Dr. Romance  asks: Are you a single parent? Wondering whether you're too old to be back on the market? Well, wonder no more.  Here are guidelines to help you date safely and successfully

Parental Dating Guidelines 
• Make sure you know a lot about any new person before inviting him/her into your home. Make sure everyone is wearing a mask and practices social distancing.
• Enforce safety guidelines during the Pandemic: Wear a mask, request that your date wear one, and leave if your date doesn't comply. 
• Make friends before considering a romantic relationship.
• Always introduce new adults to your children as friends, nothing more.
• If your children are old enough to have opinions of your new friends, listen to what they have to say.
• Do not pressure your children to like your new friend, or to spend time with him or her.
• Insist that your children behave appropriately and politely to your adult friends.
• Have regular family discussions with your children.
• If you want to get serious with a date, find out his or her feelings about children, especially your children, first.
• Gradually introduce a new date to your children by doing family oriented activities together. Give your children and your date a chance to develop their own relationships.
• Don’t sacrifice your children's alone time with you to your dating . Don’t miss sport or school events in order to date.
• Don’t share inappropriately with your children. Do not use them as “confidantes” for your relationship confusion or problems. Don't allow them to find out about your sexual relationship.

More in  "Dating Guidelines for Single Parents"

Adapted from: Dr. Romance's Guide to Finding Love Today

Dr_Romances_Guide_to_Finding_Love_Today

For low-cost phone counseling, email me at tina@tinatessina.com

Author's Bio: 

Tina B. Tessina, Ph.D. is a licensed psychotherapist in S. California since 1978 with over 30 years experience in counseling individuals and couples and author of 13 books in 17 languages, including It Ends With You: Grow Up and Out of Dysfunction; The Unofficial Guide to Dating Again; Money, Sex and Kids: Stop Fighting About the Three Things That Can Ruin Your Marriage, The Commuter Marriage, and her newest, Love Styles: How to Celebrate Your Differences. She writes the “Dr. Romance” blog, and the “Happiness Tips from Tina” email newsletter.