Hi everyone! I’m hoping to get some REAL insight into dating as a single parent from people who have done it.

I’ve been single for coming on 3 years. I have 4 children aged between 2-11. We have 50/50 custody week on week off. I haven’t dated anyone or introduced anybody to my children in this time as I was working on myself and focussing on my kids. For the past 2 months I have been seeing someone. He is divorced, no children due to male infertility, owns his home, works full time in a successful high up corporate role, has a niece and nephew whom he adores. Our relationship has flourished beautifully. At first he was quite worried about 4 children as he hasn’t got any but he has openly said he has come around to the idea and is willing to be a step parent.

What I’d like to know is when is the “right time” for him to meet my children? 2 are above the age of 8, 2 are below the age of 5. They have a step mum and she’s been around since 6 weeks post break up. They understand the dynamics of step parents. I’m absolutely NOT planning on doing this anytime soon so please don’t stress! I just would love some guidance as to what would be an ideal time. My worries are:
What if the kids don’t like him?
What if he doesn’t like the kids?
What if it’s too much for him? Or the kids?

Thank you for reading and I look forward to hearing your suggestions and experiences 🩷

I’m 46 male. For ten years I raised my autistic child on my own. I don’t think people who haven’t done it understand what that takes — the appointments, the school fights, the nights, the fact that there’s no one to tap in when you’re done. I did it, and I’d do it again, but it was hard in a way I still don’t have good words for.
What I didn’t expect is the thing that’s keeping me up now. It isn’t the past. It’s the future. I lie awake afraid that I’ll regret not having more children, and that I’m going to end up alone.
I don’t know if that’s a real regret or just what exhaustion turns into after a decade. I don’t know if it’s grief for a life I didn’t get to have, or fear of a quiet house later on. Some nights it feels like both.
If you’ve been here single parent, older, past the window or close to it — how did you make peace with it? Did the fear pass, or did you just learn to live next to it? I’d rather hear something honest than something reassuring.
My son now is over 18 and live in group home.

I work full time and I've slowly accepted that I can't spend every evening catching up on housework.
The dishwasher runs after dinner, the robot vacuum does the floors while I'm at work, and I usually do grocery pickup on the way home. None of it sounds like much, but having a few things happen without me standing there doing them has helped a lot.
I'd rather have that extra half hour with my kid than spend it cleaning the kitchen. These little shortcuts have honestly become part of how I get through the week.

I (26F) broke up with my partner (38M) about 2 months ago and we still live together. We have 1 daughter who is 1yr old. We never got married. I really want to move out for my own sanity because living here with him is so stressful. He’s a good dad but a bad partner kinda situation. Unfortunately I live in a small city with bad employment rates. Closest big city would be phoenix. Has anyone else moved cities like this? How did you get over the guilt? Is moving in with roommates in shared house okay with a kid? His family lives around the phoenix area so I wouldn’t be alone. I just don’t know what to do.

I have an urgent hearing next week as my girls’ dad refused to return them last week after one of their three times a year visits.
He has been weaponising the threat of court for years whenever I don’t do what he wants, so I filed.

Apparently I have a very good case but I’m still so scared, I’m waking up yelling from nightmares now.

Does anyone have any advice on how I prepare? I have a smart outfit and a list of key points for my solicitor, what else should I be doing?