Co-parenting + dating!

Hey my amazing village!!! I really need some advice. As a single mother I recently started dating again. I have been dating a single dad for 6 months and my ex and I have been co-parenting for a little over a year now. How would you go about introducing your new relationship to your kids and ex? He and I are being really sensitive and cautious when it’s come to his kids and my kids. Should I tell my ex that I’m dating and things are getting serious? When do you think it’s a good time to introduce your kids to a new person? I’m trying to be super careful. Thank you so much! Ps. My ex and I have a good co-parenting relationship but he can be really toxic.

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I started dating again when my daughter was about 1.5 ish. Its definitely a hard situation to navigate, especially if your coparenting situation is rocky… i did it all and i dont even think i could consider us “coparents”.. but if you are both serious, maybe consider going on a “play date” as simply platonic friends and see how your kids interact and how they engage with the opposite adult because ultimately thats just as important as the connection you have as a couple. But if things are progressing maybe consider talking with your ex about it. It definitely can be hard because if things dont work out goodbyes may not be the easiest. My now husband was my strictly platonic guy friend for years and we were both in relationships, before we actually started dating, so he had already met my ex once or twice. It was rocky but it ended up fine in the end. It all depends on the person. Im sure one day he will want to date too! Communication is still key on both sides. Good luck mama!

I wouldn’t tell your ex until it’s serious. And I would just tell him you are seeing someone and want a conversation on how long you should wait before you introduce him to your children. My daughter’s father and I have agreed that we have to tell the other person when it’s serious and then it’s 6 months before they meet our daughter and the other parent has to meet them first. Try to find some middle ground on something like that. And take your situation and how you might feel if it was the other way around into perspective

14yo or up lol Please share how you met this guy!

@🍉 I met the guy I am dating now on an app called stir! It’s for single parents and pretty great honestly!

@Wendi thank you so much for the sweet advice! I am trying so hard to be cautious and considerate of my ex but I truly believe he will be angry either way because he has a temper but I think if I involve him in my decision-making with my new relationship it will make him feel respected in a way. And if he does want to meet my boyfriend I would for let him as long as it’s in a public place!

@Nia I like the playground idea a lot! His kids are 9 and 6 and mine are 3 and 1 so a bit of an age gap but we like that honestly, it leave no room for jealousy and mixing personalities can be tricky! But thank you for the sweet advice! He never came from a broken family and neither did I so we are teaching each other how to blend our family while co-parenting because his ex is just as toxic!