The upsides
Dating another parent often means less explaining.
They'll understand why you can't stay out late on a school night, why plans sometimes change at the last minute, and why your children come first. You're likely to have plenty to talk about, and fewer awkward conversations about what family life involves.
Working around two sets of routines
The hardest part is often simply finding time.
- Compare calendars early. If you both share care, look for the evenings or weekends when you're both free.
- Make the most of short windows. A coffee during school hours or a walk at lunchtime counts as a date.
- Plan ahead for holidays. School holidays and birthdays can fill up quickly, so it helps to talk about them in advance.
- Be flexible with each other. Things will clash sometimes. A bit of give and take goes a long way.
Different ways of parenting
You won't do everything the same way, and that's fine.
Bedtimes, screen time and house rules vary from family to family. While you're dating, there's no need to agree on all of it. If things get serious, talk about it calmly and away from the children, and remember that each of you is still the parent to your own children.
Taking it slowly with the children
When two families are involved, there's even more reason not to rush. Get to know each other as a couple first, then think about introducing one set of children at a time. Our guide on when to introduce a new partner to your children has more on getting that first meeting right.