Busy, divorced dad wants to know how to meet single women

Dear Lisa:

I’m a divorced dad with three children under the age of 11. I’m so busy with my kids that I find it hard to meet single women. What’s more, the few times I have dated, it’s been really hard. The two women I’ve dated so far—both of them childless--have competed with my kids for my attention. Rather than feeling supported and fulfilled, I end up feeling stressed when I date! Do you have any advice?

Busy Dad

Dear Busy Dad:

Juggling kids and dating is really a challenge. I can tell you that from personal experience. I think it’s easier for single parents to date other single parents. Single moms are more likely to understand why you’re so busy.

If you’d like to meet more single women, your best chances, number-wise, are online.

Judsen Culbreth, author of “The Boomer’s Guide To Online Dating” says 25 percent of baby boomers—about 16 million men and women—are now single. In addition, 13 million older generation exers—men and women aged 35 to 44, are single. What’s more, over-50 singles are one of the fastest growing groups of people who turn to relationship websites to find dates, she says.

However, if you don’t feel comfortable dating online, you might keep your eyes open when you’re out and about with your children. Museums, skating rinks, kids’ sports activities, parks and school functions are all potential places to meet other single parents.

Tina Tessina, Ph.D., a psychotherapist and author of “The Unofficial Guide to Dating Again,” says you should pursue your own interests when you’re dating. Take a cooking class or join a co-educational sports team (if you have time for this!). “If you go for the obvious dating scene, you’ll get a whole bunch of people you don’t know anything about,” she says. “But if you connect up with people through an activity, you already have that in common with each other.”

To read some of my articles about dating as a single parent, click on www.stepfamilyadvice.com/articles.htm and scroll to the dating section. At

» READ MORE: www.stepfamilyadvice.com

you can also pick up our free ebook, “Top 12 Tips for Dating Single Parents and Stepfamilies.” We give you some ideas about how to address the many issues that arise when you’re getting more serious and your date is spending time with your children.

Good luck.

Lisa