Dating Dad Shares What It Takes to Balance Kids, Career, and You.

words of wisdom from the Dating Dad
Any single dad worth his salt would say that their number one job is being a dad.  I became aware of my number one job on February 17, 1996, when three little half-alien skeleton babies were cruely yanked from their hiding place in my then-wife's belly (yes, that is where babies come from).  I knew at that moment that anything I did when I left the house to earn money was always going to be secondary to their daily care.
So where does that leave a single dad on any kind of career track?  Stuck between a pack of hungry kids and an employer who wants his undivided attention at work, both of which cause great stress to any parent, married or single.  A single dad will struggle with the guilt of moving his family for a better career, guilt from working long hours and missing school activities and he'll feel helpless if his current position isn't enough to support his family. 
Ohmigosh! You!  And what if he wants a dating life?  Who can he date?  Who will understand all of the ups and downs of the day, the date cancellations, the work obligations, the distraction when you are out on a date because he thought, briefly, about his kids?  Great, now I am having an anxiety attack.
This was an eye opener to me, who can I date?  I've gone on dates with a stylist, accountant, lobbyist, office manager, nurse, lawyer, customer service representative and a few others.  One thing I can tell you is that unless they had at least one kid, they really didn't understand my life.  A few tried, I tried, but we couldn't make it work because one of us wasn't fully committed to the lifestyle of single/co-parenting. 
You should realize that it won't always be an easy relationship due to the career and life pressures he faces but you do need to understand that he can love you as much as he loves his kids.  That is a love that will push through any broken date or misplaced word. 
C'mon....give us a try.