Dating as a Single Parent-Will it work out?

LegacyUser

Hi all,
I'm a single mom to a beautiful 5 yr old boy. I havent had much success in terms of relationships since he was born, i've had 2 short term relationships, one of which ended because he felt we werent spending enough time together and the other one ended for different reasons. Looking back, both relationships werent right and they worked out for the best.

However I recently (2 months ago) met someone that's very different. I like him alot and he has said the same to me. I have been meeting him about twice every week for the past couple of months and we're still getting to know one another and taking things at a nice pace. He knows I have a son and he seems ok about it, we don't discuss it because like i said it's early days and I'm only getting to know. Over the past couple of dates things have progressed a little more, we're exclusive and he's told me he has strong feelings for me. we both still want to take things slow though and see where it goes.

I should be enjoying these weeks and months but instead I'm preoccupied with it not working out because of me being a single parent. I find it's bothering me when I'm with him and when I'm away from him. I don't have the freedom to say "Call over and we'll stay in" or "I'll call to yours for the night and we will go out/watch DVD etc" because I'm always in need of a babysitter and my time is never my own-I'm always looking at my watch. I usually have to leave early and sometimes can stay out for the night/stay over but only occasionally. I don't know how we are going to be able to spend time together as we get to know one another because as time goes by in a relationship, you have to spend more and more time together. I know I'll be restricted with babysitting and with my family being the main babysitters they wouldn't agree with calling over, staying overnight at his place etc. As I said I was really excited about it but during past week or so I'm not looking forward to things progressing.

Does anyone have any experience of something like this or ideas as to how we can build a relationship with limited time and my committments as a single parent?
Thanks in advance

Idle Passerby

You said your family wouldn't agree with you spending the night at his place. Really its none of their business if you want to stay over with the guy your seeing. Would you be able to find a babysitter who was willing to look after your boy without passing judgement on you for wanting to develop an adult relationship?

It sounds like this man understands you do not have the free time of a childless woman, so I assume he's aware your not going to be as available as you would be if you didn't have a child. Whether this will be a problem for him as the relationship progresses remains to be seen, theres no point stressing over it just now.

MeadowLane

I am a single parent too...its very hard to find time. Can he call over when your little one is gone to bed.
I sometimes resent by baby's father as he has all this free time and if I ask him to take her for an extra night he never agrees. Its ****e cause he can date no bother.
Rant over.....I would ask my family but then they would know a bit too much about my business.
Its nice to keep new relationships to yourself until you are sure before sharing news with the world

My dating options are one night mid week and one weekend night every other week - not a lot of time to get to know someone and to be honest if it was the other way around and they guy didn't have the time to give me I wouldn't be all that interested