When is it appropriate to introduce your child to the person you're dating?

Question

I am a single mother of one. Have a beautiful 3 year old girl who will soon be four. I currently am not dating anyone, but have in the past. I was wondering if anyone knows if their is an appropraite time to introduce you child to the person that you are dating. They are aware that I have a child, I am a just a little nervous on introducing my little one and have never introduced her. I have been asked to go out and do things together, but don't want her to get attached to someone that I am unsure of...and if they are going to be in our life. So, is their an appropriate time frame or is it something that you should just know???

Answer 1

My mother is like you; I am a child of divorced parents.

I would say:
1) Introduce when you're sure he's going to be in the picture for a while
2) First let her meet him for small amounts of time, just have him come around your house or whatever, then you can all go do something, like, have a picnic at a park (thats what my mom did)
3) If you get him to bring him a small gift (like a cookie) there's more of a chance of fondess (I remember my mom's first bf cuz he gave me a cookie)
4) You might wanna wait until she is a bit older; I was never introduced to anyone until I was, maybe, 5 - 7...?

Everything worked out well in my case; the small intervals of time thing is good because it brings awareness but not too much attachment.
Hope it all goes well.

Answer 2

This is kinda a hard thing to determine.. The problem is no matter how close you get to this person you really never know if they are going to stick around! You also have to think if your child does not like the person how will your relationship be then! I do think you should wait a while but I wouldnt want to get to attached and then find out my daughter and him cant deal with each other. Its one thing to hang out all together for short periods of time until they get to know each other and stuff then to be all together all the time and make the child think its gonna be for good. and then find out its not gonna work.

Also be careful not to leave your child alone with any boyfriends at all cause you never know these days what they are truly like!!

HOPE THIS HELPS Take care

Answer 3

I am also a single mother of a now 12 year old girl ! It was hard for me to do the introduction thing because my daughter is so outgoing and I didn't want her to get her heart broken and it has happened, but sometimes you just gotta take those risks. The best scenario though for the introduction is with a group of people like have some mutual friends over for a game night or something hopefully they have kids too for your little girl to play with. That way they can meet and you can see them interact a little - I always went with my daughter's judgement - kids just know people they are the best judges of character!! Do a gradual introduction - does that make sense?

Answer 4

it may well be that your boyfriend would not prefer to "rock the boat" including his son's existence in the present day. lots of his complications would were made worse including his Dad's divorce, and many youngsters have an damaging reaction at the same time as a sparkling significant different is presented after divorce. attempt to study including your boyfriend and discover out the actual causes. enhance that you would comprehend if it grow to be the problem above, and be supportive of his decision. Ask about his son's properly-being; educate interest, yet don't be pushy. He would basically be attempting to guard his little boy. God bless.

Answer 5

I think what you have been doing is smart, because these men arent in your life anymore and to introduce your child to a man your intimate with kids are very smart and they sence these things you dont want them to be walked out on too because it wont just be you it will be your child that gets hurt to. Dont rush yourself into introducing them till you know its right and until your ready, make sure your relationship is steady and serious and use have been going on for a while.

Answer 6

Introduce them to each other as friends

then they can see what if any chance of them getting along is there

you have a child, so no sense pretending otherwise

any potential long term people will have to get used to that and accept it, maybe find somebody who would really want to be a dad

Answer 7

It's okay to introduce the child early on in the relationship, after 4 or 5 dates... too early and it will look too serious as if you need them to bond with the kid. Too late isn't good because it shows you are uncomfortable with the hole situation.. be confident and after 4 or 5 dates introduce him/her (politacally correct?) bloody nora!

Answer 8

First of all props to you for caring so much about your little one. I think it's the kind of thing that you would just know. Being realistic, your instinct may not always be right, but we all have to take risks, right? If all comes to worst, then at least your child will be that much better at adapting to someone new. BEST OF LUCK!

Answer 9

I think it would be best if you wait until you've had 4 or more dates with the same person so that you are comfortable with them, and with meeting your child and also the waiting might help for you to see if he might be the one.

Answer 10

It is a personal thing. YOU WILL KNOW WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT. MY BIGGEST PROBLEM IS INTRODUCING THEM TOO SOON AND THE RELATIONSHIP NOT WORKING OUT AND THE CHILD SEEING TOO MANY MEN COME AND GO.