Dating: Where Do I Start?

I have been divorced for almost eight years now. Dating was the last thing on my mind when I was thrown back into the world of being single. Not only single, but a single mother of five children who ranged in age from eight months to seventeen years old.  Who had time for dating with a full house? Not me.

A year after my divorce, after taking time to figure out life on my own, I scrambled to figure out how to date.  I was ready to date but I had no clue where to start. Going out to a bar to meet a man wasn’t an option. I didn’t even WANT to go to a bar, nevermind meet a man there. At that time, internet or “on-line” dating still had huge stigmas attached. It sounded much easier than bar hopping though!

So, I did it. I squashed all the negative comments about internet dating that I had heard. There are no guarantees about the person you meet anywhere. I was willing to take the chance of finding a date on the computer–all from the comfort of my home.

My first try at internet dating was nothing short of disastrous, but I learned the ropes quickly.  If you are new to dating or are thinking of trying internet dating, I hope that by sharing some of my experiences that I can help you find “Mr. Right For Me”. Remember, that’s the bottom line…that he’s right for YOU, not for everyone else.

Over the next few weeks I will share some of the following:

What On-Line Dating Service Should I Use? There are so many sites out there. Which is the best? How can you get a “free trial”? How many sites should you be on at once? I’ll answer those questions and more.

How Should I Wait Until I Meet Someone In Person? I have my own theory on this and it is based on a few too many experiences. I learned quickly how to cut to the chase. No sense in carrying on an on-line affair and then the chemistry stinks in person!

Where Should I Meet On The First Date? Coffee shop? Bar? Bookstore? What is the best place to meet for the first time? The two words that are most important is “in public”. I have tried and true ideas of what’s best for a first meeting.

Those are the first three topics I will cover in a series on dating. I’m not a professional “dating coach” nor am I good at matchmaking. Just consider me dating lab rat.

Cheryl A. Phillips