{"id":20153,"date":"2022-09-07T06:26:51","date_gmt":"2022-09-07T13:26:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/datemixstaging.wpengine.com\/?p=20153"},"modified":"2022-09-07T06:29:52","modified_gmt":"2022-09-07T13:29:52","slug":"dating-a-guy-with-kids","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zoosk.com\/date-mix\/dating-advice\/dating-with-kids\/dating-a-guy-with-kids\/","title":{"rendered":"Dating A Guy With Kids: The Pros, Cons, And All The Advice You Need To Know"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Dating a guy with kids can be an immensely rewarding experience. Often, dating as a single parent<\/a> means a contrasting dating experience from normal. Date nights function differently, alone time changes, and plans \u2014 by necessity \u2014 begin to look a little different. That\u2019s not to say any of this is a bad thing<\/em>. But, these are things that should be kept in mind when you\u2019re dating a guy with children. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Below we\u2019ve laid out the benefits and drawbacks of dating a man with kids, as well as a few key points of advice to try to help you navigate the relationship in the best way possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6 Benefits of Dating a Guy With Kids<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Every personality and every relationship is different, of course. But, generally speaking, there are a few common benefits you can expect to enjoy when dating a man with daughters or sons. Check out our top six picks below!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. They\u2019re mature<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Having children forces us to reassess our lifestyle and put somebody else\u2019s happiness firmly before our own. That newfound maturity, empathy, and compassion won\u2019t stop at his children \u2013 it can extend to you as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. You can see other sides of their personality<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019ll be hard for him to look cool and collected when his children are throwing spaghetti bolognese at one another. Conversely, there\u2019s something so tender about watching your date read his kids a bedtime story. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dating a guy with kids means you\u2019ll get to see him in a whole new light, acting in a variety of situations you might otherwise never see. This can tell you a lot about whether you want to be with him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. You can bond with his kids<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re the kind of person who simply adores children \u2013 great! You have a real chance to bond with them, help them grow, and make them happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. He won\u2019t be rushing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A man with children will likely be happy to engage in slow dating<\/a>, meaning you have plenty of time to think about what you need and what you want. No high-pressure decision-making!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. He\u2019s used to responsibility and managing a household<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Getting one (or more) children up and washed and dressed and fed is\u2026let\u2019s just say it\u2019s not easy!<\/em> If the guy you\u2019re dating is juggling all this, you can bet he\u2019ll carry that sense of responsibility and capability into your relationship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Let\u2019s be honest\u2026it\u2019s kind of sexy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

What more is there to say?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5 Potential Drawbacks of Dating a Man With Kids<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While dating a guy with kids can set the foundations for a genuinely good relationship<\/a>, there are a few potential drawbacks that are worth keeping in mind. Below, we\u2019ve outlined five of the most common ones to watch out for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. His kids will always come first<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If your love language<\/a> involves a heavy focus on quality time<\/a>, this might be difficult for you to contend with \u2013 at least at first. The simple fact is this: His children are always going to be his priority. But, this doesn\u2019t have to be a bad thing. You want to date a man who would make a doting and attentive father, right?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Aspects of your love life will be outside your control<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This is an extension of his kids always being the priority. There will be times that he has to change plans at late notice, check his phone during dates, or even leave early in an emergency. These instances might be frustrating, but when your time together is scarce, it can almost add to the romance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. There\u2019s likely an ex in the mix<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Again, not always<\/em> a bad thing<\/a>, but still, it\u2019s worth being aware of. Unless he\u2019s a widower, your new partner has an ex out there somewhere, who\u2019s the mother of his children. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All you can hope is that their split was amicable and that they\u2019re able to deal with one another healthily and respectfully. It\u2019s not always the case, however, so it\u2019s worth being ready for this until you find out for certain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. There\u2019s no telling what the kids will be like<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s not much you can do about this, of course. They might be sweet little angels, or they might be grease-smeared, shrieking demons. Well\u2026fingers crossed!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. There\u2019s sometimes a stigma attached to dating a man with kids<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you get too involved, people might think you\u2019re nosy. If you keep your distance, you seem severe and cold. People make assumptions. They might assume there was an affair and you were the \u201cother person\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are just words and should definitely be ignored. But, words can still be difficult to contend with at times. Thankfully, the stigma around dating a man with children doesn\u2019t have the same social stigma as it once did, but this is still a factor to keep in mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7 Top Tips For Dating a Guy With Kids<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

