? Here’s how to deal with unsolicited advice from parents.

1. Set clear limits from the start

It is essential to create boundaries before a possible problem occurs. You build a safety net by expressing requirements upfront, which prevents undesired viewpoints and unsolicited advice from parents. It specifies when they are welcome to visit, how long they are permitted to stay, and what you do and does not require assistance with.

2. Listen to some of it

It’s normal to become defensive if you believe someone is criticizing you, but chances are you aren’t being judged; instead, the other person is offering what they consider to be helpful information. Keep the other person’s noble motives in mind to make everything go as quickly as planned.

3. Sending misleading signals is a bad idea

Try being open and honest about your experiences. If you want to avoid receiving unwanted advice in the future, be wary of the messages you send to people that appear ready to give their opinions. Tell them you’re OK on your own and that if anything comes up, you’ll ask them yourself.

4. Agree from time to time

You could agree with one or more parts of the recommendations. If you’re willing, demonstrate complete approval on the subject. A simple “Thank you, we’ll think about it” might indicate that the conversation went well and those good connections can be maintained.

5. Make your control visible

There may be times when you need to be much more straightforward and respond to suggestions with a simple “This is a choice taken solely by the parents.”

If your close relative has a reason to believe they should be involved in parenting, you may need to be much more cautious in establishing your boundaries.

6. Fully focus on the particular patterns you’d like to change

You might have to be very precise about which actions are and aren’t acceptable to you if somebody has a naturally overbearing temperament. Describe the person’s activities you find unpleasant and how you’d like it to improve.

7. Assign a task to each person

Give everyone a complimenting responsibility that lets them make a significant contribution to your children’s life without compromising your parenting decisions as a means of expressing gratitude for their efforts and recognizing how valuable their cooperation is to you.

8. Filter

When someone tries to help and provides some advice, think about whether such advice would benefit your family. If the direction is entirely useless, simply let it pass through one ear and out the other.

9. Self-Education

If you’re unsure about the right course of approach in a parenting dilemma, educate yourself. You may also teach people if you’ve discovered the solution and have solid knowledge or insight to back it up. Rely on the knowledge that you are doing everything you can for your child.

10. Consult your child’s pediatrician for further information

You can always discuss any worries with your child’s physician to receive a healthcare expert’s view if you think such unwelcome advice is linked to your child’s health or lifestyle.

Many individuals will accept a perspective if a qualified person has validated it. Refer to another physician if your doctor disagrees with your point of view on the matter, that you think is right.

It’s important to remember that times have changed significantly since our parents were parenting their kids. As a result, there are constantly updated recommendations for parents to follow as science and professionals discover more about keeping babies healthy and happy.