How off putting is it to learn someone has kids?
I've never liked the term "baggage". We are mostly talking about amazing little human beings here. You would be lucky to meet them! Or someone's history in general that still has consequences for them. And the older you get, the harder it will be to find someone without any "baggage". Unless they haven't lived! I would be more concerned about that than about someone with a complicated background. Thoughts?
Poll: Would you date someone with kids?
I would definitely try to avoid someone with younger kids. It sucks of theyre a really awesome person but ultimately, it's generally pretty difficult in my experience, especially earlier on. I was in a long-term relationship with someone who had a teenaged child which wasn't so bad because they were always out hanging with their friends and whatnot. The younger ones just require so much time and effort.
My ex has kids, so I already have. I'm 39, so anyone I date will most likely already have kids. I think once you get past 30, it should be expected. I haven't had kids yet because I haven't been in the right situation with the right woman. I had the chance to have kids with 3 different women. It's not something I take lightly. It's like kind of serious mannnnnn! affected voice
I grew up religious and thought that flirtation of any kind was a sin until I got to college and became an atheist, so my social skills and whatnot are severley stunted and I’m not even sure how ready I am to date effectively let alone navigate a relationship where I have to think about someones children too.
Maybe!
Well, I did. And I married her.
Her two kids (and now one grandson) provide great entertainment. I pretty much think of them as 'ours'. Unless they screw up... then they revert to 'hers'.
Children under 18 has always been and will always be a deal-breaker for me.
I have never lived with children other than my younger sister when we were children.
I don't like them in the house and, from what I hear, they cost a lot of money and suck the life out of you.
when I was single, I found it very difficult to date someone with children. Almost every first date I've had planned with someone who had children was canceled. I understand that their kids come first, but I always felt as though I was somewhere beyond the back burner. The few women I did date with children, I was so far away from being a priority in their lives that I started refusing to date anyone with kids. Maybe it's because I don't have kids, and I just don't understand where they're coming from.
I have an 11 year old daughter. Beware the constant giggling, chatting, questions, hanging on, tagging along....... I’m sure I’ll miss it when it’s over.
If you have a problem with kids, then you probably should move to a desert island and live in a hut.
Yes, but I have kids. It does make any sort of a social life much more difficult. If the person you are dating has custody fun with you time and sex time won't be their priority. Its just a fact of having kids around. Of course "baggage" is a disrespectful way to refer to children, but "amazing little human beings who you would be lucky to meet" is greatly romanticizing the situation.
I can't win either way/
My kids are grown now,
but when they were younger I did have issues from women who did not have kids and just did not understand who a single parent family works.
Then the ladies I went out with that did have kids,
all had problem kids.
Problems at school, behavour problems at home,
not wanting mum to have time for herself, then if they were older, trouble with the law and/or drugs.
It turned out easier to stay single.
This is a more complicated question than yes/no/maybe.
How many kids? What age(s)? Is the person divorced or a widow/widower? Do they have serious impulse control or attachment issues? How about debt? Do they actually have a life outside their kids or are they going to expect every date take place with kids in tow?
There's a long history of relationships falling apart after children are born because the couple starts neglecting each other in favor of spending their time/energy on their kids. It shouldn't be surprising that single people wouldn't want to jump directly into exactly that scenario
If you can't like the offspring of someone that you claim to like - then in my opinion you are just a self-serving A-hole.
I have three kids. Two are grown and one is 16. I have dated several women with kids. I have had mixed results with trying to blend all of the pieces together. IMO dating a woman with kids changes the way a relationship develops. Decisions have to be made more carefully because young hearts could be effected if things don't work out. So one must be fairly certain that the relationship will be healthy and long lasting prior to getting the kids introduced to their counterparts. There is also a responsibility and resulting commitment of time to the kids that both parents must allow for each other. Consequently the relationship develops more slowly compared to a situation with no kids.
Having said that I have plans to travel after i get my youngest situated in college. So I really don't want to get serious with anyone who has kids younger than 16.