so just wondering would you date another single parent and take your child/children with you as a first date.
I been thinking about this a bit, see if i meet someone whos also a parent like me would it be a bad idea to do it as a fun day out for the kids.
it kinda nails a few birds with one stone.
No need for child care, everyone should have fun.
down side is kids are expensive after 5 icecreams each yah might find your pockets very empty. ^_^

While I can or could see it as a good idea it is not something I would do myself as a parent.

Children for one can form bonds with other children quickly an if the said parents didnt get along or want anything more then well the child could or can miss out on seeing the friend that they just made again.

Plus a date is to get to know someone personally ie why arnt you with the dad or mum or other personal questions could pop up to where your child shouldnt have to be around to hear the answers to those types of questions an then there is the parent act ie) I know Im a different person while my girl is around as I have to be careful what I say an keep rules an behaviour in place where else when she is not around I can be free me an if Im going to be going on a first date Id like to be free me rather than mum me if that makes any sence.

Although not a single parent myself, I have dated women with children, so I suppose my opinion counts?

I wouldn’t be exactly over-thrilled if a (first) date turned up with her offspring in tow unannounced, but on the other hand, there’s nothing like being thrown in at the deep end, especially if there’s the potential for something long term. Safety of the child notwithstanding, of course. You’re not likely to drag your precious offspring to a date with someone you’ve only spoken with once or twice online, after all.

To be fair, an awful lot of single parents find it very difficult meeting anyone in the first place, when their little people take up so much of their time (ever tried getting a babysitter mid-week?), so in some ways having a day time first date with some activity for afore-mentioned little people is quite practical (and an ice-breaker to some extent). Sometimes the only way 2 people can agree on mutually convenient time/place for a ‘date’ is if one (or both) needs to bring one or more little ones with them.

I did meet my last date along with her 3 year old on our first ‘proper’ date (and had a great time), as it was the only way we were ever going to meet in real life. I also met my current lady friends 10 year old on our second date, although admittedly it was a sort of family day out, and I get along well with her (although I suspect that having a cute dog that she adores helps enormously ).

I guess it sort of depends on what the purpose of the date is. If it’s just a date, i.e. going out with someone socially for a drink, whatever, then one isn’t likely to take their children with them. If it’s a date to meet and find out whether or not there is potential for something long term after having got to know one another quite well over a period of time (email, phone, etc), then one might consider jumping in at the deep end.

For me it would be a definate NO ....... and not for a while afterwards niether ....... not involving my children is relationship is a problen of mine ....... having been divorced for 7 years my children have only ever met 2 guys in that time, and only becuase i thought the relationship was going somewhere, does make any realtionship alot harder for me as i always have to sitters ........ am even more weary now as my son creates bonds with guys very easily and still talks about the couple he has met to this day ...... my kids come first in my eyes and if a guy cant understand that, then he aint the right guy ....... x

I'm with ann-marie on that.
A few years ago i had gone out with a guy about 3 or 4 times. One day he rang to say he'd be driving past my house would i put the kettle on, so i said ok but didnt think "oh hang on my kids are here and he hasnt met them yet" When he walked in i introduced them and he very sullenly said (in front of my boys) "If i'd known THEY'D be here I wouldnt have bothered coming round" to which i replied "There's the door, bye" and never saw him again!
My kids are now 19 and 15, but i still wouldnt bring either of them for a first date, i'd want it to be one2one with the guy and me to get to know each other - like someone else said, i'm slightly a different person being mum/ not mum for obvious reasons.

I have to say altough I can see the beneifts of a mutually child friendly date I can't really see how it would work. When I am with my children they come first and as other people have said whilst they are around I am Mummmy Not me. Therefore I wouldn't be able to give the Guy I was meeting my full attention or get to know him as I would hope you would on a first date.
That said it wouldn't put me off if I met up with a guy and he had his kiddies in tow, being a single mum I know how hard it is to find spare time to meet ppl and would be flattered that he had wanted to meet me so much he had done so even though he had no babysitter.

bring your kids to a first date? thats dating suicide... its the same reason why you don't tell some one you love them on the first date. sure you can mention that ya have kids, then its his/her decision if he/she wants that kinda thing.. but don't just throw them into the deep end lol