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Dads

Do single dads prefer to date women without kids?

That’s a question we’d love to answer at Singlemommyhood.com.

Secretly, Dr. Leah and I have always suspected that many single dads shy away from single moms. Now, for the first time ever, our worst fears are apparently confirmed.

It’s only the second week into the thirteenth season of The Bachelorand Jason Mesnick has already booted two of the four single moms off the show!

Can someone please enlighten us here?

Does a reality show like the The Bachelor really shed light on the reality of dating single dads?

We’d love to know:

Do single dads deliberately avoid single moms in order to keep the focus on their own kids?

We’ve spoken to many single dads who tell us they have already have more than enough of their own “ex drama.” They’re not interested in the complications of dating a single mom, especially her “ex drama” -– not to mention her own kid complications.

Is this true?

Feel free to leave your thoughts here — or read more over at Singlemommyhood.com and comment there.

Single dads: Do you avoid dating single moms?

And single moms, we’d love to hear if your experiences mirror ours!

Photo of The Bachelor listening to one of the remaining single moms on the show.

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  3. Jason Mesnick from “The Bachelor” — lasting love? When I first heard that single dad Jason Mesnick...

Discussion

22 comments for “Do single dads prefer to date women without kids?”

  1. I know this is your blog Rachel, and of course you can do whatever you want with it - no one is forcing me to read it - but could there be some kind of ‘The Bachelor’ post limit? Not everyone watches or cares about the show…

    I was also wondering if possibly your dating expectations are subtly being changed by watching these shows?

    To answer your question… most guys would prefer a woman who has absolutely no life when he is not around. So yes, most guys aren’t looking for a single mom. As a single dad, I have the same issues as many single moms, so I was looking for someone with kids. But that’s just me, I’m not even close to the norm.

    Posted by Phil | January 14, 2009, 10:07 am
  2. I’m a single mom and my boyfriend is a single dad. Our kids are best friends and can’t wait till we get married so they can be brother and sister.

    Posted by Robin | January 14, 2009, 10:19 am
  3. Phil: I hear you. I’m Bachelor-ed out myself.

    So, tell me: Do you have any pressing questions/issues… About relationships? Anything you’re dying to know? Bring ‘em on.

    Robin: Congrats!!

    Posted by singlemomseeking | January 14, 2009, 10:42 am
  4. Yeah I can’t say I have seen one episode of this Bachelor series this goround… but then again… I don’t watch much television….or have much chance to at least.

    Now I would like to know what general consensus single dads had about dating single moms though… Like Phil, I would think they could relate better to a single mom… but I could be wrong. Wouldn’t be the first time!

    Katherine (SOLO dot MOM)´s last blog post…spontaneity for a single mom

    Posted by Katherine (SOLO dot MOM) | January 14, 2009, 11:17 am
  5. I dated a woman who made relationship choices based on whatever she learned from Sex and the City and Grey’s Anatomy. We didn’t date long.

    I don’t watch the Bachelor.

    I have dated single moms, and don’t shy from them.

    dadshouse´s last blog post…Discreet Affair

    Posted by dadshouse | January 14, 2009, 11:46 am
  6. I was wondering the same thing Phil :).. I’m not a fan of the Bachelor and I don’t watch the show.

    As a single dad, I usually date someone who has 2 or less kids. I’ve only met a couple women that don’t have any kids that I would consider a serious relationship with.

    Posted by Eathan | January 14, 2009, 12:34 pm
  7. The single dad I’m dating was more attracted to single moms because he could relate to them more. I think you still have some hope Rachel. ;)

    Posted by Julia | January 14, 2009, 1:23 pm
  8. I’m not a fan of reality shows at all, so I definitely wouldn’t be looking for truth based on anything like those. (I’m glad, too, that you’re going to be changing the topics!!)

    That said, I’ve met men on both sides of the fence, so I don’t think you can generalize on this subject.

    Posted by Legal Editor Mom | January 14, 2009, 2:49 pm
  9. I’m a single mom, and I’ve dated one single dad. I broke it off quickly, for many reasons… one of which was that he was a single dad. I liked that he understood the challenges I was facing and the difficulties of single parenting, but to be honest it was hard to imagine it working out with him because his life was SO complicated. My life is complicated enough, and I didn’t like the idea of having to deal with his ex and the limitations involved in being with someone who has a court order to follow.
    I mean, what if I wanted to move half an hour away? I have my ex to deal with, plus hi ex and all the attorney’s fees associated with any disagreements, plus he’s shelling out more than half his income on child support, and our parenting time with the kids meant that we were almost never kid-less at the same time.
    It was a headache… but of course if I fell in *love* with a single dad, I guess I’d deal with it.

    Carolyn´s last blog post…A Closet Compulsive Comes Clean

    Posted by Carolyn | January 14, 2009, 3:53 pm
  10. I only date single moms. I tried dating three women in their mid thirties without children. They wanted all the attention on themselves. None of them lasted more than a couple of dates. Only one didn’t blatantly demand I ship my son off somewhere so that I could spend more time with her.

