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Once upon a time, you might have gone to a bar, looked around for that super-cute guy to strike up a conversation with, and the rest was romantic history. Times have changed. Even if you still fit into that spandex mini, a bar is probably not the place you'll want to spend a sacred evening of free time. So, how are we single moms supposed to find a date? Here are a few options: Blind dates - Your thoughtful, very well intentioned friends think that the one other single or divorced friend that they know could be a match and, WHAM, instant date. Fate could be standing by your side on fix-up night but what are the odds? Online dating - Yah, yah… how cheesy can we get? Don't scoff. It IS a way to get your feet wet, and feel proactive in your romantic life, while keeping it all on our terms. You can call the shots --- you can wink, you can woo, you can email, or set them as a favorite so they know you’re interested. You decide whether to make the first move, or sit back and see what comes your way. You never know… we've all heard the stories about those brave couples that met their soul mates through Match.com or E-Harmony. Think of it as window-shopping and, face it, we ALL like to take a peek at what's out there. Good rule of thumb – Be open… your last ‘perfect type’ may have contributed to your current single status, so you may want to think outside the box. Use common sense - Meet in a public place, away from your home, preferably for a cup of coffee or a quick lunch. That way, if he can't seem to stop talking about his bitchy ex-girlfriend or his very hot pics were taken in 1986… you won't be suffering through a four course meal. If you do accept a date, have one of your friends call your cell phone to make sure you're happy with the situation. Your date won't know it's not a business call or the sitter and, if you want to make a getaway, you can tell your friend where to meet you. Below, are some popular online dating services. Prices are based on monthly rates… the longer the commitment, the lower the price. Be aware than subscriptions renew automatically so, if you want to cancel, do so before your subscription time is up. Match - www.match.com Match.com is one of the better known online dating services. Very simple to sign up... answer questions about yourself and create a profile. Spell out what you are looking for in a mate. Load a picture and you are good to go. You can wink and email. They will send you a bunch of matches but it feels more general because the questions are a bit generic. You have to do the work to find out who interests you. Weed out the ones who don't. The good thing is, Match offers a vast network of people. Search your in your hometown, across the country or even globally. There are plenty of prospects. Chemistry - www.Chemistry.com From the people at Match.com comes Chemistry.com.
Similar to Match, you fill out a personality test, make a profile and upload a picture. They offer an advanced matching system they say is based on Chemistry and "aFirst Meeting," which prompts members to take their new relationship out of the email realm and into the coffee shop. Obviously from their name, they are selling Chemistry as the ticket to romance and long term relationships. E-harmony - www.eharmony.comEharmony doesn’t think a picture and a few paragraphs in a profile are enough to accurately find your match. The more information the better, so new members take a 436 question Questionnaire and then they match you based on the most important aspects of life. They do the legwork for you and will send you a set of matches and also people who are interested in you and you can decide. While online dating may not be the answer for everyone, it can be a good way to inch your way back out into the adult world. Stay safe and have fun! If you want to share your online experiences with others, check out the Village.
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