First you should know that if you don't have children, dating singles that have never had any kids, is a viable and much easier option. However, only you can decide if dating someone with children is the right option for you.

Meeting the Kids

You may feel ready to meet the children sooner than the person you are dating is ready to introduce you to them. This could cause some turmoil and feelings of confusion in your relationship. The experts at Couple-Me.com, a popular online dating service with many single parents, recommend holding off until the relationship is serious before taking such a large step. Here are some points you want to consider.

- Most parents feel that their first responsibility and priority is to their children's feelings not to yours.

- If the relationship ends, you get to walk away with only your broken heart to mend. The person you're dating however has to worry about their feelings and their children's as well.

Parents Are Always On Call

Parents are a lot like on call doctors. However, unlike a doctor who takes turns with other doctors being on call, parents never really get to take a break. This may mean that dates are suddenly cut short or need to be canceled at the last minute all together. It may require some understanding on your part to make a relationship with a single parent work.

A Difference of Responsibilities

Generally speaking, when you're single, you and your wellbeing are the biggest concerns that you have. John Cooper, a parent on Couple-Me.com states, "I never understood how much responsibility you take on when you have children until I had them." Single parents have to worry about bed times, homework, taking and picking up kids from school, extra curricular activities, etc. As someone dating a single parent, you want to be sensitive to the demands that are being placed on your partner.

A World of Compromise

Relationships require a great deal of compromise. Add children to the mix, and the level of compromise increases significantly. Add children that aren't yours to the mix and you're quickly going to become an expert negotiator. The upside is that you'll get to know how the person you're dating feels about certain issues that most couples only discover once they're married and have children together.

A Quasi Relationship

Regardless of how much you love your partner and their kids, your relationship with the children is not binding. It only exists as long as your relationship with your partner does. Many people experience mixed feelings about this. Kids can be very easy to let into your heart and treat as if they were your own. However, if your relationship ends, you will almost certainly also deal with the loss of the children as well.

What You Give Up

If the relationship blossoms into a marriage, there will be some things that you give up. You want to really understand what you're getting into so that you don't feel resentful later. Some of what you're giving up includes:

- Having the first child together

- A family that is always complete. The children that you have together will experience their brothers/sisters not being with them when they are with their other natural parent.

- Your children and step children will not share the same grandparents. I've seen this cause some jealousy issues with some couples.

- The spontaneity of being able to leave town or take a vacation on a whim will never exist since you are entering into the marriage with children already.

What You Gain

Couples who met on http://www.Couple-Me.com and found ever lasting love with a single parent agree that there are many upsides to dating someone with children. For starters, you know what kind of parent they will be going into the marriage. There's definitely less of a gamble when it comes to how compatible you'll be as parents. You also gain the kids! Assuming that the courtship between you and your partner was successful and they like you, there are few things as rewarding as forming a life long loving relationship with your spouse as well as their children.

Follow Your Heart

In matters like this, your heart can be a great tool to help you decide if dating someone with kids is something you should be considering. I find that dating someone with children is a very personal decision. If your heart leads you to a relationship with a single parent, I wish you love, joy, and the laughter of children that I'm sure will fill your heart!