Hey all I'm Maria...a newbie to this site. I've been a single parent pretty much since I got preggers especially since my ex was military and was barely around to begin with. My son is now 4 and the last 3 years I've been separated from my ex and started the divorce against him (which should be final by the end of this month WOOHOO!).

Anywho....I've somewhat gotten back into the dating scene just last year but no guy seems to work out. Is it just me or does dating either seem like a damn job interview or a straight up booty call? Anyway I'm a bit frustrated and need some advice on how to meet new people and back in the dating world. I'm definitely feel like I'm in a catch 22. I feel like I'm too old for the bar scene and yet too young to join the parent and me club in my area. Dating sites for me are even worse since most men in my area are either ok with women being divorced as long as they have no kids or are ok with women having kids just as long as they've never been married.

Any suggestions or advice?

Hiya Sweet Tea,

I wish I had the answers. Many of us are sorta relearning this game. Personally, I am only interested in dating people who share my faith, so I've only been looking in church, but numerous others here have had bad experiences doing that and advise against it. I'm only a few weeks in, and so far so good. Don't know how you'd feel about that. An old colleague of mine swears by the gym, and another insists that if you open up to your entire social network what you are looking for, you will get the best introductions that way.

Hi Sweet Tea......Welcome to the Funny Farm....

You came to the right place....
I happen to be an expert in this field so if you need some great advice I'd more than happy to help...

Welcome aboard Sweet Tea....
My opinion is that you aren't missing a thing in those bar scenes anyway.

Thanks all for your empathy...glad to know I'm not the only one =)

I'm with you I have no idea where to meet single men anymore...at least not ones that want to date single moms...

good luck and welcome!

Definitely recommend church, or rather specifically a church-based young adults group. That's where I met my now-husband, two years ago. They were having a picnic, so it was low-key, not ultra-religious, with lots of socializing going on, and free food! Happened to fall on a weekend I didn't have my daughter, so I was able to go with a friend, and had a great time. And no, I wasn't the only single mom there either!

You're probably more likely to find nice guys at church than anywhere else, I'd think. After all, they have some principles, otherwise why go?