Coming back to the dating world after years of dating and raising kids as a single dad is confronting. You may be woefully out of the method, so your morale isn’t rigorously sky-high. You may still be reeling from the effects of your child’s relationship, on top of the fact that your time is heavily agreed upon because you’re a father with children.
It’s obvious that many single dads are coming out of a long-term relationship and haven’t dated in a while, so their only experience with dating was when they were young. And back then, it was a recreation. In our 20s, dating is often something we do as a way to ascertain how virile and incredible we are. which is great fun. “But when we’re aging, our needs change, yet our strategy may have remained the same.”
However, in this article, I will be teaching you the best and most modern tips you can use to jump into the dating pool as a single dad. I have been in your shoes, and trust me, I know where the pain is and how best to help.
10 Best Dating Tips For Single Dads
1. Determine If You Want To Date A Single Parent
I’ve had experience with parents and non-parents, and I think there’s a major, out-of-the-box connection if you’re dating another parent. Those “give it all up” moments aren’t so shocking if you’ve experienced them yourself. If your potential partner has children, they face the same parenting issues. If your partner has never had children, interruptions are more like inconveniences.
2. Relinquish Your Expectations
You don’t know who will light your fire once you meet them. Potential partners on paper can be duds when you meet face to face, and dating profiles that look average can hide a real gem.
Let go of your expectations when meeting someone for the first date. Let their real-time presence be what you pay attention to.
3. Sign On To Multiple Dating Sites, Not Just One
Ever since I dated again after the divorce, I’ve noticed that my standards are much higher than they were when I was younger. I’m less likely to compromise on my “must-have” list. I estimate that I am interested in about 5% of the women available on online dating sites. Of these, a small fraction will be interested in me. Signing up for a few dating sites, not just one, will increase your chances of finding your perfect match.
So do not be afraid to join many dating sites at the same time. You can set the pace. You can go back if you have too much action, but you should cast your net as wide and as far as you can. Then you can sit down and see who answers.
4. Be Sincere About Who You Are
Here’s a chance to show off who you are. If you like to train and travel, that’s fine, but hey, it’s not very imaginative. We all work and travel, whether we like it or not. Be as specific as possible.
Don’t neglect your wants and desires either, and if you have multiple deal breakers, put them in your profile. You just have to be sincere from the start.
5. Be Honest About What You Want In A Partner.
Be honest about what you are looking for. By creating your online profile, you have the opportunity to express what you value in a relationship and what kinds of activities make you smile. Provide as much information as possible Be as specific as possible. If you are a tennis player, mention it in your About section. It never hurts to ask, upfront, what you want.
6. Operate On A Variety Of Photos In Your Dating Profile
No glamorous photos, please. We have seen them all. We know they are lying. It looks like you’re trying too hard. Be natural. Show yourself in multiple active settings. Maybe a sports photo if you’re athletic, and include at least one full-body photo.
Post an action shot, a headshot, and a full body shot, so people get a better idea of how you look and what type of person you are.
Do your photos express some of the joy in your life? I know that’s what I’m looking for in other people’s dating profiles. I like to see photos that show me the joy the other person has in their life and, in my mind, the joy they will bring into my life.
7. Be Flexible And Adaptable
Once the process of coordinating a date kicks in, both partners need to be very flexible. If you both have kids, planning can be a challenge.
See if the future date/partner can be flexible when things don’t work out. Are they late for the date? Are you ok with 5 minutes late? And 20? Know your limits, but express and encourage flexibility whenever possible.
9. Give Your Date Your Full Attention
Sure, there will be some hiccups at first, but if you’re in the middle of a date, try to stay committed. Listen to their questions. Listen for red flags.
Listen to what your date is saying and the questions he or she asks you; don’t mind being elsewhere. Step into the connections you can make between your life and theirs. If you’re cautious, your ideal match might only be available for a few dates.
9. Create A Meeting Plan And Process
Again, dating is a process. At one point, I even made a PowerPoint with photos, names, and highlights of the women I was chatting with. This helped me differentiate between the various interests of potential partners.
10. Either You’re 100% Or You’re Not.
I am not in love. I want a long-term relationship, so when a date is short, I go through it quickly and without drama. I will gently notify the person in person or via text after the date. I am looking for my next connection 100%. Anything less is deceiving me. I recommend you do the same if you are also looking for a long-term relationship.
Summary
In Conclusion, I will tell you to be true to yourself. There are lots of new ways to meet people. Try online dating, go to meetings, go to church if you’re religious, etc. More importantly, if you go through your process honestly and diligently, I believe you will find what you are looking for. I encourage you not to settle, but to keep looking when the match is less than pure.