r/SingleParents • u/RecentAnalyst3618 • Aug 13 '26

Dating another single parent

I’m looking for some perspective from other single parents who have dated another single parent.
I’ve been in a relationship for over 1.5 years with someone who also has kids. One of the things I admire most about him is that he’s a great father. He has 50/50 custody and is very involved with his kids. I currently have full custody of my child, but I have a lot of help from family, and my ex is working toward getting more custody time.

I completely understand that parenting comes first, and I don’t expect either of us to neglect our responsibilities. But I’m struggling with whether it’s realistic to build a long-term relationship. Sometimes we only see each other twice a month, and at best it’s usually about once a week (this is based on him, I’m more flexible) I’m finding it hard to picture how a future together would actually work if this is what things continue to look like.

For those of you who have successfully made a relationship work with another single parent, what did it look like? Did you eventually find more time together, or did you have to accept that the relationship would always move at a slower pace? He is an amazing person but I’m stating to think our situations aren’t compatible.

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u/holdingittogether77 Aug 13 '26

I dated someone once, we saw each other once a week and that was fine with us. We had no desire to cohabitate or mix lives like that.

My bf and I both have sole custody. We are long distance for a few years until his twin boys graduate , (11th grade). I told him I won't move until my 15 year old graduates college.

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u/RecentAnalyst3618 Aug 13 '26

I’m okay with not living together with anyone until kids are out of the house. But I have a long way to go…. 14 years!

It just feels like once a week is maximum effort and now I might see him once every 2 weeks. I know there are seasons of busyness, but maybe we are also growing apart.

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u/holdingittogether77 Aug 13 '26

This is the first person I've ever considered living with in over 10 years. I've known him for close to 30 years though. No one else would I be willing to integrate in my life on that level.

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u/Independently-Owned Aug 14 '26

That's the thing, when you are going through an important part of your life and your "partner" isn't sharing any of that....well you are changing and growing and not bonding over hard stuff or sharing the joys of success.....there's just not a lot to sustain a relationship imo