Single Moms Dating

So, I got a reply to my post about single moms dating and the children involved.

"Please don't introduce your children to any man until you are ready to commit to him. Children don't need to have guys walking in and out of their lives. By waiting it also protects your children. Some men want to date single moms in order to get close to their children. Please be careful."

I wanted to reply to this with some more questions....

Here's my questions and viewpoints if you will. I understand men not floating in and out of a house as I find this appauling and would never do that to my children. Their saftey is always my utmost importance. Now, I'm assuming committed above means marriage or livingtogether.

Here's my deal with this is a relationship between a woman and man could be great but how do you commit to someone you have not seen enteract with your children? Should you commit to someone you have never seen enteract with them...seen the chemisty and connection between them. I'm not meanign to say i think each guy a woman dates should meet the children or get them overly attached to a guy...but doesn't there have to be some line to where you view them with your children?

I just know that a relationship a man and woman have dating is a very different dynamic then a family type relationship. So, I'm still curious on this one I guess...

Single Mom's Dating

Being newly single for the first time in like almost 6 years I've found myself at a point to where I don't have answers or even suggestions for myself. i try to think what my answers have been or would be to a friend and coming up blank...

Whats the rules for dating as a single mom.

Do the kids meet the guy? If so do they meet him as a friend as in he's over to hang out and watch movies or wait until there's something serious?

How do you handle over night stays when you have kids? Or are you even suppose to have them?

I know for each person its very different as to what their comfortable with and what their not but its confusing to say the least. Can you show affection in front of your children. I always thought it was healthy for children to see 2 adults share love and tid bits of love...I'm not talking about straddling a guy and going to town but what about little kisses...and hugs...acceptable or not?

There's alot of uncharted waters I'm walking in here lately and not too sure how to go about it all but just testing things out to see how they go. I was single when I met my X husband and only had Taylor but obviously the ways I went about things there were not the right way...lol

I'm interested to hear what the single moms out there have to say about this...how do you approach dating or sex for that matter....I'm just going to put that out there...cause I'm curious. So, whether your single or not I'm interested in your opions.

Change

Everyone knows chage is hard. Hardest when theres people you care about involved. I recently made the decision to become yet again a single mom. Hardest decision I have had to make probably in 7 years. However, I truly felt it was needed for the health and well being of all involved. Not matter is the decison was easily or hard in coming to all chages are hard. Even harder when children are involved. I have found myself in a home by myself for only a few days now. Somethings are easier to adjust to the others I will admit. The hardest is at night after all of the kids are in bed. Its quiet....I dont want very much tv ad dont have cable so theres not eve the sound of tv in the background. Just silence. Its something for sure that will take me time to get used to. Sleeping alone...yet another thing to get used to.
Durig the day is much simplier as the 12 childre running around keep me on my toes and leave little room for silence or for my mind to wonder. I find myself curious how it all turns out as I suspect anyone in this kind of situation does. I know it won't be easy but nothing in life...lol...or my life has been easy so I almost find a comfort in knowing challeneges are coming. I've had the talks with the kids...which was less then enjoyable. However I wanted everything out there. While my 4.5 year old only takes away that her "brother" won't be around very much my son at 10 seems not to be fazed by it. Not sure if hes holding it in or if the last two years with Matt he has't formed the bond I thought maybe had been there...even if just alittle.
I always thought it would be easier to leave someone whos not the father of your children but it has prove to be no easier as I looke dinto desi's eyes and she says "so I dot have a daddy anymore" I almost broke down but held it together...she will always have a father but hes far away which is hard for her to understand. Moments like these make me question what I asked for in him leaving to figure things out. But then I look and say is it better hes here while figuring it out. I guess none of us kow the answers really. We make educated guesses with every decision in life.
It's nap time and the house is quiet aside from a few giggles from the girls trying to chit chat while napping and soft country music playig in the background. The music I have found breaks the silence. I spend my days looking over budgets repeatedly wondering will it work...sure it will...then I revisit it an hr later making sure I didn't forget anything.
It hits me...everything is more complicated now. I work from 5am to about 9pm watching other peoples kids 7 days a week. It's scarce that I have a day off and while I have hired a assistant for during the day how will I work out goig to the bank, paying bills, grocery shopping. If it were just my kids thats simple...I have done that before. I'm scared but you can't show that or the kids eat it up like candy. I'm not scared on making it and I'm one of those who survive no matter what. I'm scared of more bad decisions that affect everyone lives. I hate cats or I might turn into one of those crazy cat ladies...crosses my mind....lol...I decide against that. I'm more so scared...scared to make any decisions...every decisions seems to backfire...lol... I want to make good decisions from this point o however I thought previous decisios were good as well...so who really knows.
I have decisions to make Im not quite ready to make but I know are shortly coming up to make.I'll do the best I can...thats all I can ask of myself. I know it will be harder and many of those silent nights I may be found curled up on the couch crying but...thats ok. I did what I thought was best....