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Dating As A Single Parent: Can You Really Have It All?

If there’s one skill that most single parents have mastered down to a fine art, it has to be multi-tasking. Between things like packing the kids’ lunches, getting them to school, picking them up from ballet practice and excelling at your career – it’s not unusual for single moms and dads to feel like they rarely have a spare moment to themselves. Finding the time to meet new people seems like a mammoth task in its own right, let alone maintaining a healthy long-term relationship. Yet despite the challenges, the good news is that it is possible for single parents to also develop happy and fulfilling relationships.

Here are some tips on how to make the process smoother.

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1. Consider your timing

Whether you find yourself single following bereavement or a divorce, the process will no doubt have had an effect on both you and your children. It’s important to give plenty of thought about when it is an appropriate and considerate time to return to dating. Starting a new relationship can bring with it a lot of mixed feelings. It’s important to make sure you feel completely ready to begin sharing your life again with somebody new.

2. Start dating for the right reasons

If you find yourself single for the first time after a long-term relationship or marriage, it’s going to feel like quite a shock. Make sure the decision to get back on the dating scene is made for the right reasons. Finding a new partner and immediately entering a steady relationship might have more to do with your need for security than genuine feelings. Make sure you feel confident, happy and successful with your own life first before agreeing to share it with somebody new.

Dating As A Single Parent: Can You Really Have It All?Pin

3. Look for love in the right places

For most single parents the biggest barrier faced when returning to dating is simply a matter of finding the time. Sitting in bars, going to nightclubs on weekends and agreeing to blind dates with family friends aren’t always an option. If you’re short of time one of the most successful methods of searching for love is by looking online.

Online dating sites are perfect for single parents, whether you hail from a small town or are looking to start dating in Ottawa or another big city. Relationship sites allow people to start meeting compatible, like-minded singles in your area, without the hassle of hiring a babysitter or missing out on spending time with the kids.

Be sure to look for a dating site with the right focus for you, with sites like eharmony specializing in creating meaningful and fulfilling relationships.

4. Be patient

This applies to all aspects of the dating process. Be patient when looking for love, and be patient when introducing a new partner to your kids. They might be frustrating experiences but statistics show that single parents can find long-term and meaningful love again.

When introducing your children to a new partner, always wait until the relationship has progressed to a more serious level before making them a regular feature in your children’s lives. For a first meeting place always choose a laid-back location that avoids pressure, like a trip to the park, bowling or the cinema.

This article is sponsored by http://www.eharmony.ca

Lyne Proulx
Lyne Proulxhttps://ottawamommyclub.ca/
Lyne Proulx is a Certified Professional Wedding Consultant and experienced Event Planner with a strong background in community engagement and large-scale event coordination. For eight years, she led the Annual Infant Information Day/Early Years Expo for the City of Ottawa. From 2013 to 2016, she was the driving force behind the BConnected Conference, Canada’s premier digital influencer and social media conference, held in Ottawa and Toronto. Lyne also served as co-chair of the Navan for Kraft Hockeyville committee from 2009 to 2011, organizing five major community events in just six months. Her leadership helped Navan become one of the top 10 finalists in the national competition. In recognition of her exceptional volunteerism and dedication to community building, she was honored with the City of Ottawa Mayor's City Builder Award in April 2011. In 2025, Lyne brought her passion for weddings and event planning to a new level by organizing the inaugural Tucker House Bridal Fair, showcasing local vendors and creating a unique experience for engaged couples.

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