    I dated a single mom with 5 children. I grew up with three brothers so I love the energy and interaction that having a lot of kids around brings.

    I am starting to wonder if I should just give up any hope for a serious relationship until after my son leaves home (not more than three weeks after his 18th birthday!). At nearly 12 years old, it is a lot to ask of him and anyone that came into our lives to make those kinds of adjustments. Especially for a child that has special needs (right Avigail?) and appears to have finally stabilized some.

    Crazy Computer Dad´s last blog post…It’s all about fun….Pirate and buried treasure fun!

    Posted by Crazy Computer Dad | January 14, 2009, 4:04 pm
  11. YAY for Crazy Computer Dad!!! Says a single mom of four…

    MindyMom´s last blog post…Saying Goodbye

    Posted by MindyMom | January 14, 2009, 5:14 pm
  12. I prefer men w/o kids or with kids who are 18 or older.

    Posted by judy | January 14, 2009, 6:24 pm
  13. First I want to thank Phil for making the Bachelor comment.

    For me as long as her child is as old or older than my son I’m good.

    Posted by Mike | January 14, 2009, 8:43 pm
  14. Okay, okay, I hear you guys about “The Bachelor.” I’m plugging away here, just for you.

    CCD: I appreciate your honesty. I don’t know why I thought that dating might get easier with an older kid. Sometimes, I also wonder if I should wait…

    Julia: Thanks for the hope!

    Hmm, Judy, I didn’t know that about you1

    Posted by singlemomseeking | January 14, 2009, 11:26 pm
  15. As a single dad of three there is no way I could date anyone that did not have kids.

    In a word–they just don’t get it.

    I need my dates or “SOs” to know that until my kids fly the coop, they are 4th in line behind three great kids. Sorry, it’s the way it is and I would expect the same.

    A kidless woman has no compassion when you need to cancel the dinner date at the last minute because your kid just projectile vomited all over the place and needs to go to the after hour clinic to get checked out. They tend to be too self absorbed and selfish if you ask me!

    Posted by John F | January 15, 2009, 4:00 pm
  16. Well, I’m too new to all of this to have any experience with single dads but I did write a while back that I think I would shy away from a dad myself. I admit it’s a double standard…I expect a man who wants to be serious with me to accept me and my children and my ex-drama and all of that…but I can’t imagine dealing with all that in someone else. Maybe I’ll grow into the role. Right now I’m dating a guy who has never been married but his sister is a single mom of two (10 and 5). He’s practically raised those two kids so he’s great with kids and used to the games that my boys play and the way my life is. He also understands (somewhat) the challenges of a single mother because he’s helped his sister through it for the last 10 years. Still, his niece and nephew do completely change the dynamics when we do play dates…I just can’t imagine a relationship with someone who has kids of their own. And I worry about whether I would be able to treat someone else’s kids the same as mine and things like that.

    Do other single moms feel like this?

    Wondermom´s last blog post…I need an attitude adjustment

    Posted by Wondermom | January 15, 2009, 10:40 pm
  17. There are pluses and minus to dating a single dad when you’re a single mom.

    Big plus: They “get” it.

    Minus: His schedule and your schedule limit your time together … that’s a tough one if you’re sucked into expectations of what it “should” look like.

    You have to be flexible and open-minded if you’re dating another single parent because it undoubtedly means there will be many Friday and Saturday nights without each other. That just means you have to go about and live your life — go out with friends, be by yourself, etc. — and enjoy the times you and he are together.

    I actually think that’s better …

    Kat Wilder´s last blog post…Girl-on-girl, hot; guy-on-guy, not?

    Posted by Kat Wilder | January 15, 2009, 11:44 pm
  18. Personally, I gravitate toward single dads for sure. I just think having kids is a major area, where two people have to be on the same page. Having said that; I would be choosy about the single dad situation-more than two kids, more than two moms involved, etc. I’m just a little insecure that childless guys just won’t understand, when it comes to dating someone whose child comes first.

    Posted by Alicia | January 16, 2009, 8:30 pm
  19. No, this man prefers single mothers. Only a single mother for me. Childless women haven’t learned some of lifes very important lessons yet.

    Posted by Mike | January 17, 2009, 7:21 pm
  20. [...] kept it fairly private up until now, but I have a weakness for single dad [...]

    Posted by I’m a sucker for single dad movies. Are you? | Single Mom Seeking... | January 22, 2009, 12:14 am
  21. [...] guys, can’t I write about The Bachelor now? Okay, fine [...]

    Posted by Is every single parent dating site out there rubbish? | Single Mom Seeking... | January 27, 2009, 1:15 am
  22. I cannnot have kids and have always wanted them due to health reasons. Where can I go to find a man with kids who would like a mom? I am 42 and I do not look it! But sometimes feel it since I am not a mother? I am not the dating show or dating scene kind of person, hell I don’t drink so that keeps me from clubs and bars and I am not polyester Sue for the bowling alleys and I don’t think I would meet the man of my dreams there either. Where can I go. This is bold move for me and I never considered the internet as I felter kind a despereate and I guess I am! HELP!

    Posted by T | February 19, 2009, 7:51 pm

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