Dating with Children
Do
- Warn your date that you're bringing your children: no unexpected surprises.
- If you're bringing children, choose something they'd like to do: a daytime trip to an adventure park, a family movie and pasta lunch, a day by the seaside.
- Make your children feel that this is a day out for everyone; that they're being dragged along on a date.
- Ensure that your date spends time with your children: send them off to buy ice creams, or let them walk ahead together. That way, they'll strike up a conversation and get to know each other.
Don't
- Resist the temptation to choose adult activities, regardless of your children's taste, patience, endurance (art galleries, theatres, shopping). It will only lead to trouble.
- Be wary of over-compensating for the fact that you'd rather be alone with your date by spoiling your children with sweets, ice-creams, presents etc.
- It's not fair to your children to only have eyes for your partner: don't make them feel like gooseberries.
- On the other hand, don't ignore your date because you're so preoccupied by your children's needs. They won't want to come along and play families with you again if you do.
