I'm a single mom I will give you the following advice:
1. We are not made of glass. You really don't have to treat her differently than anyone else you would date. Which I hope would be respectful and mindful that she has a life outside of dating you.
2. While some moms want security, most single moms that I have met are fiercely independent. Stubbornly so even.
3. You don't have to go all in right away. You can "date" and find out if you guys still click and if you would like to go further with things. There is nothing wrong with this and what's the worst that can happen? You answered your what if and she's gotten some grown up time away from her kid. Both of you can leave that better from where you started.
4. Don't assume you know what being a single parent is all about (you might not but be mindful many of the men this girls dated probably have). Let her unravel her life for you at her own pace and let you into her life as she will. Don't be offended if she keeps you out of her home life until she's ready and such.
5. DO NOT try and be some white knight or savoir for her. My biggest peeve is guys who show up and are like 'oh I know how to parent I have younger siblings, I baby-sat/worked with kids/what ever, I know what my parents went through, I get that it's hard and I'm all on board'. This may seem romantic and white knight-ish but 1. every single mom has heard this too many times and all of them have failed if she's still single. and 2. it makes you sound woofully naive and even LESS ready to be involved in that part of her life.
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~ Just another noob looking for a clue
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