1. Anticipate that it won\u2019t be easy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t expect it to be a breeze and you won\u2019t be disappointed. Dating a guy with kids can be an immensely fulfilling, rewarding, and exciting experience. But, there will be times when the road ahead isn\u2019t smooth. If you enter the relationship expecting this, you\u2019ll feel ready and stronger for any potential challenges that lie ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Don\u2019t meet his kids until you\u2019re an established couple<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

His children have already been through a turbulent time with the separation of their parents \u2013 they don\u2019t need to see other partners come and go as well. Before you meet his kids, you ought to be feeling secure in an exclusive relationship<\/a> that shows you\u2019re committed to one another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. If you want children, tell him early on<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Given that he already has children, he may not want more \u2013 or he may want lots! Have this conversation early (ish \u2013 not the first date!) to make sure you\u2019re on the same wavelength.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Avoid PDAs around his children<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t be too touchy-feely with your partner in front of his children. It\u2019ll likely be a strange experience for them to see another person caressing their dad. Be gentle and respectful with their emotions and wait till you\u2019ve got some alone time before engaging in those intimate things to do together<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Give him plenty of one-to-one time with his children<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You don\u2019t need to be there for every father-child activity. Sometimes it\u2019s good to busy yourself elsewhere for a day or two and let your partner enjoy some one-to-one bonding time with his children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Pick the right time and place to meet the children for the first time<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You don\u2019t want to meet them by accident, stumbling over the threshold of his house after a boozy brunch, for example. When the time is right for you to meet his children<\/a>, make arrangements beforehand. Choose a set time and place in which the kids can be comfortable and feel at ease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. Remember that his children may take time to warm to you<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

They\u2019re kids, after all. They\u2019re going through a major life change so, when you first meet, don\u2019t feel too disheartened if they\u2019re a little frosty. Try your best, be friendly and warm, and your partner will be proud of your efforts (and likely be attracted to you all the more).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dating a Guy With Kids Can Be Genuinely Special<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

So, is dating a guy with kids worthwhile? Absolutely! Yes, it might not always be smooth sailing \u2013 but which relationship really is? Whether you\u2019re getting back into dating after a divorce<\/a> or looking to reignite the spark with an old flame, dating a man with kids can be a rewarding, insightful, life-affirming experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If there\u2019s someone out there that you like \u2014 and you\u2019ve spotted those surefire signs of attraction<\/a> from his side \u2014 but you\u2019re holding back because of their children, it\u2019s time to make a move! Keep the potential benefits and drawbacks in mind, follow the advice above, and you\u2019ll be completely fine. Good luck!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

What you should know when kids are involved. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":220,"featured_media":29596,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[977],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-20153","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-dating-with-kids"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nDating A Guy With Kids: What You Should Know Before<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Dating a guy with kids can be wonderful, but also needs to be approached with a certain level of sensitivity. 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Originally from England, he's been writing about all things romance for several years now and has contributed to online dating sites such as EliteSingles and SilverSingles. Elsewhere, he recently wrote his first novel - though he's not tried to get it published yet. Instead, he's currently sitting on it like a goose on an egg, mortified at the prospect of releasing it into the world. Dan has been working with Zoosk to create unique and insightful content around all aspects of online dating, love, and relationships.","sameAs":["https:\/\/worldhangover.com\/"],"url":"https:\/\/www.zoosk.com\/date-mix\/author\/dan-hackett\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zoosk.com\/date-mix\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20153","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zoosk.com\/date-mix\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zoosk.com\/date-mix\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zoosk.com\/date-mix\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/220"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zoosk.com\/date-mix\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20153"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.zoosk.com\/date-mix\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20153\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zoosk.com\/date-mix\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29596"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zoosk.com\/date-mix\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20153"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zoosk.com\/date-mix\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20153"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zoosk.com\/date-mix\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20153"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}