by Jenn Plant
Dating as a single mom can be a daunting task. Trying to juggle work, school, play dates, laundry, lunches, housecleaning and homework is enough to keep any parent’s schedule full. As a single parent, it can be difficult to find the time to enjoy a private life of your own. It is necessary and healthy to want a social life outside of play dates at the park and movie nights with your child.
Don’t get me wrong. I adore every moment I spend with my daughter. And we do have fun together. We are always going hiking, visiting a museum or a new park or spending hours doing crafts. Any parent of a little girl will know that not a day can go by without some form of art class. Glitter & glue, anyone? No really, PLEASE take the glitter and glue away! But there comes a time when I need to focus on me. Without an occasional night out, I can get a little stir crazy. And let’s face it, we all need a little somethin’ somethin’ every once in a while.
Looking for a relationship, whether it be casual or something more serious, takes on a whole new meaning when you add children to the mix. You can’t just invite that hot guy you met at the bar to come over for a night and re-live your college days. Not with little Annie sleeping in the room next door. And do you really want to go to a bar? Where do you even meet a guy who you may want to spend some quality time with? What about online dating? Isn’t the internet just filled with psycho-stalkers who will try to steal your identity and leave your body in a refrigerator?
The truth is, I don’t really know. But in the three years since my divorce, I’ve met some good guys and I’ve met some bad ones. Okay, let’s be honest, A LOT of bad ones. Like the time my date hid me in his bathroom when his long-term girlfriend stopped by for a quickie. Yes, that actually happened.
I invite you to read along as I share my journey back into the dating world. And who knows, maybe dating with children isn’t nearly as scary as I thought. Northern Virginia is full of great places to meet new people and there are always events happening here. I am determined to have a great time exploring all that NOVA has to offer… and maybe I’ll meet a great guy along the way.
Dating as a single mom can be a daunting task. Trying to juggle work, school, play dates, laundry, lunches, housecleaning and homework is enough to keep any parent’s schedule full. As a single parent, it can be difficult to find the time to enjoy a private life of your own. It is necessary and healthy to want a social life outside of play dates at the park and movie nights with your child.
Don’t get me wrong. I adore every moment I spend with my daughter. And we do have fun together. We are always going hiking, visiting a museum or a new park or spending hours doing crafts. Any parent of a little girl will know that not a day can go by without some form of art class. Glitter & glue, anyone? No really, PLEASE take the glitter and glue away! But there comes a time when I need to focus on me. Without an occasional night out, I can get a little stir crazy. And let’s face it, we all need a little somethin’ somethin’ every once in a while.
Looking for a relationship, whether it be casual or something more serious, takes on a whole new meaning when you add children to the mix. You can’t just invite that hot guy you met at the bar to come over for a night and re-live your college days. Not with little Annie sleeping in the room next door. And do you really want to go to a bar? Where do you even meet a guy who you may want to spend some quality time with? What about online dating? Isn’t the internet just filled with psycho-stalkers who will try to steal your identity and leave your body in a refrigerator?
The truth is, I don’t really know. But in the three years since my divorce, I’ve met some good guys and I’ve met some bad ones. Okay, let’s be honest, A LOT of bad ones. Like the time my date hid me in his bathroom when his long-term girlfriend stopped by for a quickie. Yes, that actually happened.
I invite you to read along as I share my journey back into the dating world. And who knows, maybe dating with children isn’t nearly as scary as I thought. Northern Virginia is full of great places to meet new people and there are always events happening here. I am determined to have a great time exploring all that NOVA has to offer… and maybe I’ll meet a great guy along the way.
Jenn Plant is a full-time, semi-crunchy, single mother of one amazing little girl, an awesome adopted dog and four happy goldfish. Between toddler wrangling and work, Jennifer is a lover of nature, enjoys hiking in Shenandoah, day trips to DC and scouring thrift stores for great bargains.
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