{"id":352,"date":"2015-04-27T06:00:51","date_gmt":"2015-04-27T13:00:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ftdad.org\/?p=352"},"modified":"2015-04-26T20:38:08","modified_gmt":"2015-04-27T03:38:08","slug":"when-should-a-single-dad-start-dating","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ftdad.org\/?p=352","title":{"rendered":"When Should A Single Dad Start Dating?"},"content":{"rendered":"

As my son and I made the two hour drive from Tucson to Phoenix, I got lost in the music and the monotonous white dotted lines.<\/p>\n

Out of the blue, my son startled me by loudly calling “Dad!”<\/p>\n

I turned down the music and asked what he wanted.<\/p>\n

“I know how you can get a girlfriend.”<\/p>\n

“Oh, really?”<\/p>\n

“Yes,” he declared with all the confidence in the world. \u00a0“All you do is go on the computer, type in eHarmony.com and give some pertinent information. \u00a0Then they find you a girlfriend.”<\/p>\n

Inside, I roared with laughter. \u00a0On the outside, I thanked him and told him I was not sure I needed their help, but appreciated his concern and for sharing. \u00a0And, of course, I asked him where he heard about eHarmony.<\/p>\n

My son informed me of this amazing dating tool about three years after the divorce and after about a year of asking me when I planned to get married again.<\/p>\n

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Photo Credit: The Grapes of Jason<\/a> via Compfight<\/a> cc<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

I, on the other hand, dated for a short time right after the divorce and then, after realizing I was not ready to date, took some time off to really focus on being a dad. \u00a0What my son did not know at the time of his suggestion was I was dating someone at the time – covertly – and chose not to tell him until both she and I decided to tell our kids.<\/p>\n

Another story for another day.<\/p>\n

Back to the matter at hand, immediately following the divorce, many well-intentioned friends and family wanted the best for me and began suggesting women I could date. \u00a0Everyone has a “friend” I should meet.<\/p>\n

About the last thing I wanted to do after the divorce was get back into a relationship. \u00a0When I started dating someone a few months after the divorce, it became clear after a short time I was not ready.<\/p>\n

So, when should a single dad get back in the dating game? \u00a0Let me offer a few thoughts:<\/p>\n